No, OP. It's a bad idea, and it's only the irresponsible dog owners who do this. Please don't be one of them.

No way.

I wouldn't. My dog is reactive and doesn't have much impulse control around other dogs. He's also got some separation anxiety when it comes to my husband. We rescued him this past summer and because he was coming with so many issues we listened to the dog whisperer's training and she said it was pretty cruel to leave dogs tied up outside of stores. I think cruel is a bit strong because I've seen some dogs who are perfectly content to curl under a tree and chill while waiting for their human companions but I do think it's irresponsible and dangerous because if your dog is that friendly and calm, anyone could steal or pick on him/her.

Anonymous wrote:PPs have mentioned stealing as an issue, but also there are plenty of other dogs that are aggressive and might snap at your dog while walking by. Your poor dog would be strapped to a railing and unable to get away. Please don't do this,

On leash my dog has been terrorized at a distance by people walking their aggressive dogs. I once saw a pitt on leash go after a calm leashed doberman laying down at it's owners feet at a sidewalk cafe. Type of community where shop owners have dog water bowls out.

PPs have mentioned stealing as an issue, but also there are plenty of other dogs that are aggressive and might snap at your dog while walking by. Your poor dog would be strapped to a railing and unable to get away. Please don't do this,

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, its annoying.

NP here. What is?

You leaving your dog tied up outside. I hate dogs. If I saw it and could not get around the dog easily, I'd leave the business and they would lose their income. Leave your dog at home. It is not just about you. My kid was scared ones too by a dog and now will not go near them. When he is with me, we don't even try to go anywhere near. You may like dogs, but not everyone does.

You aren't doing your child a service by passing on your fear of dogs, you know.

+1

Why would a responsible parent do this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, its annoying.

NP here. What is?

You leaving your dog tied up outside. I hate dogs. If I saw it and could not get around the dog easily, I'd leave the business and they would lose their income. Leave your dog at home. It is not just about you. My kid was scared ones too by a dog and now will not go near them. When he is with me, we don't even try to go anywhere near. You may like dogs, but not everyone does.

You aren't doing your child a service by passing on your fear of dogs, you know.

Never.
There are too many psychos wandering around. It only takes a minute to steal a dog.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend's dog was stolen when he did this. I would never do it.

Wow- where did this happen and how long had he left the dog for?

U Street, years ago. He went into a coffee shop to buy coffee, left the dog for a few minutes. It was a beloved rescue mutt. Horrifying.

I wouldn't. Someone untied my friend's dog. My friend left her outside while we went into Starbuck. We came back, the dog was missing and we found her about an hour later wandering.

Anonymous wrote:OP here- She is a very sweet and loving dog and wouldn't bite. She not a barker either. DH or kids and I bring her with us and sit outside at coffee shops, etc.. and usually someone sits outside with her while the other goes in. Then we sit outside and she just lays by our feet while we enjoy our drink. I'd just like to be able to take her when I'm by myself. We don't bring her inside any establishments (I don't think it's allowed at most).

OP, please don't do this. People abuse animals. Animals are stolen -- especially the nice, quiet ones -- for use as bait dogs by fighting rings; this is a frequent event. If a cop swings by and simply doesn't like the dog, the dog could be impounded or worse, even if properly tagged (don't believe it? See -- https://puppycidedb.com/ and http://www.nationalreview.com/article/362980/puppycide-charles-c-w-cooke -- this has become a nationally-recognized problem). If some bored teenager or street-crazy tries to provoke the dog and the dog reacts, even minimally, the dog could be seized.

Please, please don't do this.

Used to do it pretty much every day when I lived in NYC, but seems to be a lot more common there.

I've seen signs in DC saying it's illegal to do so, not sure about VA or MD.

Consider how your dogs react to other dogs, it's not just how your dog is with people that matters. Other folks could be walking by with dogs that may or may not be friendly to other dogs. Would your dog be able to just ignore a dog walking by regardless of the behavior of the other dog.

How about other stimulus, like squirrels or excited little kids? Is your dog going to react at all or will it just lay there and ignore everything?

Also, as others have mentioned, dogs get stolen a lot when left tied up outside of establishments and it doesn't take long for a dog to get stolen.

Anonymous wrote:My friend's dog was stolen when he did this. I would never do it.

Wow- where did this happen and how long had he left the dog for?

My friend's dog was stolen when he did this. I would never do it.