Doggie Dining...what do you think?

It's allowed here as long as you don't have to walk through the restaurant to get to the patio (though I've recently discovered that the health department's definition of "walking through the restaurant" is rather broad and includes walking down an outdoor passageway beside the restaurant in order to get to the back). I've never seen it be a problem. I don't normally do it myself because my dogs are big and don't fit that nicely under the table. Conrad is better at just laying down and zoning out if we're eating out. Marlowe has a hard time relaxing with that much stimulation (and food) around, though as he's getting more acclimated to city life he's getting better. I've taken Conrad a lot to go to coffee shops with outside seating. It's nice. I don't have to feel so guilty about leaving the dogs at home. It's a nice way to make the obligatory daily walk more pleasant. Walk to coffee shop, sit, chill out, show off my awesome dogs, walk back home.

IMO this would work a lot better if they'd issued a "pass" meaning owners would need to pay a small fee and demonstrate that their dog is stable by completing a small OB demo prior to issuance. Then restaurants can post "PoochPass accepted here!"...that'd be nice. It'd also be a way to track how many people are interested...and have a way to track people in case incidents of aggression occur or complaints from waitstaff or patrons occur...back to the source and compare notes.

 
I've often thought the CGC could be used for this.  Ironic that my boyz are welcome (and encourage!) in nursing homes, but can't go to Home Depot.  (Boyz are certified therapy dogs and have ID's stating such.)

My experience with dining out with dogs has been very good. I pick slower days, and check with everyone on the patio to make sure they're ok with it, then check with the waitress. Usually, everybody is fine. If anybody is not fine, I order our food to go. We enjoy sitting on the patio and eating our meals. It generates extra revenue, too, since every dog with me gets a kids' meal (and I usually have a friend or two with dogs, too, so that's $5 per dog, for a minimum of three dogs, plus a good tip for waiting on dogs). I try to make it worth it for the resturant to allow us to sit with our dogs, and I make sure my dogs are on their best behavior.

My dog's manners are MUCH better than 95% of the kids out there, so I honestly would rather have DOGS in an eating area than illmannered kids of ANY age. Gypsy would be fine in such an area, but our table would be mobbed by kids and adults. Wherever I go with her, it's like having Elvis along, so I suspect a restaurant would be no different.

ORIGINAL: fuzzy_dogs_mom
 I think that given a choice, a dog will always go over to the grass or a planted area.  

My dog is proof otherwise.  We were on a relaxed little walk and she stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk to poop instead of stepping into the grass beside it.  Of course I cleaned it up.

I think the Poochpass thing is a great idea. We go to Cafe Brazil (on Central) a lot, and they have always allowed us (me and friends who come there every week or so after training) to have our well-behaved dogs on the patio, and have been great about allowing me to practice some public access skills with Malcolm there. BUT, there needs to be a way to verify that pepole are indeed being responsible.    

ORIGINAL: snownose

If dogs are not trained enough to not poop while people are eating, then they should not be there.

True, but dogs, like children, sometimes have accidents, yet no one tells kids to scram.  (I have seen kids puke, and mom wipes them, but not the sidewalk [:'(]) 

Cleanup is a courtesy to the elderly who may have a dog with them that is normally well behaved and yet has an "oops".  The restaurants do the cleaning (and disinfecting) because adherence to the health regs is ultimately going to be their responsibility, even if the owners make an attempt to clean up as well.

I'm sorry, but I just don't get it! I see no reason to take your dog to restaurant. Why? You
happen to be out with your dog and you are suddenly overcome with hunger? Or are you just so attached to your dogs that you need them everywhere you go? How about going to the movies with your dog? Or the ballet?

It seems that if (YOU think) your dog is trained well enough, it should be able to go anywhere. They are dogs! They don't need to sit on patios or walk through hardware stores. Leaving them at home when you are going shopping or out to dine is not cruel or depriving. It's common sense and common courtesy. As well behaved as Your dog may be, sitting nicely under the table, quiet as a mouse, what about the next dog that walks in and wants to sniff your dogs butt? That visual goes real nice with my salad!

The problem is, the majority of dog owners think typical dog behaviour is 'cute'. Which it is to you and other dog lovers. But drooling on the floor, flying dog hair from ear scratching, doggie smells, meet and greet rituals etc. are not appetizing to everyone. Add on to that the accidental "oops" well I'm sorry!

If I ended up on a patio where there were dogs, personally I would have no problems. I happen to really like dogs. I accept that they drool and shed and even smell. Doesn't bother me at all. I do however try to respect and be considerate of those who may see dogs in a different light.

Dining out is such a rare occurence here that I prefer not to have my kids OR dogs with me...lol!
Just the two of us big people is a welcome change []
 
When eat at home together at our dinner table....the dogs are crated.

Kids drool, smell, poop in their pants, puke, get dirty, and are loud, but they're still allowed in places like patios, hardware stores, and even the movies. And kid behaviors aren't appetizing  to everyone either. IMO, if my dog is better behaved than other people's kids then it's silly to keep him out of public areas where he's not hurting anything. Any creature, dog or child, that is disruptive to others should be asked to settle down or leave.

For me, it's a matter of convenience. On our way back from the dog park I remember I need something from the hardware store. Or I'm walking the dog and go right by the bank, and it would be really nice to go in and make a deposit. For me personally, my dog is allowed in both our local bank and local hardware store because I take him in a mesh carrier, he's quiet as a mouse, and he doesn't bother anyone. (They're actually disappointed when I don't bring him along!) It would be nice if other people with well-behaved dogs could be offered the same convenience.

Kids drool, smell, poop in their pants, puke, get dirty, and are loud, but they're still allowed in places like patios, hardware stores

 
Lol...so do adults given enough age, or alcohol. They have a trump card...they are people. Giving a dog the same rights as a person, regardless of age...is IMO how dog owners are going to diddle themselves right out of "owning" a pet at all.
 
ARista's love to hear stuff like the above...it's the first step to "animal liberation" as far as they are concerned.

ORIGINAL: denise m

I'm sorry, but I just don't get it! I see no reason to take your dog to restaurant. Why? You
happen to be out with your dog and you are suddenly overcome with hunger? Or are you just so attached to your dogs that you need them everywhere you go? How about going to the movies with your dog? Or the ballet?

It seems that if (YOU think) your dog is trained well enough, it should be able to go anywhere. They are dogs! They don't need to sit on patios or walk through hardware stores. Leaving them at home when you are going shopping or out to dine is not cruel or depriving. It's common sense and common courtesy. As well behaved as Your dog may be, sitting nicely under the table, quiet as a mouse, what about the next dog that walks in and wants to sniff your dogs butt? That visual goes real nice with my salad!

The problem is, the majority of dog owners think typical dog behaviour is 'cute'. Which it is to you and other dog lovers. But drooling on the floor, flying dog hair from ear scratching, doggie smells, meet and greet rituals etc. are not appetizing to everyone. Add on to that the accidental "oops" well I'm sorry!

If I ended up on a patio where there were dogs, personally I would have no problems. I happen to really like dogs. I accept that they drool and shed and even smell. Doesn't bother me at all. I do however try to respect and be considerate of those who may see dogs in a different light.

I think you have a really good point denise.  Also some people are allergic to or afraid of dogs.  I'm sorry but dogs should not be put before people.  Dogs are not kids.  I know most people love their dogs like children as do I, but dogs are dogs and kids are human beings, of course they will be treated differently.  I personally would not have any problem with it at all.  But I know people who would and their rights should not be infringed upon.  Maybe if there was a seperate patio for people with dogs.

Here's the thing--I never had any reason to take my dog anywhere when I lived in the country or the suburbs. Now I live in a city. When I walk my dogs, I walk them right past many of the stores I need to run errands in. I can tie them up outside, and I do sometimes, but it would be nice if I didn't have to do that all the time, or walk my dogs and then take them home and turn right around and walk the same route and go run my errands.

It's really quite nice to spend some quality time with your dog while sipping coffee at an outdoor cafe. It gets the dog out and socialized. It's really a double-bind for alot of dog owners. You're supposed to get your dogs socialized, but then you're not allowed to take them anywhere where other people are or into situations where things are a little different, to get them used to that kind of thing.

LOL

I totally agree Houndlove - it's a completely different existence when you live in a city.  People here do not have cars, we walk everywhere.  To be out-and-about for the entire day, with your dog, is not unusual.  The only place I cannot take my dog is to the grocery store, or any place serving food that does not have outside seating.  It's a necessity here for shops to accomodate dogs, not a treat.  I guess it really just comes down to where you live.  In the burbs, it would just be a cute, novel thing to do with your pup.  I don't see any harm whatsoever.