Taking your dog to public places
Do you take your dog to public places? Does she enjoy it? Are you sure?
We often see dogs taken to public places such as coffee shops, certain stores and so on. Yet many of them are not fond of the trip. There are definitely dogs who enjoy visiting such venues, but let’s look at what can go wrong for a dog.
First of all, dogs are naturally sensitive to movement around them due to their hunting ancestry. Too many moving people, cars, etc. can be disorienting and hard to handle for many dogs.
Dogs also hear a wider range of sounds than humans, which are also more intense. This means that public places may sound much different or even scary to them.
In public places dogs often face a lack of choice - not being able to choose how fast or where to move, not being able to sniff or being walked on a shorter leash will feel stressful and restricting to most dogs.
In addition, dogs in public places often get lots of attention that could be unwanted. Not every dog enjoys strangers talking to her and touching her.
Many public places, even if they allow dogs to come inside, may have features that are harmful for dogs such as slippery floors or toxic strong smells.
We should be aware of such details. Nevertheless, some dogs can and do enjoy a visit to a coffee shop or another public venue. It depends on the place, the dog and the guardian's ability to understand and plan the situation.
Dogs communicate with body language* and learning about it will help you understand how your dog feels in such environments. Considering these things will help you make better decisions for your dog. It’s also a great idea to take regular slow, calm walks on a long leash in places where the dog can calmly explore and relax without additional stressors. That way you can compare your dog's behaviour to that in public venues and also provide her with de-stressing experiences.
In the photos you see Ergan. He and his guardian Natalya love visiting restaurants once in a while. Ergan enjoys it very much. Natalya plans their trips to public venues so that Ergan has a good experience with as little stress as possible. Knowledge and understanding are key.
*You will find resources related to dogs' body language in the resources section.
