Besides taking our pups for runs and hikes or swimming with them at the lake, there is one other thing that gets us pretty excited during warmer months: dog-friendly breweries! It’s definitely a treat when you get to relax at a brewery with your friends and your dog by your side. But always make sure you’re prepared before heading out.

​

Here are 6 rules of etiquette for bringing your dog to a brewery:

​

#1: Always Monitor Your Dog

It may be easy to just limply hold your dog’s leash and relax, but you never know when something may distract them and cause them to try and run off. Always be on the lookout for things that may trigger your dog, so both you and your pup can enjoy your time.

​

#2: Use a Non-Retractable Leash

One of the issues with a retractable leash is that your dog can get farther away from you, possibly causing a dangerous altercation. This is especially true in a brewery setting, where there are likely many people and dogs around that your pup may want to run up to. Using a non-retractable leash makes it so that you can keep your dog close throughout the day, without any worry of them getting away from you.

​

#3: Bring a Water Bowl

Even though many dog friendly breweries offer bowls of water for dogs, always be sure to bring your own just in case they don’t! You wouldn’t want to get to the brewery only to have to turn around and go home to grab a water bowl.

​

#4: Bring Poop Bags

Although it may seem obvious, make sure to bring baggies if your dog needs to poop while at the brewery, or any public place for that matter. If you don’t bring baggies it could ruin your time, as well as others, so make sure that’s something you pack ahead of time.

​

#5: Don’t Assume Other Dogs (and People!) Are Dog-Friendly

Even though dogs at breweries are in a public place, that doesn’t mean that they want to engage with humans or other dogs. Always ask if it’s okay for your dog to say hi to another before approaching, and be careful not to let their leashes get tangled up.

​

Also be aware that not every person loves dogs. Cynophobia, or fear of dogs, is extremely common! Keep your dog close and don’t let them wander to other people unless invited.

​

#6: It’s Okay If Your Dog is Cautious

Just like the point made above, this works both ways! It’s okay if your dog is cautious. Don’t be afraid to bring your shy or nervous dog to a brewery, but let it be known to others that your dog isn’t a fan of interaction. You must be your dog’s advocate!

​

A great way to do this is to use the Yellow Dog Project strategy, which is to tie a yellow ribbon around your dog’s leash, which lets others know that your dog “needs space”. The Yellow Dog Project, defined on their website, is “a global movement for owners of dogs that need space. It hopes to educate the public and dog owners to identify dogs needing space, promote appropriate contact of dogs and assist dog parents to identify their dog as needing space.”

 

These tips can help to make sure that your trip to a dog friendly brewery will be an enjoyable one for both you and your pup. Make sure to monitor your dog, use a non-retractable leash, bring a water bowl and poop bags, and to never assume that a dog is friendly, just like others will do with your dog.​