Story and photos by Andrea Chancellor
It has been years since the Tulsa Flea Market first invited dog shoppers to accompany their humans. Today, more and more national and some local business owners have hung out their own ”Welcome” signs at the flea market, signaling that dogs can come in and shop. And why not?
Tulsa Flea Market has been held at Tulsa Expo Center since 1972. The operators have long believed that it makes good “scents” for dogs to be part of the treasure hunt. The backstory is that a Labrador-mutt mix named Goddard once freely roamed market aisles, often showing up in a booth for a snack just about lunchtime. Check out the Tulsa Flea Market website, which features a lovely drawing of Goddard by Matt Wing.
Sadly, Goddard passed away in 2018, but his spirit must still be working the flea market. We see good behavior in all dogs who visit the flea market — all are as well behaved as Goddard was.
Wing, part owner of Tulsa Flea Market, proudly says, “We’re dog friendly if the owner keeps the canine on a leash.”
The flea market does have some house rules. Owners must clean up if dogs have “accidents.” Dogs must remain on their best behavior, and owners must follow certain rules of decorum in public. Sometimes a dog will approach a canine cousin for a brief conversation, but active conflicts are not allowed.
Ubiquitous Dogs
These days, many commercial places of business allow dogs. Pottery Barn, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Ace Hardware, and many other retail establishments might not formally put a welcome notice in the window, but those places do indeed welcome dogs.
We’ve seen dogs at community meetings, at grocery stores, and waiting outside restaurants. Alert dog lovers can observe four-pawed friends at antique stores and lumberyards and tucked asleep behind the counter in many locations.
For treasure-market hunters, it is believed that dogs serve as a great public-relations tool. And because of their charm, dogs can put a smile on just about anyone’s face.
Canine Shoppers
Bella, half Yorkie and half Shih Tzu, wasted no time checking out the Tulsa Flea Market once the doors opened on a Saturday in late winter 2025. She was fashionably dressed in a pink coat and matching leash.
Max, whose owner fondly calls him Maxer, chose a red knit coat with Spoiled woven across the back. He had just passed a table display of highly breakable and collectible Snowbabies ornaments, and his owner was quick to rein him in.
A rescue dog named Missy — with one blue eye and one brown — appeared a bit jittery, probably because of the shopper noise and floor traffic at the flea market. Her owner said, “That’s why we take her out” once in a while so she can learn to calm down.
And a big puffy, fluffy white dog named Kirby seemed to always be one step ahead of his owner, who was tugging at the leash.
Two puppies were escorted across the floor separately, riding in high style in strollers. One was showcased riding in an impressive pink stroller. The other seemed happy in his black-and-white polka-dot stroller.
Another dog was running in circles on the floor around its owner — he would not take a breather. We didn’t stop him for a picture — he was too fast for us.
Everyone knows dogs are good workers. Two dog buddies, one appearing to be a boxer and the other a shepherd, were spotted many times sniffing out various booths. Another dog was helping his owner assemble a booth display piece. He was another fast mover who never slowed down.
Traditionally, a flea market sells rustic collectibles and antiques to its shoppers. Food and beverage sites offer treats from sandwiches to popcorn to sodas, and Girl Scouts pitch their cookies at one end of the market at certain times of the year.
The things missing from the food fare are probably very obvious to dogs and their owners — doggy treats and water. Their addition would make the canines’ trip to the flea market even more fulfilling.
Tulsa Flea Market is free and is held on some Saturdays. Check tulsafleamarket.net for upcoming dates.
