Bijoux comes with me to the book store, they love her in there, they actually pass her around and take pictures. It's actually a good thing it helps with her socialization

__________________

I have 2 chihuahuas (soon to be 3) and they go EVERYWHERE with me, whether allowed or not. I kinda know the places that don't allow them so I bought a very cute and fully enclosed (all but 4 small air holes on the sides which are small and unnoticeable) doggie purse that looks just like my actual purse. I put them in there when we are going in a non dog place or event. Now, the key, as someone already mentioned, is starting to get them used to the purse when they are very little or else they won't ever go in. My dogs are sooooo used to it and know that when they go in the bag its quiet time and they just sleep and make not a peep. Yesterday they went into applebees, Walmart and a cheer leading performance and no one even knew they were there. I love being able to take them with me everywhere. I'm getting my 3rd in just two weeks so I'm already planning on taking him with me day 1 in the purse so he gets used to it right away. I'm so excited. My husband is pastor of our church so they even go to church in their bag and sit on stage while I play/sing and are quiet as can be. I'm so blessed with that. Hope you get daring and start taking yours with you. Lol. Most people in my town know me and get upset if the puppies don't come with me. Lol.

I do sometimes. I usually just take Holly into pet friendly places like PetSmart, although I've taken her into a hardware store before. No one said anything about having her with me but they did look. lol One employee did ask me a question on my way out. He asked if she could say taco bell. lol I also took her into a restaurant before. However, it isn't a typical restaurant and she had been in her carrier. I made sure to ask first, or rather I had my son ask. Who could resist a little boy and his dog? lol

I wouldn't worry too much about it. I've seen other people take their dogs into such places as Wal-Mart, the bank, and the mall. Most were little dogs, although I've seen a couple of large breeds as well. I don't think most places mind. As long as they are being carried around by their person the stores don't have a problem with it. The only time I saw someone get kicked out was at Wal-Mart and that was because their pup (a Rottie) was in a shopping cart. The other two large breeds were on leashes. One was even at the mall! I also saw a chi there!

PS Want to add that I took Holly to PetSmart again today. I also took her into Wal-Mart afterwards...her first trip there! She did beautifully! A perfect little angel! I again got some weird looks as well as some rude ones, but at least I wasn't kicked out! A few people even came up to us and pet her.

I'll have to try the mall one of these days.

__________________

I have been thinking about this and was going to post the same thing.
I had an issue last week with Eva at a kids party place. I had her in her snuggle sack the whole time (I dont have a carrier) and most of the time it was in my cousins carrier with my coat over the top. We were there for almost 3 or 4 hours for my cousins birthday. The manager waited until my aunt asked for a refund for soggy nachos that no one wanted to eat to complain. She yelled at me and my cousin saying that they would have been shut down if the health department would have came in. We were packing up to leave anyway so I asked my uncle for the keys and went out to the van with her.
I keep my little ones with me for at least the first month or so after getting them to insure they are good and trained. With Eva being smaller than the older 3 I'd love for her to be able to go more places with me. After the above incident I'm scared to take her anywhere besides pet stores. I was scared to death when my mom had me bring her in with us when we stopped at Walmart on our way to Petco. Nothing happened because I had my old purse with me and she just laid on my wallet and took a nap the whole time.

Sorry for the ramble.

__________________

When I was in college I sat in a class for 3/4 of a semester not knowing the guy next to me brought his chi EVERY DAY! I think the key was a carrier that didn't look like a dog carrier and a very well trained dog. I was literally inches from this dog every day for months and never knew she was there. I only figured it out because I saw him with the dog and carrier in a park near campus. He told me she came everywhere because she had severe SA (that they were working on too) and that he was from NYC and everyone there is used to hiding dogs in purse carriers so they could do shopping on their walks!

I am so used to having to work around errands because of my bigger dog that I haven't gotten a carrier that would work for errand running with my chihuahua. Maybe one day when she is not such a puppy.

__________________

We blog about our adventures too

I only take Odie out with me when I know she's allowed in every store I'm going to, because I won't leave her in my car. There aren't very many pet friendly stores here, and they won't hesitate to ask you to leave. Where I live, you're definitely not allowed in any restaurant, or anywhere that sells food. I usually take her to a furniture store (that has a sign in the window that says "we love your dogs" with a pic of a dachshund!), the pet shops, and to sit outside at Starbucks (if I have someone to go in and buy one for me). When we go to a place we regularly vacation at, a lot of the restaurants will let you have your dog on outside patios, and have water bowls and places to attach leashes to, etc. I just learned that the mall here will allow you to bring dogs, but only if you're holding them. When I do take her out, she walks on leash. I think it's a good experience for her.

__________________

I take my dog to class with me when Im not in the lab.

Would you be willing to show a pic of your doggie purse ( I take 2 with me also!), and where you purchased if not too private ?
I am on this search and it would be so helpful, especially since you also take 2 (yea!) thanks