Is Staples Dog-Friendly? Staples Pet Policy Explained (Updated for 2022)

Need some office supplies, and your dog is giving you puppy eyes? Our pups love to come everywhere with us, but there are few dog-friendly stores out there! If you need to take a journey to Staples, but don’t want to leave your furry friend behind, you’re in the right place.

Let’s get right down to it. Most Staples stores are pet-friendly, but not all of them are. It varies by location. Most people report success bringing their well-behaved and leashed dog to their local Staples store.

As with most dog-friendly stores, there are nuances and more rules to dive into when it comes to the Staples pet policy. In this post, we are going to cover everything you need to know about the Staples pet policy and whether you can feel comfortable bringing your dog to Staples.

What is the Staples Pet Policy?

Unfortunately, there is no official corporate pet policy for Staples. For that reason, we can’t say that the chain is extremely pet-friendly. Instead, they have decided to leave it up to the individual stores.

That means that store managers really control whether pets are going to be tolerated in the stores and whether pet owners can bring in any dog to that particular store.

With this in mind, it’s important for you to contact your local store to learn about their pet policy, ask them questions about which dogs are allowed in the stores, and get any information that you otherwise need.

As a responsible pet owner that wants to bring their dog into the store, this falls to you. Doing your due diligence is the best way to responsibly bring your dog to Staples or any other retail store!

What Employees Say

An important part of doing research to learn whether your dog is allowed in your local Staples is to find out what employees think of dogs coming in the store.

We have done the hard work of finding past and current Staples employees to see what they have to say on the matter. The input of these employees is vital to actually learning whether Staples is tolerant of four-legged friends, or if they simply don’t want to pick a battle to start kicking them out.

“We’re right next to a pet store; people stopped caring ages ago. I’ve even had lizards and an ****ing cockatiel come in.”

-Current Staples Employee

“I tell folks straight out, you can bring your dog in, but unless they are a service dog, any harm that befalls it is on you. We are considered an industrial area and there are all kinds of things that could be on our floors that could harm your dog if it doesn’t have insurance.”

-Current Staples Manager

“If the dogs are in the cart, or in the owners arms I don’t care. However I personally hate everyone who brings a dog on a leash (unless it’s a service dog) because I am freaking terrified of them. Of course the rest of the staff loves them though.”

-Current Staples Associate

There you have it! There were some mixed results. The general consensus seems to be that employees don’t have a problem with responsible, well-behaved dogs and owners and that Staples is pretty dog-friendly.

It becomes an issue when owners don’t pick up after their dogs or allow them to be rambunctious inside the store.

So, if you’re going to bring your dogs inside of Staples, be sure to be mindful and respectful of your surroundings, other four-legged shoppers, and the employees.

Types of Dogs Allowed in Staples

People have definitely had success in bringing their dog to Staples in the past, but it’s not quite as simple as it sounds. There are several different types of dogs that people want to be able to bring into Staples, but they each come with their own unique identifiers and rules.

We’re going to make things simple: read more to find out how Staples treats pet dogs, emotional support dogs, and service dogs.

Pet Dogs

The most common type of animal that people will want to bring into a Staples store are pet dogs. Everyone wants to bring their furry friend with them, but it’s not many stores are allowing dogs. In the case of Staples, we feel confident saying that more often than not, Staples is a pet-friendly store.

Most stores will (possibly grudgingly) allow you to bring your dog into the store. Again, this policy varies by location, so be sure to call ahead and talk to the store manager.

As we noted before, it’s much easier to bring a small dog into Staples than a large dog. Most employees don’t mind a small dog in the cart or in a backpack/carrier. However, employees are much more likely to stop you and ask questions if you bring a dog that is large, leashed, and energetic. Keep this in mind when considering whether to bring your dog.

Emotional Support Dogs

Oftentimes, emotional support dogs are caught in a sort of “gray area”. Their owners usually try to pass them off as service dogs, but they don’t have the proper certification to do so.

Unfortunately, this often means that people with emotional support dogs are not given the same privileges as people with service dogs.

What does that mean for you and your emotional support dog at Staples? Well, it really depends on the store manager.

Some store managers are very lax and don’t really care whether a dog is a pet, emotional support animal, or service dog. They will simply allow any leashed and well-behaved dog into the store without much fuss.

Other store managers are extremely strict about not allowing any dogs that are not service animals into the store. This is especially true if the dog is not wearing a vest or some sort of identifying marker that says they are an emotional support animal.

The best thing you can do if you want to bring your emotional support dog into Staples is to call ahead and ask the store manager about their policy. It never hurts to be polite and gather some information before you try and bring your dog into the store.

Service Dogs

Staples and most other retailers are legally required to allow service dogs in their store. This is thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which states that service dogs must be allowed in all public places.

Service dogs are not the same as pet dogs or emotional support animals, and it’s important to understand the difference. A service dog is specially trained to provide a specific service or assistance to their owner, who has a disability.

Small Dogs Are Preferable!

In Staples and any other retail store that sometimes allows dogs, small dogs are much easier to get away with.

This is simply because they are less likely to be disruptive, and they can usually just ride in the cart or in a carrier without too much trouble.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should bring your small dog into Staples if you know that the store doesn’t allow pets. But if you’re trying to decide whether to bring your dog or not, the size of your dog is definitely something to consider.

How to Bring Your Dog to Staples: Step-By-Step

Okay, now that we’ve established that Staples is pet-friendly most of the time, it’s time to get into the particulars. We’re going to learn how you can bring your dog to Staples and break it down step-by-step with helpful tips, tricks, and policy requirements along the way.

Step #1: Call Ahead to Your Local Store Manager

The first thing you want to do is call your local Staples store and ask to speak with the store manager.

Tell them that you’re interested in bringing your dog into the store, and ask if they have any specific requirements or policies in place.

If the store manager says that it’s no problem to bring your dog into the store, great! You can move on to the next step.

However, if the store manager says that it’s not possible to bring dogs into the store, you’ll have to decide whether you want to leave your dog at home or take them somewhere else.

Step #2: Plan to Contain Your Dog With a Leash or Backpack

Once you’ve established that it’s okay to bring your dog into the store, it’s time to start planning.

The first thing you’ll need to do is make sure that your dog will be contained while you’re in the store. The best way to do this is with a leash or a backpack carrier.

Leashes are great because they give you complete control over your dog at all times. However, if your dog is particularly small or well-behaved, a backpack carrier can also be a good option.

A backpack carrier is basically a small bag that you can put your dog in and wear on your back like a backpack. This keeps your hands free while still allowing you to keep an eye on your dog at all times.

Step #3: Be Courteous and Behaved in the Store

Once you’ve got your dog-friendly visit all mapped out, it’s time to head to the store!

Remember, just because Staples is a pet-friendly store doesn’t mean that you can let your dog run wild.

You should always be courteous and respectful of other shoppers, and make sure your dog is behaving properly as well.

This means keeping them close to you at all times, not letting them jump on other shoppers or greet them without permission, and cleaning up any accidents immediately.

Following these simple steps will help ensure that everyone has a positive experience when you bring your dog into Staples!

Step #4: Clean Up After Your Dog

The last step in bringing your dog to Staples is to clean up after them.

This means picking up any waste that they leave behind, and making sure that their fur doesn’t get everywhere.

Cleaning up after your dog is important for two reasons. First, it’s just good manners.

And second, it helps ensure that other shoppers will be happy to see dogs in the store, and that Staples will continue to be a pet-friendly place.

Bonus Step: Enjoy a Treat at the Register!

Not many people know this, but some Staples locations are so dog-friendly that they actually keep dog treats at the register for any furry friends that happen to come along! If you want to give your dog the best experience possible, bring them to the register for a treat and to meet your friendly Staples associates!

Staples Pet Policy: Let’s Recap

Here’s a quick recap of everything we’ve learned about the Staples pet policy:

– You can bring your dog into Staples as long as you call ahead and speak to the store manager first.

– Dogs must be on a leash or in a carrier at all times, and owners must clean up after their pets.

– Dogs should be well-behaved and not disruptive to other shoppers.

– Some Staples locations even keep dog treats at the register, so your furry friend can enjoy a little something special during their visit!

We hope this article has been helpful in teaching you everything you need to know about the Staples pet policy.

Now you can visit your local Staples store with confidence, knowing that you and your dog will be welcome! Thanks for reading!