If you are a dog owner, dining at a restaurant with your four-legged family member will be a happy moment. Luckily, not only do more and more restaurants allow their customers to bring their pets, especially dogs, to have brunch together, but even encourage them to do so. However, if your dog spends the entire mealtime jumping up to the table for food, whining or barking, your nice dining plan could turn into a nightmare and cause lots of complaints from other diners. Similar to humans, dogs are expected not to misbehave in public. Before you are going out for a meal with your dog, please read the following important tips and doggie dining etiquettes.

1. Find a dog-friendly restaurant. Most of the restaurants in the US and Canada provide outdoor seating for guests who come with their pooch. Dogs are allowed to bask themselves in the sunshine and cling to the feet of their owner. However, not all restaurants are friendly to all canines, unless the dog is a perfectly trained service dog. To prevent access being denied, you should call the restaurant to find out whether it is dog friendly. Thanks to today’s technology, it is easy for you to find places online where your pet is welcome and maybe even be served with a doggy meal.

2. Feed him and make sure your furry friend is tired. Dogs are very energetic and passionate when they go outside. If you bring a hungry and very energetic dog to a place where all kinds of delicacies are available, but food is forbidden to him, it becomes much harder to get him to sit still. If you feed him just before heading out is one way to ease his desire so that he will arrive at the restaurant with a full belly. You could also make sure that he has run out of energy prior to your arrival at the restaurant. Lingering in the dog park for longer than the daily walk is a great method not only to wear out his legs but also to activate his bowel movement and urination after a meal.

3. Choose a suitable seat for you and your dog. After arriving at the restaurant, you should choose a suitable outdoor seat where he will not block the corridor or get in the way of the waiters but will provide him with generous space. In addition, you should keep your dog on a leash close to you, in case he wants to jump at birds or sniff other people’s belongings. However, if you are sitting in a tight place, your dog should sit or lie under your table if he is a large dog. Lying on the seat next to you is a great option for a small dog like a Yorkie. Remember, that after a long wait he needs to stretch his numb legs and moves a bit.

4. Prevent unsavory behavior. No one expects to dine with a dog eating the half-eaten beef steak on his owner’s plate. Therefore, it is best to ask for a dog bowl for feeding. It is also advisable for the dog owner to take a travel bowl of water while dining out with dogs to keep the four-legged friend hydrated.

5. Make sure your dog is under control. Barking, biting, begging or jumping around are rude acts of a dog that cause you not only to finish the meal quickly, but is also embarrassing when you are in a busy restaurant. Anyone who brings a dog to a public place should always make sure that he knows and is trained in the basic commands, such as “sit”,” stay”, “wait”, “come”, and so on. Also, they should be good at socializing with other diners such as kids and seniors.

The behaviors of a service dog are stricter than those of a household dog. For example, they have to go potty under the command of their handler.

6. Do not carry a badly trained dog. If you take your dog to a restaurant for dinner with an important client, make sure the dog is well-behaved and well-trained in public. A dog who is still learning shows his doggy manners by growling, snarling and lunging at people he meets for the first time. If you have to carry him out of the house, it would be a good idea to hire a pet-sitter to enjoy your dinner with the client.

7. Tip your waiter or waitress. Compared to a sidewalk café, a fine dining restaurant usually offers a range of services to your dog, which will reduce many of your problems. Therefore, remember to tip your waiter or waitress appropriately for their excellent service.