9 Tips: Dining Out with Your Dog
Being able to take your dog to outdoor cafés is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy outdoor life together. However, not all dogs can handle this automatically. It may require some training. That’s why we’re sharing hot tips that prepare your dog to manage life at outdoor cafés. To make the experience positive for your four-legged friend, it’s important to train and prepare your dog to be calm and relaxed at the table, to avoid begging for food, or reacting to the surroundings. Here are our best tips for creating a safe and harmonious experience for your dog.
Train basic signals before the visit
Before you take your dog to an outdoor café, it’s wise to train and reinforce basic commands such as “sit,” “lie down,” “relax,” and “stay.” This allows you to communicate with your dog and create order around the table.
Expose your dog to different environments
Before taking your dog to an outdoor café, practice in various environments and places where there are people present. This could be parks, squares, or other locations with lots of people and noise. Gradually increase exposure to get your dog accustomed to different situations and build confidence. Read the article Environmentally train your dog the right way! for more information.
Give your dog a safe place with a blanket
At the outdoor café, make sure your dog has its own space where it can feel comfortable and relaxed. Bring your dog’s blanket to lay next to the table. This creates a safe base and increases the chances that your dog will stay in one spot and not get tangled in table legs and chairs. Practice blanket training in various environments before your visit to an outdoor café.
Prepare your dog with exercise and activity
Don’t take a dog full of excess energy or a stressed dog to an outdoor café. Be sure to walk, exercise, and engage your dog before your visit so it is ready to relax and rest.
Rewarding calm and relaxed dogs
Once you’re there, pay attention to when your dog is calm and relaxed at the table. This is the time to praise and reward. Quietly drop a treat on the blanket and praise your dog with a soothing voice. This reinforces the positive behavior you want to achieve and helps your dog associate being still at the table with rewards.
Reducing begging: don't feed from the table
To reduce the risk of your dog begging at the table, avoid feeding it from the table. This can create expectations for food, which in the worst case can lead to high energy and resource guarding against other guests or staff. If you want to give your dog something, bring dog treats or a chew instead.
Ignore people and food at the table
Train your dog to ignore people and food at the outdoor café. Praise when your dog seems unaffected as others pass by. If your dog has difficulty with this, you may need to reward them when others pass or when the waiter comes to your table. Read the article Socializing your dog the right way.
Optimal placement of dogs in outdoor areas
Place your dog behind you or at your side, preferably in a spot where you can act as a barrier against the surroundings. If your dog is sitting in the middle of a walkway or under the table, the risk increases that they will interact with passersby or guard your food.
Check your surroundings and use a short leash
Be observant of your surroundings and keep track of your dog. A short leash prevents them from lunging at someone approaching.
Final thoughts on training for restaurant visits
Being able to take your dog to outdoor cafés can be a wonderful experience for both you and your dog. By training and preparing properly, you can create a safe and harmonious situation. Remember that this may take some time and that you may need to repeat points 1-2 before trying a quieter café; avoid lunchtime. Basic train in environments that provide your dog with the conditions to succeed.We wish you and your dog many pleasant moments together at outdoor cafés!
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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