Is Target Dog Friendly? (2024 Guide)

Target is America’s second-largest retailer, and with a super cute bull terrier named Bullseye as their mascot, it seems fair to ask “is Target dog friendly.”

Unfortunately, despite their appearance as furry-friendly, and the fact that you can grab toys, foods and treats for your bestie — for the most part, dogs aren’t welcome to join you while you browse their aisles.

While Target does welcome service dogs in their doors, your average four-legged pet needs to stay behind (preferably at home because the car can be stuffy).

Why? Because not only does Target offer discounted home goods and clothing, but you can also buy food there. And food and puppy fur, slobber and overall mess, don’t really mix.

But we thought we’d take a closer look into pets at Target, their official policy, and see if your furry friend might just be an exception to the rule:

Is Target dog friendly?

Target is not dog friendly. Despite their cute bull terrier mascot, the only dogs allowed to wander the aisles are certified service dogs on the job. Fido, Fifi and Puss-in-Boots all have to stay home.

Types of Dogs Allowed at Target

The only dogs allowed in Target are service dogs. But service dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and serve many different (and incredibly important) purposes.

So you might see a regular ole dog moseying about and think that they’re an average pet, but if they’re in Target, they’re working. Here are the different types of service dogs you might see at Target:

1. Guide Dogs

When you think of “service dogs” guide dogs are probably where your mind goes. These specially trained dogs help blind and/or visually impaired people make their way around the world safely. When these dogs are wandering the aisles of Target, they’re doing so to ensure their partner can safely shop for the things they need.

2. Hearing Dogs

Whereas guide dogs act as the eyes for their partners, hearing dogs are the ears. They help those who are deaf and/or hearing impaired navigate the world around them. Their ears are open during their visits, and they’re busy ensuring the store is safe for their favorite human.

3. Medical Alert and Assist Dogs

Medical Alert and Assist dogs play a unique role. They’re trained to help humans with complicated medical conditions that you often can’t see.

These furry pals are able to detect oncoming medical emergencies before they happen, and help their humans prepare and get to safety. They work with those with diabetes and other diseases that can be measured via body symptoms.

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4. Psychiatric Service Dogs

While emotional support animals don’t go through the same rigorous ADA training as other service animals, Psychiatric Service Dogs do.

Certified mental health service dogs are trained to provide support in severe psychiatric cases, such as cases of PTSD or Autism. They help their humans live a more independent lifestyle by providing both physical and psychological support.

5. Seizure Alert and Response Dogs

Seizure Alert and Response Dogs do exactly as the name describes. They are specially trained to predict seizures and provide their humans with both pre-warning and physical support during an emergency.

These hard-working canines can predict episodes from a few seconds up to 45 minutes in advance, which allows them to help escort their owners to a safe place, provide physical support to ensure they’re not injuries, and even get help from nearby people.

6. Severe Allergy Alert Dogs

Sometimes referred to as Anaphylaxis Service and/or Prevention Dogs, these animals are trained to sniff and detect allergens. They work with those that have life-threatening allergies, and are trained to alert their humans before they consume something dangerous. Just like a dog can be trained to sniff out bed bugs or bombs, they can sniff out peanuts too!

7. Mobility Assistance

Often mid-to-large breeds, Mobility Assistance dogs play a unique role in ensuring their humans can physically move around. They do this by providing actual physical support and stability, to both those with and without a wheelchair. This helps them live a more independent life.

Can Target ask if your dog is a service dog?

It’s not legal to ask if a service dog is a service dog. You are not required to provide proof or papers to support your claim. You can expect a business to be understanding and accommodating when you have your dog with you.

However, just because they can’t ask doesn’t mean you can bring any dog in and pretend it’s a service dog. Misbehaving dogs pretending to be service dogs pose a danger to real service dogs, those who they protect, and everyone else!

Are emotional support animals allowed in Target?

While emotional support animals play a big role in many people’s lives, they are not service dogs. Thus, even if they’ve received some form of specialized training, they are not allowed in Target.

Is Target small dog friendly?

Target is Service Dog friendly, and that includes small service dogs too. However, they do not allow small dog pets in their store.

Does Target allow dogs in strollers?

Dogs are not allowed inside Target stores, even if they’re in strollers. Target only welcomes service dogs, and they typically don’t ride in strollers.

Does Target allow dogs in a bag?

Target is not pet friendly, even if you put them in a bag. Service dogs are allowed in Target, but they are typically not kept in a bag.

Are dogs on leash allowed in Target?

Target does allow Service Dogs in the store on their leashes. However, they do not allow non-service dogs on leashes inside their store.

Are pets allowed in Target?

A lot of people wonder is Target pet friendly? Unfortunately, they do not allow ANY pets in the store. The no-pet policy goes beyond dogs, and includes any kind of animal from cat to Guinea pigs. Leave your pets at home!

Why can’t I bring my dog to Target?

Target has a strict no pet (including dogs) policy, for a number of reasons. The primary being the following 9 reasons:

Allergies

Target strives to remain a place for everyone to shop, which means doing what they can to prevent allergens. Unfortunately, pet allergies (especially dogs) are quite common.

It’s impossible to know who visiting the store has them and where they plan to go. With that in mind, it’s best for everyone if dogs are simply not allowed in the store in the first place.

Grocery Health Standards

Animals, including dogs, can be unsanitary and potentially contaminate food. This means that it’s generally not safe to have dogs, or other pets, in the grocery area of a store like Target.

However, there’s no way to ensure that dogs that visit will stay away from the grocery are. So, even though this may be inconvenient for pet owners who want to shop with their furry friends, it is important to keep pets out.

Harm Others

Not all dogs are well behaved. Even those that are well-behaved, and even those that can, are capable of becoming anxious or scared, which can lead to aggressive behaviours. Overall, it’s a risk to have dogs in Target.

Target (like other stores) do not want to risk someone being injured while shopping there. So, they’ve implemented a blanket policy that requires all animals, except service animals, to remain outside. It’s worth noting that even a service dog can be asked to leave the store if they’re misbehaving.

Scare Shoppers

Not everyone loves dogs, and some people are even scared of them. Simply not having dogs in the store makes it easier for everyone to have a pleasant time shopping at Target.

Distract/Be Aggressive to Service Dogs

Service dogs are highly trained to fulfil specific tasks and provide assistance to their humans. It’s important that these working dogs remain focused on their job without being distracted by other dogs.

Unfortunately, untrained, poorly trained or even just curious dogs can distract and/or act aggressively toward service dogs. This prevents them from performing their duties properly, and could put the owner in danger or disrupt an important task they’re trained to perform.

Damage Inventory

Dogs are naturally curious animals, and often use their mouths to explore the world around them. This could lead them to chew on items they shouldn’t, like furniture or other merchandise.

Others are playful, and could knock items off shelves or get into things they are supposed to. Ultimately, having pets in the store risks damage to Target’s inventory.

Messes

Even the best trained animals can have accidents in the store, and Target doesn’t want to be responsible for cleaning them up. Nor do they want the messes to dissuade any other shoppers from visiting again.

Sanitary Issues

Dogs are adorable and loyal companions. But they also slobber, shed, sneeze, and urinate and could do so in Target. Considering people are headed there to buy groceries and other household goods, it makes sense to ensure that dogs simply don’t hangout in Target.

Parasites

No one likes to think of their dog as a walking parasite host. But unfortunately, ticks, fleas, lice and other parasites often hang out on their coats.

This can be particularly concerning for Target shoppers if they come across leftovers of these bugs when they’re shopping. They might not want to come back.

Since There’s no real way to separate dogs with parasites from those without, it’s best to simply not have any pets in the store.

What happens if you bring a dog to Target?

Since Target does allow service dogs inside their store, and they aren’t able to ask whether or not the dogs are working you’re unlikely to face any issues entering the store.

Most Target’s rely on an honor system, assuming their visitors are following the rule. However, if your dog misbehaves — even if they’re a service dog — they can be asked to leave the store.

Dogs in Target FAQs

Why are service dogs allowed in Target?

Services dogs are allowed because they help people navigate the world and are specifically trained to do so. These dogs are typically well-behaved, and are working when they’re visiting target.

Are other animals allowed in Target?

No pets of any sort are allowed in Target. Only service dogs.

Can I bring my dog to Target if I carry them?

Pets are not allowed in Target, even if you carry them.

Does Target’s no-dog policy apply to all locations?

Yes, Target’s no-dog policy is nationwide. Though some visitors do report that the strictness of it varies by location.

Can dogs walk around in Target?

As per Target’s pet policy, dogs are not allowed to walk around in Target unless they’re a working service dog.

Wrap Up: Are Dogs Allowed in Target?

Target stores are not the best place to bring your four-legged friend. They have a strict no pets policy, allowing only working service dogs inside their doors.

This policy applies to all their locations nationwide, so if you need to head to Target make sure you leave the puppy at home.

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?
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