A coffee date with your dog

Sitting with your family at a local cafe, your favorite canine pal lying calmly at your feet, is a dream of many dog lovers. As with many dreams, however, things don’t always go as planned. If your dog brings chaos to every outing - barking, knocking over staff, lunging at passing dogs, stealing food from the table - you may need to go back a few steps.

Firstly, it’s worth considering whether this is something your dog will really enjoy. Some dogs are calm as cucumbers in any location and just love being included in the party. Others find it incredibly stressful, and a busy cafe environment may be too stimulating for them. The dream of the perfect cafe dog is compelling, but sometimes we have to put these dreams aside for our dog’s wellbeing, as well as our own stress levels. 

If you do bring your dog along for a cafe outing, set them up for success. Bring a mat for them to lie on, as well as a tasty chew so they have something to keep them occupied (if they’re prone to guarding, leave the chew at home). Aim for quiet times of day and keep sessions short. Rather than sitting down for a long and leisurely brunch, start with a coffee - you could even bring a takeaway cup so you can make a speedy exit if needed. Build duration over time and keep an eye on your dog’s body language throughout - if they’re restless, trying to hide and vocalizing, it’s probably time to call it a day.

Still a little nervous? Practice at home! Set up a cafe-like scenario in your house or yard and invite friends over to build in new distractions. Put your dog on lead and replicate what you would love to see out in the real world - lots of rewards for calm behavior and for staying in one place beside you. If you have willing family members, you could ask them to come and ‘take your order’ at the table so you can reinforce your dog for not jumping up on them.