Going to a cafe with your dog can be a great way to spend time with your pet and friends. It is also a good opportunity to socialise with your dog. However, not every pet will find itself in a crowded place full of strangers…
With a dog to a cafe? Why not!
The presence of dogs is increasingly accepted in public places. Four-legged friends of man can already enter numerous shops, some shopping centres and even restaurants and cafes. However, when going to such places with our four-legged friends, we must remember a few important rules.
Excuse me, can I bring my dog here?
Dog-friendly places are multiplying at a surprising pace! Still, not every place allows dog owners to enter with their pets. Therefore, when planning to go to a cafe with your dog, you cannot assume in advance that your pet will be welcome there. So even before leaving home, make sure, for example, on the website or Facebook fan page of the chosen place, if it is a dog-friendly place. If you can’t find such information on the Internet, you can always call or go there without your pet and ask the staff about their attitude towards dogs.
Reconnaissance is essential!
A visit without a dog in advance is also a good opportunity to find out how many people are in your chosen establishment at a given time. Not every dog will feel comfortable in a crowd of constantly accosting guests or running children. For a visit with a dog in a cafe, at least the first one, we should choose such time when there will be fewer people. Thanks to that, a dog not used to such expeditions will not be thrown into deep water right away.
Leave it alone, don’t accost it!
Remember that there are other people in a restaurant or cafe. And not everyone may like dogs! Therefore, it is best to keep your pet on a leash and close to you. However, it is better not to tie it to a table leg – a strong tug may knock it over. The dog’s owner should also take care that the animal does not accost people passing by or step on waiters’ toes. Being splashed with hot coffee can be quite a trauma for your pet! When going to a café with your dog, it’s best to choose a table in a corner of the premises or the garden – this way your dog will have more space for himself.
The dog must have fun too!
Going to a café or restaurant must also be fun for your pet. That’s why you should do everything you can to make your pet feel safe there and to keep him occupied. Taking home a beloved blanket and some of your pet’s favourite toys will certainly help it to find its feet more quickly in an unfamiliar place. So that your dog doesn’t get bored, we can take home a Kong filled with pâté, which will keep him occupied for a while. However, we shouldn’t give him smelly chews in restaurants – the smell of rumen or dried skin will make many guests nauseous…
