1. Know Before You Go. Not all restaurant patios are pet friendly. Read online reviews or check out the restaurant’s website ahead of time to see if dogs are welcome. Casual dining restaurants with outdoor eating spaces are more likely to be dog-friendly. The best thing to do is call the restaurant beforehand to clarify policies, make reservations for the patio (ideally in a quiet corner with low foot traffic), and ask if you need to bring your own water bowl.
2. Know Your Dog. This outing needs to be fun for both of you, and your dog needs to have the manners and training necessary to be under your control and behave well at the restaurant. If a dog cannot consistently obey ‘sit, ‘lie down’, and ‘leave it’, then hold restaurant visits until these commands are mastered.
3. If your dog seems nervous or fearful at restaurants then they aren’t having a good time and should stay home when you go out. Signs that your dog is distressed include not listening to commands, panting, pacing, tail between the legs, drooling, hiding or acting clingy, dilated eyes, raised hackles, lunging, barking, and growling. If your dog is fearful of strangers, startles easily, is territorial, has high energy, needs a lot of attention from you, barks excessively at strangers, has special medical needs, or is a big dog over 100 pounds, then think twice before bringing your dog to a restaurant.
4. Don’t Stay Too Long. Some dogs are like toddlers and can get bored of sitting. To avoid a bored dog, don’t stay longer than one hour. In addition, try to plan your visit for times when the restaurant is quieter and has less foot traffic: this will be more relaxing for all parties involved.
5. Utilize Tools. To avoid tripping hazards, use a short leash and collar or harness. Do not use extendable leashes - the reason for this is that they cause tripping and rope burn injuries. They can also get easily tangled around chair and table legs. Maintain constant control of your dog by looping the leash around your wrist. Additional tools that can help are one comfort toy that your dog can chew on, treats for good behavior, and a collapsible water bowl.
As tempting as it is, do not feed your doggo off your patio. Hand feeding reinforces begging behavior and table surfing, which is a big no no. You can reduce begging also by feeding your dog a light meal before you get to the restaurant and bringing some treats to reward your dog for good behavior.
Now that you know how to have a great time dining out with your doggo, it’s time to eat!