It’s a beautiful, sunny afternoon and you’ve spent the day frolicking about with your pup. You could really go for a cappuccino and a scone right about now, and since you live in an area with a great walk score, you know your go-to coffee shop is right around the corner. Rather than drop your pup off at home, why don’t you let him join you? Before you head in, check out these tips presented by Therapy Dog Trainer Tom Savoca to keep the experience pleasant and stress-free.
- It’s important to ask if the coffee shop is dog-friendly. Not every cafe is, so it’s important to check. You don’t want to break the rules and get banned from your favorite barista.
- Even if your pup is good off leash, they will need a proper leash to dine with you in public. Cafes and restaurants have to follow specific codes, and that includes keeping your dog by your side.
- If you’ve been out with your dog for a while, you likely have their essentials with you. If not, be sure to grab a few basics, like a travel bowl and chew toy, to keep that tail wagging. It may be wise to put air dried beef dog food on the menu for your outing by bringing some with you to ensure fido gets its fill.
- Now that you’re out together, it’s time to put those etiquette rules into practice. You’ve likely worked with your dog on not jumping up on visitors. Now encourage them to use those proper greeting techniques to make friends.
- Hopefully you’ve been working on some basic commands at home. If so, now is the time to try them out in public! If you haven’t, grab some treats and try some basic training, like “sit,” “stay,” and “down.” It can be hard for pets to focus with all the new stimuli around them, but if your dog can focus on these commands in a public place, they deserve lots of pets, praise, and treats! If you and your dog need some professional help, make an appointment with dog trainer Tom Savoca.
- It’s tempting to introduce our favorite pups to any two- and four-legged friends we make, but that’s not always the best decision. Review these helpful tips on how to make first time introductions so they become new besties instead of frenemies.
- Just like with humans, an anxious dog will not make the best choices. In fact, our own stress and anxiety can rub off on our dogs. Be mindful about how caffeine affects you, and your pup by proxy. You can click here to learn more about the caffeine content you’re ingesting.
- If your pup needs to go in another sense, be a responsible pet owner and clean it up. And if your dog makes any other kind of mess, be considerate and clean that up, too. Even if the barista offers, it’s the best practice to take care of your pet’s messes yourself.
There’s nothing stopping the two of you from enjoying time together at a coffee shop as long as you are armed with the proper knowledge. Definitely bring along a few tasty treats to encourage your pooch to behave. And if they do an exceptionally good job, you can treat them to a puppuccino, too!
