Dining Out With Your Dog While On Vacation

Dining out with your Dog While on Vacation

If you are taking a vacation that includes your dog, you will probably want to include him in as many activities as you can. Most major cities have outdoor dining options where you can bring your dog and you can even find restaurants that allow your dog indoors and cater specifically to your pooch. You can also order in and enjoy a meal with your dog or take your food to a park or other outdoor location so that your dog can be included.

Be warned, however, not all restaurants that have outdoor seating allow you to bring your dog, especially if you have to walk through the inside to get to the out door seating. Even if a restaurant has sidewalk seating or a similar arrangement make sure you enquire if they allow dogs before planning to have your meal there. Some establishments will allow you to order food inside and then take it to tables out side and others offer full service no matter where your table is located. You can usually find dog friendly restaurant recommendations at your hotel or in a visitors guide. Research your destination before you leave and find places that both you and your dog can go to make your trip easier once you arrive.

Restaurants that have outdoor seating or require you to order food inside and then bring it outside are the most likely establishments to allow dogs. If you would prefer to have waiter service, there are plenty of restaurants that will serve you and your dog outside, or in some cases inside. When you do find a restaurant that allows dogs, make sure you follow some basic dog dining etiquette to make your dining experience, and the experience of others a pleasant one.

As much as you love your dog, you should only attempt to bring them to a restaurant with you if they are well behaved. If they are prone to bark, lunge, or try to steal food, you should leave them at the hotel or in a kennel. If you are determined to take your dog with you and you have these problems, obedience classes will usually clear up these problems for future vacations.

Make sure your dog remains on the leash at all times so he cannot bother other diners or employees. You should keep your dog as close to you as possible so that he is not in the way of waiters and people trying to move around. Resist the temptation to tie your dog to the table, if he is a large dog he will probably be able to shake the table or even pull it over. Secure him to your chair instead. You should also bring your dog his own bowl unless you know for a fact that the restaurant you are visiting has a menu especially for dogs. Although many restaurants welcome dogs, very few allow them to be on chairs and tables so keep this in mind and keep your dog on the floor. As long as your dog is well behaved and you find a dog friendly restaurant, your dining experiences during your vacation should be great ones.