Dog Dining Etiquette

By Jenn Michaelis

TIRED OF LEAVING YOUR BELOVED PUP AT HOME WHEN YOU'RE OUT ENJOYING A DELIGHTFUL MEAL, TASTING WINE OR CRAFT BREWS?

Training your dog to behave at restaurant patios is more than just table manners; it cultivates fun, shared experiences that build a stronger bond with your dog. Imagine the joy of watching your dog confidently navigate social settings with grace, mingling with other patrons and canines.

Unpredictable dog behavior can significantly impact your ability to relax and enjoy your outing. Setting your dog up for success makes your communication more effective and helps you manage challenging situations that may arise, ensuring you can savor your dining experience. This empa-thetic teamwork gives your dog the opportunity to thrive in our vibrant dining culture without any anxiety or unruly behavior.

Here are some ideas to set your dog up for success on outings:

Bring a cozy mat for your dog to settle on. The smell from home is reassuring in a new place and it provides a visual signal that it’s time to relax. You wouldn’t find it comfortable to lay on the concrete sipping beer for two hours, why would you ask your dog to?

Make sure your dog is well exercised beforehand, but not too tired. If your dog really needs some rest, a busy patio restaurant is not the place for it. It’s normal to be cranky when someone interrupts our nap time.

Teach your dog specific cues to clarify when they should and should not visit a passerby, human or canine. Then lavishly reward your dog with treats for responding appropriately. Harsh scoldings are unclear, confusing and likely to decrease your dog’s sociability over time, so leash corrections, “no” and “leave it” are unproductive communication strategies. This is a social outing, isn’t it?

Wonder Dogs’ Drink with Your Dog® class meets at real breweries and focuses on developing essential patio manners, helping your dog handle various distractions to ensure a peaceful and en-joyable atmosphere for all. Discover the importance and excitement of training your canine com-panion to behave impeccably at restaurant patios and breweries!

We welcome you to visit our 12,000 sq ft training facility to learn more about our comprehensive training programs.

Jenn Michaelis, BA, CPDT-KA, RFE-CI (she/her) Owner, Trainer, Behavior Specialist SassyT Canine Academy dba Wonder Dogs

Helping People & Dogs Live More Harmoniously www.wonderdogstraining.com