Is Home Depot Dog Friendly? (2024 Guide)

Home Depot is a popular home improvement store in North America, known for its wide selection of tools and supplies. While many DIYers and handymen frequent their isles, what about the furry members of the family? Is Home Depot dog friendly?

Let’s dig into whether your furry friend is welcome at this DIY-favorite or if he’s got to stay at home while you run out for a lumber run. Can your best bud join you at Home Depot or are you flyin’ solo, and are there any other rules you need to follow? Here’s what we know:

Is Home Depot Dog Friendly?

Home Depot is considered to be a dog friendly store by many dog owners. While there’s no official policy, I can attest to at least some locations being pet friendly since Theo once joined me on a trip. If you’re not sure about your local shop, it’s easy enough to just call and ask.

Home Depot Pet Policy

There is no OFFICIAL pet policy at Home Depot. However, service dogs are welcome and many are said to welcome well-behaved pets on leashes. Since there’s a lack of official pet policy, it’s worth it to call ahead and check with your local store if you don’t know. This will ensure both you and your pet have an enjoyable and stress-free visit (and are welcome!).

Are small dogs allowed in Home Depot?

Service Dogs are always allowed at Home Depot, which would include any small ones you might come across. However, many locations also allow small dogs that are pets to join their humans for a shopping trip.

Are dogs allowed in Home Depot Canada?

With the exception of service animals, Home Depot Canada observes a strict no pet policy. According to their FAQ page:

”The safety of our customers and associates is our number one priority. Certified service animals are an exception to this policy and are welcome in our stores.”

So, unless Fido is a service dog, you might want to leave him at home. That said, it’s possible that this policy is observed case-by-case, so it never hurts to call your local store and ask. The worst they’re going to say is no.

#dogsofhomedepot Social Media

Despite Home Depots somewhat unclear policy regarding pets, there are plenty of stores that do welcome your furry companions. In fact, you can often see the #dogsofhomedepot starring on the company’s social media.

In fact, if you do find that your local store is dog friendly, you can take a photo of your best bud shopping the aisles, use the #dogsofhomedepot hashtag and tag the company. You might even see them show up on their feed!

Tips for Bringing Dogs to Home Depot

If you do plan on bringing the pup on your next Home Depot run, here are a few tips that might make your experience more pleasant.

1. Bring a Leash

Both service dogs and pets alike are only allowed in Home Depot if they’re not being disruptive. While service dogs can be disruptive, they’re pretty well trained so it’s less likely — but that’s not necessarily the case with pet dogs.

Even if you have the best behaved pup in the world, you want to keep them on a leash (or drive them around in the cart). Keeping your pup on a leash helps to keep them away from other visitors, ensuring that they don’t ruin anyone else’s experience. And, when it comes to picking the right leash, I highly recommend the shorter the better.

2. Don’t Forget Your Clean Up Kit

First thing’s first, make sure you and your pooch stop for a quick bathroom break BEFORE you enter Home Depot. Even if he recently went, you still want to give him a chance to go. You don’t want to have any accidents while you’re hanging out in the store.

That said, accidents happen — even for the most prepared pups and their humans. So you want to make sure that you have a little clean-up kit on you. Along with your poop bags, you’ll want to bring some paper towel (or even wet wipes) and some form of spray to wipe up if your pet accidentally goes. Don’t leave it for the employees, that’s just not fair!

3. Make Sure Your Pup is Ready

Just because there are Home Depot stores that allow dogs doesn’t mean that your pet should go. It’s not going to be the right excursion for all of our dog friends.

Not all dogs are ready to head to a loud hardware and home store with clanging boards, rolling carts, and loud noises. Before you head in, make sure it’s the right choice for you pup. If it’s your first public outing, you might want to try something a tad bit more quiet and low key!

Which Home Depot locations are dog friendly?

Home Depot’s official policy says that NONE of their stores are dog friendly, which means that officially no locations are. But many canine owners find that their local Home Depot stores do, in fact, accept pooch visitors. If you’re not sure of the stance of your local store, call ahead and ask — the worst they’ll say is no!

Service Dogs in Home Depot

Unlike our pet family members, service dogs are allowed wherever you are. That means, if you’re wandering the aisles of Home Depot, your working pup can be too. Their official policy welcomes service dogs, and you might run into the following kinds when you’re there:

• Guide dogs
• Seizure alert and assist dogs
• Medical alert and assist dogs
• Hearing dogs
• Psychiatric service dogs
• Mobility assistance dogs
• Severe allergy alert dogs

It’s important to note that service dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and are all trained to perform specialized tasks. While they are often wearing something to indicate that they are working they are NOT required to.

Home Depot staff and management are not allowed to ask how the dogs support their owners or for proof of certification, but poorly behaved service dogs can be asked to leave all the same.

Note that emotional support dogs are NOT service dogs, but would be allowed in many locations as a pet. 

Is Home Depot pet friendly?

Officially, Home Depot is not pet friendly. And while dog owners happily report that many locations do allow furry friends (not just service dogs) into their stores, they’re not technically supposed to be allowed.

With that in mind, it can’t be for certain that Home Depot would allow another type of pet to shop with you. I’m pretty certain they won’t be cool with you bringing along your Tarantula or walking your Guinea pig down the aisles on a leash (they do make those!). But if you’re seriously curious about it, I recommend that you call the store directly and ask. You never know!

Home Depot Pet Policy FAQs:

Does Home Depot allow pets inside?

Wondering can dogs go into Home Depot? Officially there are no pets allowed in Home Depot, but many a dog lover reports that they do, in fact, allow dogs inside many of their locations. Your best bet is to call ahead and simply as — you never know!

Why do people take their dogs to Home Depot?

Home Depot may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about taking your pup out on the town. But there are plenty of people that enjoy bringing their four-legged friends here. The answer is simple: dog people love taking their dog out with them, why leave your best furry friend at home when they can tag along?

Can dogs walk around Home Depot?

Service dogs can ALWAYS walk around Home Depot, pending they’re well behaved and non-disruptive. However, many pet owners report being able to walk their best fur buds down the aisles of Home Depot.

Are dogs welcome in Lowes?

Yes, both service dogs AND pet pups are welcome in US Lowes stores.

Wrap-up: Are dogs allowed in Home Depot?

Officially, only service dogs are allowed in Home Depot. Unofficially, they have a whole hashtag dedicated to furry friends that shop with them. While the actual acceptance of pet dogs in Home Depot stores varies location-by-location, it’s both possible and probable that you could be able to head out on your next DIY shopping trip with your best bud.

That said, Home Depot doesn’t want disruptive dogs in their store — regardless of whether they’re pets or service pups. So before you head in, you want to make sure that both you and your pup are ready for the trip. Take some time to get prepared, and practice somewhere less public if it’s your first time.

Taking your puppy out on the town with you is A LOT of fun — we all love to do it. But you need to make sure that it’s the right move for both you and your furry BFF, or it might end up being a pretty bad experience!

Learn More About Dog Friendly USA Stores:

• Is Lowes Dog Friendly?
• Is Home Depot Dog Friendly?
• Is Hobby Lobby Dog Friendly?
• Is Walmart Dog Friendly?
• Is Target Dog Friendly?
• How Much is a Puppucino at Starbucks?