Your Go-To Etiquette Guide For Dining At Restaurants With Your Pup

Unsplash/Nicolas Tessari

Sometimes you don’t want to leave your dog at home when you’re heading out for dinner, and that’s perfectly okay. After all, it’s pretty hard to ignore the guilty look he gives you when you’re scrambling to get dressed and run out the door. If you’re heading to a dog-friendly restaurant or brewery with outdoor seating, bring your pup along, but keep some basic dog etiquette tips in mind so nobody kicks you out or makes you feel guilty for wanting your best friend by your side. Here’s what to do when dining with your dog.

Bring your own portable water bowl. 

You can find portable water bowls everywhere these days. Plus, you don’t want to be that person who asks the server for a bowl.  Other people sitting around you probably won’t want to know that their bowls have been licked all over by various dogs, no matter how clean your pup might be. Buy a small portable water bowl and keep it in your bag for these types of occasions.

Make sure your dog doesn’t chase scraps.

If you’re bringing a dog to a restaurant, make sure he is trained well enough so that chaos doesn’t ensue when scraps of food fall to the floor. It might be slightly embarrassing if your dog starts chasing everyone’s fallen breadsticks, right? If this means you need to give your dog a few treats in the car ride over, you should do it — or else, be prepared for people to complain.

Unsplash/Daniel Sandoval

Give your dog a bath first.

Depending on the size of the dog-friendly bar or restaurant, your dog’s scent could spread like wildfire. Make sure your doggo has been given a bath somewhat recently before you bring him into any enclosed spaces. You might be used to your dog’s scent, but that doesn’t mean anyone else wants to take it in while simultaneously eating their pasta.

Pick a table in the corner.

As much as you might want that table right in the middle of the restaurant with all of the natural light, you should find a table in the corner when you’re out to dinner with your pup. This way, you can make that corner your hangout and you won’t have to worry about your dog being extra distracting or getting in the way of food runners and servers trying to work the room.

Play with your dog before dinner.

Unsplash/Jordan Whitt

Get all of your dog’s energy out before dinner. If this means throwing the tennis ball 300 times against the wall, do it. The calmer your dog is, the better. The last thing you want is for your dog to be pulling on the leash throughout your entire meal. It’ll be less stressful for everyone if your doggie is exhausted.

Eat your meals at off times.

You may not be able to help it, but if you’re deciding to dine out in advance, try to pick an off time rather than showing up at prime dinner or brunch time with your dog and expecting to get a table right away. As hard as it is to believe, not everyone loves dogs as much as you do, so you’re better off going out to eat when the crowd isn’t as bustling. Grab a late lunch at 2:30 p.m. or an early dinner at 5 p.m. for a much more enjoyable outing with your BFF.

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