Visiting dog friendly places to eat

There are lots of benefits for you and your dog when taking them to a dog friendly restaurant, pub or café if they are well-trained and socialised. Find out more about some of the benefits below.

• Your dog is not left alone at home
• Reduces separation anxiety
• Enables your dog to get used to different environments
• No need to rush home for your dog after dinner – you can relax and enjoy the meal for longer!
• Great way to meet up with friends and their dogs
• Dogs are an easy way to break the ice with someone new – there are so many stories you can tell about your dog! If the restaurant has a special area for dog owners to sit together, it is a great way to meet fellow dog owners

• Consider whether your dog will be comfortable surrounded by other people and dogs
• Research the restaurant, pub or cafe by looking at their website and calling beforehand, or searching dog friendly places to eat for information and reviews
• Reserve a table at a time when the restaurant is quieter and in the best location for your dog
• Is your dog ok with sitting/staying if needed?

• Feed your dog before going out so they are less likely to be tempted by any food
• Ensure your dog has been walked or exercised before visiting so they will settle when you sit down to eat/drink
• Take treats and dog toys with you so if your dog needs a distraction you have something for them

Once you arrive at the restaurant, pub or cafe, be sure to make sure your dog is happy. They are most likely to be excitable at first, so remain calm and they will soon settle down into their new surroundings. Below are some top tips for when you are at the restaurant, pub or café.

• Use a short lead. This will act as a safety device so that your dog doesn’t run away and will also prevent a trip hazard
• Make sure you don’t attach your dog’s lead to a table or chair because these are not necessarily secure and can injure your dog and other people
• Refrain from feeding your dog at the table. It may encourage them to think its ok to go up to other customers for food and human foods can be harmful to dogs
• Be mindful that some diners might not want to interact with your dog
• Make sure to praise your dog when they are behaving, this should be a positive experience for them
• Keep an eye on your dog and make sure they seem relaxed, safe and comfortable in their new surroundings

Once you have decided you are ready to make your establishment 'Open for Dogs', you should make sure you put all the below in place. We have also created some downloads for you to print out to make sure you have everything you need.

• Create a policy or guidelines, for example mapping out areas where dogs can and can’t go
• Add your policy or guidelines to your website
• Download our 'Open for Dogs' sign and place this in areas where dog owners can take their dog
• Discuss with employees to ensure they are comfortable with the dog friendly policy
• Make sure there is adequate spacing between tables to allow for dogs to enter and exit, and sit or lie down
• If it’s a hot day, ensure there is somewhere which has access to shade or an umbrella to reduce the chance of heatstroke
• Provide access to water bowls especially on hot days
• We have created an 'Open for Dogs' sticker that you can request to be sent to you to show dog owners you are a dog friendly business

• Why not have dog treats or even a dog menu on offer for your customers?
• Create a designated area for dog customers to sit together
• Create a ‘regulars’ dog wall with pictures of all the regular dog visitors you have