Antiquing With Your Dog

Posted by Lauren Barker

Whether you’re a collector on the hunt, browsing for decorative pieces for your home, or you just enjoy finding unique items that tell a story, antiquing is a fun way to explore a new destination. Luckily, many antique and vintage stores welcome four-legged treasure-seekers to shop around. After all, you never know where you might come across an old fire hydrant for the backyard or a vintage gumball machine for Fido’s treats!

The Market at Circa 1857

Baton Rouge, LA
You never know what you'll find. Photo by @circa1857

Discover new antiques with your Old English Sheepdog at The Market at Circa 1857. Shop for vintage furniture, oddities, and unique lighting, as well as local and original artwork. Susan, the shop’s resident Dachshund, will be happy to help you find the ideal gift or the perfect piece for any space. The Market focuses not only on providing high-quality, one-of-a-kind merchandise, but it also encourages the reuse of timeless treasures, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to today’s disposable designs.

Stay in the heart of Baton Rouge in a room overlooking the Mississippi River at Hotel Indigo Baton Rouge Downtown. Furry guests will be greeted with treats and water bowls.

Hot Sam’s Antique and Foto Park

Lakeville, MN
Just monkeying around. Photo by @mycolliepip

You’ll find more than your average antiques at Hot Sam’s Antique and Foto Park. Bring your photogenic pooch along to this 10-acre roadside attraction and explore the property, snapping his photo in front of unique features like antique cars, vintage circus wagons, airplanes, aliens, and more. Once you’ve captured those epic shots, browse around the log cabin packed with one of the largest and oddest collections of antiques and eclectic items anywhere. You might even meet the shop dog, Alley-Oop.

Post Fido’s new photos to Instagram while you relax at Candlewood Suites Lakeville I-35, just five minutes up the road.

Sleepy Poet Antique Mall

Charlotte, NC
"Shopping is exhausting." Photo by @chatswithjor

Spend a full day wandering through the aisles of Sleepy Poet Antique Mall with Fido. The 60,000-square-foot building is filled with antiques and vintage finds including furniture, home decor, and clothing, as well as a large selection of vinyl records from their sister store, The Poet’s Vault. With so much to see, plan to spend a full day exploring this treasure trove. Four-legged shoppers will have access to treats and water dishes, and the staff will be happy to offer pets.

If you need more than a day to explore all that Sleepy Poet has to offer, stay nearby at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Charlotte SouthPark.

Black Dog Salvage

Roanoke, VA
Everything’s for sale … but the dog. Photo by @blackdogsalvage

Whether you’re renovating a home or just looking for timeless treasures to decorate Fido’s doghouse, take your pup shopping at Black Dog Salvage, where the motto is “everything’s for sale … but the dog.” The shop's two pups, Molly May and Stella, might even greet you upon arrival. The inventory at Black Dog changes daily, with over 40,000 square feet of architectural salvage, home and garden decor, and more. Visit the nearby salvage warehouse to find new arrivals and antique lumber, then browse the outdoor area for wrought iron, claw foot tubs, and amazing art. The store partners with Roanoke Valley SPCA. If you bring in at least an 8 lb bag of dog food to donate, you’ll receive a discount on your purchase.

Spend time exploring other pet-friendly areas of Roanoke and book a night at Hampton Inn and Suites Roanoke Downtown.

Antique Trove

Scottsdale, AZ
Photo by Facebook.com/ScottsdaleAntiqueTrove

More than 140 dealers have set up shop at Antique Trove, the “go-to” destination for heirloom and period pieces in Scottsdale. Bring your furry collector along to shop for furniture from the 1800s, coins, sports memorabilia, jewelry, vinyl records and more. From Victorian to midcentury, you’ll find a large selection of collectibles to satisfy every taste, and maybe inspire new ideas and interests. Leashed or carried pets are welcome to browse with you. If you want to make it a full weekend of antiquing, take the short drive over to Phoenix to visit Antique Gatherings. Small, leashed dogs are allowed to join you while you shop from 60 fine-merchandise dealers.

Stick with the vintage vibes while you’re in Scottsdale and stay at Hotel Valley Ho, a former Hollywood hangout.

Mike’s Unique Antique Flea Market

Springfield, MO
“Do you have a treat aisle?” Photo by Mike’s Unique Antique Flea Market

Travel to the heart of the Ozarks to find Mike’s Unique Antique Flea Market, where “puppies and dinosaurs are always welcome.” The flea market and antique store combination features more than 250 booths showcasing treasures like vintage signs, art, collectibles, and more. You’ll also find a large selection of antique and vintage furniture like tables, China cabinets, desks, and dressers. There’s even a book section with shelves dedicated to local Springfield authors you won’t want to miss.

If your dogs are barkin’ after a day of antiquing, rest up with your pup at Best Western Plus Springfield Airport Inn. Fido can sniff out treats at the front desk when you arrive.

Queen of Hearts

Alpharetta, Buford and Marietta, GA
“Did you find everything okay?” Photo by Facebook.com/QueenofHeartsAntiques

Visit any of the Queen of Hearts locations in Alpharetta, Buford or Marietta, GA, and you and your pup will be invited inside to shop from more than 500 dealer-merchants and the largest collection of antiques in North Georgia. You’ll find old and new furniture of every style, home decor, sports memorabilia, jewelry, vintage records and collectibles. The staff will be excited to greet your furry shopper, and might even feature him on the store’s Facebook page.

If you want to visit all three stores, make your basecamp at the centrally located Sonesta ES Suites Atlanta Alpharetta Avalon. Between shopping trips, you can take your pup to the hotel’s designated dog walk area.

Antique Specialty Mall

Albuquerque, NM
For display purposes only. Photo by Facebook.com/AntiqueSpecialtyMall

Located on Central Ave, part of the original Route 66, Antique Specialty Mall welcomes shoppers on two legs and four. The 18,000-square-foot showroom features items spanning nearly 200 years of American and Southwest history. While you’re there, check out the on-site museum featuring one of the largest collections of Civil War items in the state, with relics like uniforms, weaponry, and photographs. Furry treasure hunters will receive treats and water while they shop.

Stay in downtown Albuquerque at Hotel Parq Central, located next door to Highland Park, where Fido can stretch his legs.

Antiques Village

Dayton, OH
Modeling the merchandise. Photo by @antiquesvillage

Dayton’s Antiques Village is actually several shops in one, and there’s something for every shopper. With more than 350 vendors dedicated to preserving and recycling America’s historic past, you’ll find furniture, fashion, home decor, and more. There’s also a large collection of architectural salvage and reclaimed lumber in their Reclamation and Restoration section, a non-profit new and gently-used bookstore that supports literacy programs in the Dayton area, a candle shop, and a general store featuring local and specialty goods.

Admire your recent acquisitions after a day of antiquing with Fido at The Hotel Dayton South.

Williamsburg Antique Mall

Williamsburg, VA
Photo by BringFido/Marlene

In a town full of history, Williamsburg Antique Mall stands out. Canine connoisseurs are invited to browse the 45,000-square-foot store for all kinds of antiques and collectibles. With more than 300 dealers, you'll find buys on just about anything including jewelry, clocks, dolls, tools, porcelain figurines, quilts, furniture and more. They even have some pet-themed items. The knowledgeable staff are readily available to answer questions when you use the store’s call buttons located on each aisle. Take a break from shopping to pick up a sweet treat from the on-site cafe and enjoy it at one of the outdoor tables with your pup. If you’re up for more shopping, take your pooch to Lightfoot Antique Mall and Country General Store for additional finds.

Spend a weekend at the historic Williamsburg Lodge and explore all the pet-friendly places to visit in Williamsburg.

Jeffrey’s Antique Gallery

Findlay, OH
Photo by BringFido/Lauren Barker

Four-legged shoppers are encouraged at Jeffrey’s Antique Gallery in Findlay, OH. Bring Fido along to shop the 38,000-square-foot facility for fine furniture, glassware, advertising tins, primitive items, toys and more. Over 300 dealers offer a variety of wares in the climate-controlled facility. Spend more time antiquing in Ohio and head south to Springfield where Jeffrey’s provides two more buildings of relics and heirlooms at its sister store, Springfield Antique Center.

After your first day at Jeffrey’s, spend the night with Fido at Drury Inn & Suites Findlay and head to Springfield the next morning for more shopping.

Do you have a favorite pet-friendly antique store? Leave a comment or tweet us @BringFido!

Banner photo by @chatswithjor.