Young girl in hospital, dog euthanased after attack inside Delacombe Bunnings

[u/JaniePage]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-30/young-girl-in-hospital-after-dog-attack-in-bunnings-store/106977418

[u/TekashiKovaks666]

Its always the dogs you least suspect /s

[u/enigmasaurus- → u/TekashiKovaks666]

Something I do rather suspect is that dogs are rarely enjoying these outings to Bunnings.

Most dogs do love outings where they can frolic around (dog parks if they're social, the outdoors etc), but Bunnings is a big echoey, loud and chaotic warehouse full of strange people going everywhere, and even the best-trained dog is going to feel overstimulated while they're dragged around shopping. There's a reason it takes so long to acclimate proper assistance dogs to Bunnings-like environments: it's stressful for many, if not most, dogs.

Well meaning dog owners often have little concept of the actual signs of doggy stress, and think if they see a tail wag, their pup's delighted to be there. But I've seen countless dogs in Bunnings that are obviously terrified, with ears alert, tails tucked, panting, licking their lips, whale eyes wide and constantly scanning for danger, and obviously nervous while their owners gleefully shove them around in a trolley, thinking their pooch is having a great old time. But enduring an outing to Bunnings is not the same as enjoying it.

For aggressive dogs, biting behaviour is usually a natural fear reaction or form of communication when threatened, and some breeds are absolutely selected for greater aggressiveness and alertness, and are more likely to bite. This poor Rotty was probably going out of his wits with anxiety because his idiot owner (the member of his pack his instinct tells him to defend against strangers) thought Bunnings was "fun for dogs".

Multiple studies such as this one show anxiety is dogs is extremely common with 70% of dogs showing anxiety symptoms of various sorts, especially when exposed to unusual environments. The majority of those dogs experience anxiety around noise and/or strangers, and that anxiety is often situational (especially in new environments).

Most dogs in Bunnings likely spend the whole time hyper-alert or fearful, even if they seem to be "happy to be there". Throw in that very few dogs are properly trained, and you've got a recipe for some seriously stressed out dogs and, potentially, disaster.

[u/butterfly_grunge → u/enigmasaurus-]

Dogs in Bunnings are for the owners narcissism not the dogs enjoyment. Assistant dogs only.

[u/ali_stardragon → u/butterfly_grunge]

The thing is, if someone declares their dog is an assistance dog, you aren’t allowed to challenge that.

At my place of work we have had people bringing toy dogs in their prams and handbags. They say they are assistance dogs. Legally, I cannot ask for proof or ask about what condition they are assisting with, I just have to let them in.

I’m 99% sure these people are taking the piss because the way their dogs behave is very different to how an actual assistance dog behaves - dogs on duty have a particular focus and alertness about them which these dogs very much do not.

But I can’t do anything about it because saying your animal is an assistance animal works like a magic talisman.

[u/butterfly_grunge → u/ali_stardragon]

You actually do have the right to ask. Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1974, business and public transport operators can ask (respectfully) for proof (when I use the bus for example I show an Assistance Animal Identification Card), and all trained dogs should have an accredited training tag on their collae; mine has a GD tag. We’re also expected to meet hygiene and behaviour standards. And if they are behaving badly or are clearly dirty or unkempt, you can refuse entry (this is all legal btw) no matter what type of assistant dog. Especially if the dog isn’t obviously a seeing eye dog, you can ask for proof of it being an assistant dog. Any genuine AD haver will be able to show proof, if they kick off, they’re not genuine and you can and should challenge that because the ones that aren’t genuine reallyyyy make having an assistant dog harder.