How Not to Be the Most Annoying Dog Owner at Every Philly Cafe

A pup enjoying a lovely day outside at Parc / Photograph courtesy of @arlodoodlenyc

Spring fever brings on the urge to take your dog everywhere, especially since Philly is packed with sidewalk eateries. But bringing your dog to a cafe without following the rules can be annoying to other patrons at best and dangerous for your dog at worst. Even the most well-behaved dog can get spooked by new sights or sounds, and you can’t predict how people around you will influence that. At pet-friendly cafes, there are still unknowns that could make your furry companion go wild. Before you set out to enjoy a latte with your best friend, there’s some etiquette you should know.

Upgrade Your Gear

You hopefully already have a collar with identification, but you’ll want to upgrade for cafe trips. Audrey Culp of Constellation Dog Academy, who runs a puppy socialization hour to help dogs acclimate to the community, suggests a harness and leash set that will allow you to control your pet steadily. “Our goal is to be comfortable and safe,” she says. Retractable and bungee leashes that expand when your dog pulls offer too much freedom, so Culp suggests against them. “You need to understand how much leash you have at any given moment,” she says.

Start Small

Dogs should learn a few commands at home before they are confronted with delicious foods, joggers, and other enticing intrusions. Culp says, “The most important thing you can do is teach them to settle on a mat and observe changes in the environment.” In spaces where your attention is divided, “leave it” or “drop it” are also helpful commands because you should expect even the best pups to grab for something when your attention is turned. Culp likens it to bringing a child to a museum for the first time and teaching them to look but not touch the beautiful artwork. Training in a safe space is paramount before taking your pet to a public dining spot.

When you think your dog is ready for primetime, she suggests starting small. “Pick an hour when it’s really quiet, and give yourself a goal.” For example, you might want to start by grabbing takeout to see how your pet interacts with that space. “Get a cup of coffee to-go, and slowly build duration.” Try adding a coffee pick-up to the end of your regular walk.

The author’s dog, Lenu, stopping to smell the flowers at Vault + Vine. / Photograph by Annemarie Dooling

Do Your Research

When choosing a cafe, you’ll want to understand what their definition of pet-friendly is. According to the Pennsylvania health code, only service animals are allowed inside establishments where food is prepared, so unless your dog falls into that category, prepare to sit outside, no matter how tiny they are. Some cafes will allow your dog to enter while you order, as long as you don’t linger afterwards. Others may prefer that your dog wait outside, which might not work if you planned to go alone. Check Google or Instagram to see how large the outdoor space is, how noisy it is, and if you can carve out room without disturbing other patrons and staff.

Be Prepared

Picking a seating area where your dog feels calm will go a long way. “Even with a friendly dog, I put them on the other side of my body to reduce overstimulation,” Culp says. Bringing a mat your dog lays on at home will help contextualize the atmosphere, and corner spaces can help them feel safe when other patrons are moving around. “Train on a mat that’s portable, and you can roll that up and take that with you, providing a familiar context.”

The same way you might plan to work from a cafe for the day, create a prep bag for your dog. What might they need for a day out? Extra baggies, wipes, tissues, and training snacks provide a good basic day bag along with your mat. There are even brands, like CleverPup and Wilderdog, that create slings, making it easier for you to bring those necessities with you.

It’s totally fine to ask for a bowl of water for your dog (or fill your own collapsible bowl), but not every cafe will have biscuits. Chew sticks and popsicles can be great distractions for them, as long as your dog is not reactive if people walk by their snack.

Manage Distractions — and Expectations

Understand that people might walk up to your dog and break its relaxation, and that might happen even more often if you have a small dog. Culp reminds us, “Having a dog is a very public thing in the city, and it can be hard to navigate other people’s expectations. You might feel more pressured to yank on the leash or yell because you’re feeling social pressure when all they really need are tools to help them calm back down.” A leash tag that says “In Training” can help reduce the number of unwanted visitors during new visits to public spaces. With a social dog, those chewies can redirect their attention so they don’t wander to the next table. It’s hard to imagine that other people might not want to be near your pet, but minimizing interactions is the goal.

Philly Mag’s deputy digital editor Laura Swartz and her dog, Barclay, at Parc. / Photograph courtesy of Laura Swartz

Remember, you can plan everything, and your dog still becomes nervous, bringing on barking or a dreaded urination. Before that happens, Culp suggests noticing “trigger stacking, or when back-to-back events create a bad environment for your pet. “Think about your dog having a stamina bar. A trigger shows up, their stamina bar drains, and it’s going to take support to fill that bar back up. If another trigger shows up before they recover, your dog is going to get fried.” This can even occur with low-level triggers, she says, like a jogger passing by on the street or a piece of silverware dropping. If your dog hasn’t recovered, it will send them over the edge.

And if they’re not enjoying themselves and creating a nuisance for others, just go. “Nothing great’s gonna happen if we keep our dog in an environment they can’t handle,” she elaborates. Like all pet activities, it’s always best to ask yourself, will your dog enjoy it, or is this really for you?

Dog-Friendly Cafes in Philadelphia

Here are a few cafes across Philly with ideal amenities to hang out with your dog:

Sunday Girl, Old City

Pet beds, lots of coffee options, and a general kids-and-dogs atmosphere make this a great spot to test out how your dog might enjoy a cafe date. The supportive atmosphere is evident the moment you walk in and confront a wall of dog photos. (Hot tip: Old City is particularly dog-friendly, so if you want to test different locations within walking distance, Coffee Zeit and Loretta’s also have outdoor spaces and biscuits, and you can almost exclusively walk side streets between the three cafes.) 263 North 3rd Street.

Herman’s, Pennsport

This is where all the cool dogs are on weekends. You can bring your dog inside to order, and more often than not, the staff will remember their names. There’s plenty of seating outside, including corners your dog can tuck into, and even a few parking spaces if you are looking for a place to drive an elderly or immobile pet. 1313 South 3rd Street.

Good Karma Cafe, Center City

Beloved for spacious seating and friendliness toward larger dogs, Good Karma Cafe has three locations across Philadelphia that offer various degrees of outdoor seating with privacy and biscuits. Even though they are smack in the middle of busy parts of the city, you will always encounter tolerant staff that are more than willing to make your pet feel welcome. Multiple locations.

The Monkey and the Elephant, Brewerytown

This incredibly welcoming cafe does good for the community (they run an employment training program for youth from foster care) and has a biscuit jar for your pet. The courtyard is a secure, quiet space that makes a great choice for shy dogs who need a little more privacy. They also hold evening events, but call ahead to see if pets are invited. 2831 West Girard Avenue.

Parc, Rittenhouse

After taking a stroll through Rittenhouse Square you and your pup can stop by Parc for some al fresco dining. The Parc team is very welcoming, providing complimentary water bowls to their furry guests. Just keep in mind that the sidewalk seating sees a lot of foot traffic, which may be overstimulating to some dogs, so make sure you and your pet are well trained and can handle the hustle and bustle. 227 South 18th Street.

Vault + Vine, East Falls

This plant shop and cafe is a dream for dog owners. Peruse the greenhouse with your pup, including a shelf of pet-friendly plants and the section of Dog Mom gifts. Order a coffee, smoothie, or snack, and relax outside in the garden or take a walk across the street to the park if you become overwhelmed. In the past, community events have even included discounts if your pet comes with. 3507 Midvale Avenue.