Sometimes I bring my dog into stores, but only if 1) the proprietor gives Molly a big grin and says Come on in, 2) I come to the store a lot and already know they are down with dogs, 3) if it’s really hot out and there’s no shade patch (my dog is black and fluffy and gets heatstroke easily) and I have asked for and received the proprietor’s permission, and 4) the store does not sell human food products. There are a few other single-time incidents, such as me walking my dog over to pick up my car from the shop, they had more work to do and I ended up waiting for another hour and it was raining hard outside.
I don’t take her into restaurants or any store that sells human food because that’s considered a health hazard in NYC, and I suppose it’s just my mindset now even though I don’t live there anymore. I do take her onto restaurant porches with me if they allow dogs and I have her with me, like if we are grabbing a bite after driving home from a hike. I feel like this is a near-universally accepted thing; never realized other patrons might take issue with my dog sleeping under the table. It’s not like it’s “suddenly acceptable,” as you put it; seems more like it’s always been ok.