Dining With Dogs

Astrid joins us a lot at restaurants around Charlotte....everything from fast casual, one of our faves named 'Showmar's' to finer dining at '131 Main'. It wasn't always that way. For the first couple of years, there was not an official rule 'on the books' regulating dogs on restaurant patios. Then finally...officially, if the owner of the restaurant approves, all well behaved dogs are welcome to enjoy patio dining. 

There are about three rules for dining with dogs on patios. One, of course they need to be pleasant around strangers but not too inquisitive about every other patron of the restaurant. We don't meet and greet everyone who arrives at the restaurant and takes a seat in our vicinity so our dog shouldn't either. Two, they should have a 'reliable settle'. That's a term I've learned at dog training classes when the teacher doesn't want the dogs jumping up and down and barking. You are confident that they will quietly and patiently lay down beside your chair. Giving them a bite here and there is perfectly acceptable as long as they will resume this 'reliable settle' (don't you love that phrase) when you give the word. 

The third rule is for the dog's dining companions...mom, dad, whoever. You will eventually run into 'the jerk'. They will want to know why anyone would bring their dog with them to a restaurant. It is hard...it is so very hard not to come back with a harsh remark. Here's your chance to change someone's mind or at least give them something to think about. I usually reply 'since well behaved dogs are now welcome on restaurant patios as long as they are welcome by the restaurants owners, we take Astrid everywhere. It's a nice break from all the Therapy Dog work we do.' Yep....I slip in a brag. And I try not to be too smug about it all.