Orange County, more specifically Aliso Viejo, offers an array of dining options throughout the city. These business owners strive to accommodate their patrons and draw more people in. That has led to places welcoming pet parents with their dogs for roughly 11 pet-friendly restaurants throughout the city.
The eateries recognize and respect how dog parents value their time with their furry friends and want to extend an avenue for them to strengthen their bonds. Visit Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Orange County | Enjoy OC – for details on pet-friendly restaurants throughout Orange County.
The rules vary from one establishment to the next, requiring customers to contact the places they want to visit to learn the policies. There’s also a better chance for your pup to be accepted into a pet-friendly environment if they’re properly trained and well-behaved.
This means pet parents must adequately prepare to keep their canines distracted and content as they enjoy their meals. A happy and calm dog is less likely to react to temptations around them or disturb other guests.
Because restaurants have primarily positive experiences, the pet-friendly trend is expanding to include pubs and cafes, shopping centers, lodging, and a vast range of activities and events where dogs are warmly welcomed and catered to.
Successfully Dining Out with Your Dog in Alesio Viejo
Dogs savor any time they get to spend with you, but when taking them into an unfamiliar or new setting, it’s important to prepare ahead for the canine’s greatest comfortability and an overall successful experience.
Canines should be properly trained and respond appropriately to basic cues before taking them into a restaurant.
Socialization and obedience training are key components of the best dog training programs when pups are still young. Please click for additional info on trainers who tailor sessions to your breed and their specific needs.
Given this instruction, you and those around you can enjoy a dinner free of stress and the potential for chaos. What are other ways to encourage a positive evening out with your pup? Consider these factors.
Wait out puppyhood
Everyone wants to show off how adorable a new puppy is. Pet parents want to bring him everywhere, but young puppies shouldn’t be introduced to a restaurant or pub for numerous reasons. Primarily, a young pup is still undergoing vaccinations and health screenings.
Bringing them into a public setting exposes them to potential health concerns, including severe viruses such as parvovirus. The dog doesn’t need to have direct contact with an infected dog, they’re vulnerable by just being in the environment.
A qualified and quality vet will direct you when the puppy is ready to be taken out in public settings. Until then, you’ll either need to spend quality time at home with take-out or deal with separation anxiety when you go out leaving the young pup safely at home.
Practice new skills
When you have the vet’s approval, you want to lead up to the dining experience with some practice. Even a dog with basic training can be overwhelmed by the noise, crowds, food, and other dogs, especially if being in the city is new for them.
In order to set your dog up for success, start with small milestones such as taking walks in public areas where unique sights, sounds, and smells are introduced. Once the dog grows accustomed to these new settings, you can visit a local sidewalk cafe for a short time to help him adapt to a food environment.
When he shows confidence and comfortability in this atmosphere, you can progress to the enclosed patio of a restaurant or pub. Again, you want the first time to be brief, enough time for the pup to settle in, be comfortable, and stay a little longer the next time.
Expel some excessive energy
Young dogs are full of energy and will zoom throughout the house when they don’t get their usual outdoor playtime or exercise to burn this excess. Before taking the pup to a busy restaurant full of temptations and unpredictable situations, he should enjoy a long walk.
This will help reduce whining and restlessness or the urge to play in the restaurant, bringing him to more of a relaxed and calm state. Plus, you can encourage him to go potty on the walk; accidents are something you want to avoid when in the middle of dinner.
Before heading out, make sure to use a shorter leash, which will be a safer and more controlled option when dining out. A retractable leash can pose a safety hazard to other guests and wait staff.
Keep your dog close to you
A retractable leash is a good option for dogs when walking in a more remote area to allow greater freedom to explore their surroundings. However, many reputable vets advise against these as a general rule, particularly if you take your pup into an enclosed patio seating area with other guests in close proximity.
Pet parents can’t maintain adequate control as some pets use the ample freedom to roam around the new environment to get familiar.
Regardless of how beautiful your fur baby is, other diners prefer that he not visit their table, and servers don’t want the risk of a leash being wrapped around their legs or lying across the floor to risk tripping. A shorter, more manageable leash will keep your dog close to your table.
The pup won’t be able to invade other people’s spaces, nor will the staff be concerned about their safety. Go here for doggy date ideas in Orange County.
Final Thought
While more restaurants in Alesio Veijo are opening their doors to pet parents and their furry companions, you must pay attention to how your dog responds when introduced to these environments. Sometimes, pups aren’t in the mood to mingle and prefer to go home.
Listen to what he’s saying with his behavior. If he’s not having a good time, be prepared to cut the dinner short. You don’t want his future excursions to be clouded by a poor experience; a puppy’s joy and safety should always be prioritized.
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