My Dog Comes Everywhere With Me — and Yours Could Too
How to make the world a more dog-friendly place
When I got Bing from the SPCA, I was looking for a dog who would come everywhere with me. I love having my four-legged buddy with me all day — he comes to work, travels on public transport and occasionally even goes to the bank — and with so many dog-friendly places popping up, it’s easier than it was. However, for us dog-lovers to keep being allowed to bring our canine companions to these places, we have certain responsibilities.
Stop falsely certifying dogs as ESAs
Bing is not an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) — Bing is my pet. Falsely certifying dogs as ESAs has forced airlines to bring in stricter regulations because poorly trained animals were barking at, scratching, and even biting other passengers. This has to stop if we want to bring our pooches into more places.
Our social responsibility as pet owners is to make sure that our pets are well-behaved and comfortable when mingling with the general public. It only takes one bite to trigger an insurance claim that could take away the dog-friendly status of a bar or restaurant. And, though the bar gets the legal blame, that bite is the dog-owner’s fault. Whether they’ve brought a dog to an unsuitable place or they aren’t keeping a close eye on an overly friendly stranger getting in their dog’s face, it’s on them, not the bartender serving multiple customers, to manage their dog’s behaviour.
Start them young
It takes a bit of time to get your dog used to being in public places. You can’t expect Ralph, the 10-year-old Golden Retriever who has spent the last decade ruling your garden, to be anything but terrified if he’s brought to the pub on a Friday night. If you want a dog to be able to enjoy being out and about with you, ideally you should start them young.
The key stages for socialising a puppy are when they’re between 8 and 17 weeks. Anything they experience then is going to mould how they see the world as an adult. Introduce them to as many new situations in a calm and non-threatening way as you can. If you have a particularly bouncy new puppy, a long walk or game of fetch before heading to a new place will tire them out. For bonus points, bring a blanket from home for them to snooze on in the pub. Nothing says “calm and non-threatening” like nap-time.
But don’t worry if they’re older
Don’t give up on older dogs though. I got Bing when he was a year and a half. His socialisation period was well over but I built a bond with him with obedience work and positive reinforcement so he knows I’m pack leader. If he’s unsure of something, he looks to me. That’s the first step. Your dog should know that, when you’re around, they’re safe, wherever they are.
Every dog is different, they have their own personalities and some take longer to learn new things than others. With some dogs, if they have a history of abuse or aggression, they may never get there. They shouldn’t be brought out for a pint; the stress alone would be too much for them.
Take it slow
You have to be smart about it: The pub on a Saturday night, full of drunk, loud adults is terrifying. However, the pub on a Wednesday evening is a much quieter environment. I know where I’d rather be as a tiny canine.
A slow introduction at a quiet time is important no matter what stage of life your dog is at. We brought Bing to our dog-friendly local bar, The Belfry, for the first time on a Thursday afternoon and tucked ourselves away at a quiet corner table. Now that he’s comfortable there, he sits up at the bar, silently demanding an ear-scratch-toll every time someone passes to go to the bathroom. We did this even though he’s been coming everywhere with me for the past two years, because all new places have the potential to be scary.
Manners maketh the mutt
Basic obedience is a must. I used obedience exercises to build a strong bond with Bing and to set us up for successful public adventures. I need him to be able to “sit” and “wait” in a queue at the bank, or to “leave it” if a small child drops a tasty morsel on the floor. Bing is a small dog, so he tucks nicely into corners, or sits on a stool or my lap. Bigger dogs need to be able to lie quietly at your feet, without being a trip hazard and to NEVER jump up on anybody as a greeting.
The bartenders at The Belfry said that excessive barking and exuberant jumping up on others are their biggest behavioural pet peeves. Totally understandable.
The pub is not a dog park
Your dog will meet other dogs out and about. A brief “hello” sniff is fine, but an impromptu wrestling match is not. The pub is not a play-date, nor is the bank, the bus, or anywhere that isn’t a large, appropriately designated, outdoor space. It is, however, a great opportunity to run into other pup-parents, swap numbers, and organise a group walk. This is super helpful if you are new to the canine community and are looking to socialise your young puppy with well-behaved dogs.
‘Dog-friendly’ does not mean ‘dog-only’
It’s been a stressful work week — you’ve one opportunity to leave the kids at home and get out for a pint. You’re struggling to hear what your friends are saying over the din of a noisy dog in the background. In the corner, your husband is trying to keep his drink safe from another uncontrollable fuzzy menace, clambering up onto his lap, demanding attention. Nightmare.
Keep a watchful eye — and a short leash — on your dog. If a fellow patron is doing something that is making your dog uncomfortable, ask them to stop — for the safety of them and your dog. Remember, not everyone understands how to communicate with dogs properly, especially children. In a bar situation, alcohol messes with people’s inhibitions and it’s your job as your dog’s guardian to have his comfort in mind at all times
Not everyone likes dogs either. Whether someone just isn’t a “dog person” or has a genuine fear of dogs because of a bad experience, they don’t deserve to have your pooch pawing their pint. Interestingly, I’ve had a couple of people who were wary of dogs approach us in public and ask to pet Bing. A well-behaved dog can give someone the confidence to overcome their fear. The smiles on their faces when he accepts their pets and gently headbutts their hand for more is priceless. We need to show them that not all dogs are uncontrollable, loud morons, hell-bent on destroying the couch. That they can be quiet, well-behaved little idiots who enjoy a good pint as much as the next mutt.
If we can show that our furry friends love the warmth and social scene of the pub, or they can wait patiently in line at the bank, we’ll start to see more dog-friendly places appear. It is up to us responsible dog owners to reverse the mistakes made on the airlines and show businesses that they could benefit from being more open to our canine companions.
I’m holding out for a dog-friendly cinema myself.
