Not sure if anyone else is aware of this as we stumbled upon it due to the hot weather and not wanting to leave our dog in the car - but IKEA Switzerland is now allowing furry friends to accompany their humans inside their stores.

Our dog got so much love from the IKEA staff and punters alike when we visited the other day. Now they just need to add some water bowls and maybe the odd free meatball treat ;-)

And a potty for them to shit in!

Never realised there are countries where IKEA allows everybody to bring their dog along?

Are there?

I’ve never seen a dog in an IKEA in any country I’ve lived in.
I’m struggling to understand why anybody would want to take their dog with them on a trip to IKEA in the first place.

IKEA is a kind of torture for male human beings and children.
Would it be any better for dogs?

IKEA at Pratteln has a shady spot with dog kennels outside and bowls for water.

And some other creatures.

The candy section is ok.

And for many female human beings, too.

And now even worse if you are totally scared of dogs (my sister)

You and I think that way, however a woman who used to live in our building had to take her dog practically everywhere, because otherwise he would bark and howl non-stop. Didn't matter if she had a friend or family member over to keep him company, that dog had separation anxiety issues or something.

IKEA in Allaman has been allowing dogs for as long as I can remember. I see several each time I go, and I’ve taken mine a few times when I needed a few things on the way to some more dog-friendly place (usually Signal de Bougy).

https://time.com/5458480/ikea-dogs/

"This IKEA Opened Its Doors to Dogs to Let Them Sleep on the Rugs"

In the UK, John Lewis has just announced that all dogs are welcome in their stores. I have a male Golden Retriever and, knowing what comes off him when he shakes, I will not be shopping in John Lewis again any time soon!! At least in Ikea, it's all display and you buy your items in sealed containers/bags etc.

That's a pity!
When are humans ever going to learn that shopping and dogs don't mix?
And that they also shouldn't end up waiting in the car?
It's bad enough that kids have to do these things.

At Ikea Spreitenback there are lockable dog houses in the shade with water bowls in the underground car park.

I have seen people bring small dogs into Ikea and place them in the shopping carts.

Do you know if they were allowed in only for the hot season?

As for taking your dog to Ikea, I think there are many different situations and everybody should judge theirs (of course while respecting basic safety rules etc).

Two years ago I've adopted a dog who has been maltreated for 9 years (kept alone in a separate room in the basement, only let out twice a day to do her business) and now she absolutely loves to be surrounded by people. Public transport, coffee shops, basicaly anywhere people go - that's what she lives for. She's suprisingly calm in those situations - just walks/lays and looks at people all very happy and quiet. Ocasional petting from strangers is really appreciated. And I can tell she lives her best life now.

So for me it's such a good news to have one more place I go frequently to, where I can take her

So if a dog pees or poos inside the store, who cleans it up?

The owner should clean it up. And then notify the staff and pay for any damage done.

But of course if your dog is not reliably house trained, the dog should not be going to Ikea in the first place.

If you need to take your dog with you regularly in public buildings, it goes without saying that the dog should first be given an opportunity to urinate and defecate in an appropriate place, and should have already had a good long walk. Also, take a look at how service dogs are elimination trained.


(If you take your dog in a public place, such as the train, you really should have a small clean-up kit among your dog gear, just in case of an unforeseeable accident. Paper towels, small water bottle, and a small travel size bottle of enzyme cleaner and a small drying towel do not take up much space in a rucksack.)

Just common sense, really.


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I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a spoon than get stuck in the Ikea Labyrinth, and so would not subject my dogs to that particular piece of insanity either.

But I have seen some well-behaved, well trained dogs who seemed happy to accompany their owners out shopping. To each his or her own, as long as everyone - two and four footers - respects everyone and everything else.

I'm only seeing this now, but this is great news. Sometimes we take our dog out with us when we are shopping and running errands and maybe fit in a dog run along the way. We've always appreciated shops that allow dogs and I never really understood why IKEA didn't allow dogs. I always hated locking him in those little dark dog houses for 1-2 hours while we stumbled our way through IKEA, and he did not love it either.

I'm not sure this applies to all Ikeas, as far as I can tell the French area does but the German area (e.g. Pratteln) doesn't.