1) If possible, take your dog for a short trip to the pub or coffee shop when they are puppies. Sit outside with a cup of coffee and just let them get used to strangers saying hello and being tied up. Make the first few trips short so your dog doesn't get bored and misbehave.
2) Bring a rawhide bone with you to give your dog under the table so that he/she doesn't get bored.
3) Start off with quiet places than gradually work up to busier places when your dog gets used to being out in public.
4) If possible go with a quiet, well behaved dog who is used to pubs and restaurants. Your novice pub-going dog will benefit from watching a more seasoned pub veteran.
5) Take your dog for a long walk first! Go to the pub when your dog is tired so they just sleep while you eat.
6) Take a doggie blanket with you, your dog will appreciate somewhere to lie down and they are more likely to settle if they have somewhere to curl up. Most pubs and restaurants have hard floors which dogs, especially thin breeds like whippets, don't like to lie on.
7) Before you take your dog to the pub be sure to socialize them. Take them for walks in town so they can meet lots of people and be used to being pet by strangers and children.
8) Make sure your dog is comfortable with being tied up and having you walk away. If you need to go to the bathroom you don't want your dog howling the entire time you are away! Practice this at home, it's important training anyway. We will cover how to do this properly in a later post.
9) Socialize with other dogs first, you will probably meet some when you are out and you need to make sure that your dog isn't dog-aggressive before you take them in public. We will also cover this in detail in another post.
10) ALWAYS carry poop bags! This is the least glamorous part of owning a dog, but it is so important! Not only is it gross and unhygienic to leave dog poo behind, it's against the law in most places. Take more bags than you think you could ever possibly need, and if you see a fellow dog owner caught short please give them one! Watching someone else scramble to pick up poo with newspapers and grocery bags while you have dog poo bags in your pocket is not very kind - you never know when that will be you!
Follow these steps and enjoy! Watch this space for more tips on dog training and socialization.
Zorra at the Tunnel House
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