Thinking about taking your well-behaved pooch to visit your favorite barista? Want to leave a good impression without leaving a “lasting” one? You can with some advanced planning. There are plenty of simple ways to set you and your pup up for a successful outing. Stokeshire Designer Doodles shares some tips for getting yourself and your dog ready for a coffee shop visit.

Do Some Dog-Friendly Research

Before you take your pup for his favorite puppuccino, do a little preparation. A little research and training can go a long way in making your cafe visit enjoyable for everyone.

• Just because your favorite caffeine stop has outdoor seating doesn’t mean they welcome four-legged guests. Look online for a dog-friendly cafe near you. And if you can’t find information on the place you’re hoping to visit, call! It’s better to be prepared.

• While you’re looking into those dog-friendly coffee shops, see if there are any related rules or etiquette guidelines so you know what’s expected of you and Fido while you’re there. If you can’t find them online, ask when you arrive. Playing by their rules will make you and your pup welcome any time.

• Dog friendly does not mean off-leash, so make sure that your dog has a well-fitted collar and secure leash. You can also look into harnesses or a Gentle Leader if your pup needs additional support walking nicely. Read product reviews to ensure the leash or harness you purchase is high quality and appropriate for your dog’s needs.

• Dining out with a dog is a lot like taking a child to a restaurant - you need some essentials to keep them clean, calm, and occupied. You may want to gather a few of these essentials before loading up the car and heading out.
  
  

Socializing Spot

It’s important that both you and your dog know some behavioral basics. Learning a few tricks and rules will make other patrons “oooh” and “ahhh” instead of rolling their eyes at your pup’s behavior.

• Brush up on your pooch’s social skills and make sure you don’t force an interaction with another dog - or human - at the coffee shop. Not everyone loves dogs as much as you do. And some pets are less social even with their own kind, so always ask before introducing your pup to someone new.

• Regularly practice obedience training at home, and get your essential commands down pat. Ensuring your dog knows basics like “heel,” “down,” “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “no” can make a huge difference in how they behave out in public. 

• You may love it when your dog jumps up to greet you when you come home, but many people will not find that behavior so endearing. Work with your dog to prevent jumping up on people so that you don’t have to calm down a coffee-covered patron your dog has just lovingly attacked.

• Training isn’t just for your dog. Use this guide from CanineJournal to understand what your dog’s body language is telling you. It will help you to understand if your pup is anxious, overly excited, or simply needs to do their business.

• Speaking of doing their business, picking up after your pet ain’t pretty, but it’s non-negotiable. Don’t leave anything yucky behind. Not only is leaving refuse behind rude, it is unsanitary.
  

Now that you know what to do to get yourself and Fido prepared, you’re ready for a visit to your favorite beanery. Grab the doggie dishes, put your buddy on a leash, and enjoy the day together.

Author: Nick Burton

Nick and Mary Burton have been happily married for five years. When they first met, they hit it off right away, and a big reason was because of their shared love of dogs. Today, they are the proud parents of three rescue dogs. Sadly, their oldest dog, Willie, a 15-year-old lab/terrier mix, recently passed away. Since his passing, they have been trying their best to deal with the loss. Nick and Mary decided to create this website to share all types of dog information and to help people that are mourning the loss of a dog. Reach them at Ourbestdoggo.com