Whether you are looking for camping or outdoor gear, Field & Stream stores might come to mind. If you’d like your dog to accompany you either for some shopping or for some socialization, you may be wondering if Field & Stream is dog friendly.
Are Dogs Allowed in Field & Stream Stores?
Dogs are allowed in MANY Field & Stream stores–but there’s no company-wide pet policy. You’ll need to call your local store and ask if your dog will be welcome to shop with you.
Give your local store a call (there’s a store locator online to find your nearest location) to see if your store is dog friendly. The subsidiary of Dick’s Sporting Goods has about 17 stores, primarily in Eastern states but also in Texas.
Shopping with Your Dog
On my trips to Field & Stream with Barli (at the Cedar Park, Texas location), the employees have been very welcoming; one told me that many dogs come in for training in the store.
The stores are large–so they’re a good “intermediate” store for dogs who have had some exposure to shopping at small stores and are ready to move up to the next level. They’re not as noisy as home improvement stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot, which we’d considered “advanced” shopping.
Along with the usual store displays, Field & Stream stores feature mounted animals which were a good learning experience for Barli who was a bit taken aback when he first spotted them.
He was also a little unsure about this headless, armed mannequin!
I’ve taken Barli to our store after he’s already enjoyed a long walk and is relaxed. The key to having a good time shopping with your dog–and making sure dog friendly stores REMAIN dog friendly–is taking a few extra steps before and during your shopping excursion.
Before Your Trip
- Pack a leash no longer than 6 feet.
- Leave the retractable leash at home.
- Pack a cleanup kit in case of a potty accident.
- Consider an off-peak time for your first visit.
During Your Trip
- Make a potty stop before entering the store. Even if your dog peed before leaving home, take a few minutes to visit the trees in the parking lot.
- Keep your dog near. For both the safety of your dog and fellow shoppers, keep your dog at your side while shopping.
- Pick up any accidents immediately.
Can Service Dogs Go to Field & Stream?
Yes, a trained service dog that is required to assist you is allowed in any Field & Stream store–even those that are not dog-friendly for pet dogs–under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
“Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.” — Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Please note that this ONLY covers trained service dogs; it does not include emotional support dogs.
If your dog is not a trained service dog, do not attempt to misrepresent your dog as a service dog. Depending on where you live, misprepresenting your dog as a service dog can carry a fine of up to $1000.
More Dog Friendly Stores!
Whether you are looking for a store to enjoy some shopping with your dog, one for socializing opportunities (for your dog and for yourself!) or public places to train your dog, don’t miss our list of over 100 stores that allow dogs in most cities. You may also be interested in these specific stores:
Are Dogs Allowed in Bass Pro Shops?
Are Dogs Allowed in Ace Hardware?