Have you ever felt guilty about eating out at a fancy restaurant but leaving your dog at home? Well, thanks to dog friendly restaurants, you no longer have to indulge in such a guilty pleasure without including your pet. Here’s how to find one and what to expect while dining with your dog.

Finding Dog Friendly Restaurants

Finding a pet-friendly food establishment isn’t going to be easy, but you’ll get some great leads to start with from your local city guide, hotel manager, or even pet supply shop. The more resources you ask, the more leads you’ll get for not only dog-friendly restaurants, but also for dog-friendly boutiques or bakeries.

A Few Rules of the Road

To be accepted into a dog-friendly establishment, your dog must be extremely well trained and well socialized. If you’re wondering “how trained and how socialized,” just think of the perfect dog and you have your answer. A restaurant-appropriate dog should be so well behaved in fact, it simply stuns everyone who has a chance to meet it. If your canine isn’t that impressive yet, work on its training before dining with your dog.
We don’t mean that your dog should perform tricks and quietly sit across the table from you with a fork and spoon in hand. That would be impressive, but it’s unrealistic (and a bit unsettling). We mean instead, that your dog should quietly lay under your table and be content with a few snacks and bowl of water. This is not only acceptable behavior, it’s well rewarded behavior. Waiters will more than likely ask to pet a dog like this and reward it with some tasty treats from the kitchen.

Non-Restaurant Style Eateries

Remember that you don’t have to eat at a restaurant to dine out with your dog. If you happen upon an outside food stand for example, grab a few bites for your dog too!