Outdoor Dining Tips For You And Your Canine Friends

Lexi, Nitro and I are very excited to participate in this week's Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. Special thanks goes out to our Blog Hop hosts, Life With Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume.

Since we have to find fun things for Nitro to do while his left paw is healing (he has to be on a leash at all times), we decided to take advantage of the beautiful warm spring weather and visit Panera and Starbucks over lunch time on Saturday. It was 78 degrees and all the local fruit trees were in full bloom. Our first stop was Panera for their totally yummy BBQ salad. Check the bottom of this post for great dining tips for you and your canine.

Photos below are of us dining with our deaf boxer Nitro. He has the best manners for a 7 month old!

I always carry a blanket for Nitro to lay on so he relaxes and holds his "stay" command.

My sweet husband Chris (Nitro's human daddy).

Nitro chilling next to his daddy.

Nitro and I relaxing after lunch at Panera. Nitro was such a good boy while his daddy took our photo.

Nitro just checking out all the people coming into Panera for lunch.

Check out the reflection of the trees in full spring bloom!

Here is a photo of Nitro chewing on a Starbucks cardboard cup holder. We are giving him different things to nibble on so he will start using his left paw to grip objects with his weak toes. He has a lot of atrophy in his left paws so by giving him things to grip this will help rebuild his muscles in his toes. He doesn't eat the cardboard he just chews on it and then spits it out. I have also been giving him large rawhide bones so he can grip them with his toes to build his muscle up. It is like doing physical therapy on his left paw.

Spring flower display on the outdoor patio at Starbucks.

Nitro laying on his blanket in the shade at Starbucks.

Today Nitro started back at class at Field of Dreams Dog Training Center. He was very focused and he did very well on all the tests the instructor put us through today. I was very proud of him considering he hadn't been to class in over two weeks and he has been on a leash attached to me the whole time because of his injured paw.

****Here are some great tips to follow when taking your dog out to eat with you****

Remember, taking your dog out to dine with you to a restaurant is a privilege and not everyone at the restaurant will be as excited as you are to have your dog there. Only clean, exceptionally groomed  and well mannered dogs should be accompanying you out for a meal at a restaurant. Patio dining with your dog is offered solely as a courtesy by individual restaurants. If your dog does not know the basics commands of Sit, Lay Down and Stay, get your meal "to go" or leave your dog at home or in the hotel.

General Rules for Dining with your dog

* Please have your dog on a leash (but no extention leashes)

* Barking is not welcome.

* Keep your dog close so he is not in the waiter’s or a patrons path

* Dogs should not socialize with other diners, employees or fellow dogs

* For safety purposes, leash your dog to your chair or your body but not the legs of the table

* Restaurant glasses and dishes are not canine friendly so bring your own watering dish and/or food bowl (or you can ask for a "to go" container)

* Make sure you walk your dog to "go potty" before you go into the restaurant (not to close to the outside dining area)

* Discourage your dog from begging and do not feed your dog off your plate or put the plate on the ground for your dog to clean up

* Do not put your dog on the table or on the chair next to you. The dog should remain on the ground unless it is a very small breed that can lay down on your lap or in a small pet carry on (not sit up to the table)

Lexi, Nitro and I wish you Happy Dining!