Picture this, it’s Sunday morning, the sun is shining, and you’re sitting at your favourite dog-friendly cafe, sipping on one of Melbourne’s finest chai lattes. But wait, it gets better; you look down, and there is your furry best friend, hanging out quietly next to you, waiting patiently for their puppachino as the waitress brings over your brekkie and a side of bacon for your bestie (obviously).
Life is good.
Sounds like the dream, right? However, without proper preparation, solid obedience skills and correct socialisation, cafe trips can quickly turn into the outing from hell! Check out our top tips below to help train your dog to become the perfect cafe companion.
Start them young- socialisation is key!
If you have a new puppy, it is important to begin exposing them to scenarios that they are likely to experience later in life. This ranges from different sounds such as sirens and thunderstorms to different surfaces for example grates and tiles, to different sights such as people dressed in hi-vis and of course, lots of different environments including cafes, pet shops and vet clinics to name a few.
So, if you’d like your puppy to accompany you to cafes when they are an adult dog, start taking them as a pup. Either carry them in your arms or bring along their bed or a travel mat for them to sit on until they are fully vaccinated and allow them to simply watch the world go by. You can take along some of their food in a treat pouch, rewarding them for calm choices such as lying or sitting down, and help to create a positive association with the new environment.
Desensitisation and exposure to cafe sounds for puppies and older dogs
There are many great apps available on the market, such as ‘brave puppy’, which contain lots of different sounds you can play to your dog, which mimic that of a cafe. Whether you have an older dog or a puppy, this is a great place to start to begin to desensitise them to noises that they will encounter. Try playing at a low volume in the home, gradually increasing the volume as your dog becomes familiar with the sounds. If at any point they become worried, simply turn the volume down a notch and take things back a step. Acknowledging calm choices while the sounds are playing, for example, your dog relaxing by your feet or hanging out on their bed, is also recommended and a great way to show our dogs that they are performing behaviours that we like without us needing to command them to do so.
Mat training and solid obedience skills
What is mat training, I hear you ask? Mat training, or place/bed training as it is also commonly referred to, teaches a dog to remain on a designated mat until they are released. A solid mat stay is a fantastic skill for any dog to learn. It has many benefits, which can be used not only at cafes but in lots of different scenarios in order to combat or prevent behavioural problems and helps to promote a sense of calm within our dogs.
In the initial stages of mat training, we lure the dog onto a mat (make sure your mat is big enough for their body to fit comfortably) and reward when all four paws touch the mat. When we are ready, we can then release the dog from the mat using a release word such as ‘free’ or ‘break’. Once the dog starts to understand the game and is reliably following the lure onto the mat, it is time to add in our cue word ‘mat/bed/ or place’ and then reward when the dog performs the behaviour.
Bringing a mat or bed along to the cafe, this gives your dog a comfortable place to relax and a job to focus on whilst you enjoy your coffee. It prevents behaviours such as jumping up at passers-by and encourages the dog to relax and settle in one spot for the duration of the visit.
Duration- Gradually begin to increase the duration you are asking your dog to stay on its mat. You can do this by rewarding your dog with food and/or verbal praise every so often whilst they remain on the mat. This helps to create the association that the mat is a great place to be. All your dog must do is keep all four paws on the mat, and good things will follow! After many repetitions, a bit of patience and lots of practice, you can build up your dogs’ mat stay from 10 seconds all the way up to a 45-minute/1 hour stay.
Distraction- Just like any new skill we teach our dogs, we first begin the process by doing so in a low distraction environment such as the dog’s home or backyard. Practice by having your dog lay on its mat while you eat at the dinner table, rewarding your dog intermittently for staying in place.
You could then kick it up a notch by replicating a cafe scenario by setting up an outdoor table and chairs and inviting some friends over for a coffee and a catch-up. Play your cafe sounds from either the Brave Puppy app or Youtube in the background and reward your dog for waiting patiently on their mat whilst you enjoy your drinks.
Distance- Depending on which cafe you decide to visit, you may be required to leave your pup outside while heading in to order. If this is the case, ensuring that you have trained your dog to stay on its mat whilst you temporarily pop out of sight is crucial. Begin by taking just a few steps away from your dog before returning to reward them. Slowly increase the distance you leave your dog and begin to introduce very short periods of time where you are out of sight. Of course, be sure to return to your dog and reward them for staying in place! Tethering your dog to an object such as a fence, lampost, or sofa leg is a great way of guaranteeing that they do not move from their position.
Choosing a venue
Ok, so your dog now has a good understanding of mat training. You have researched the best dog-friendly cafes in your area and have put in the work to expose your dog to the sights, smells and sounds of a cafe environment through proper socialisation. Now what? Now we put it all together!
For your first trip out, I recommend avoiding peak times and super busy cafes to set you and your dog up for a successful and enjoyable experience. As you and your dog grow in confidence, you can certainly start to visit the more popular venues and venture out in busier periods.
There are plenty of dog-friendly cafes around Melbourne to choose from, no matter which suburb you live in. Some even have their very own pup-friendly menu for your dog to choose from! To avoid disappointment, be sure to check ahead with the venue where they welcome dogs. Otherwise, your leisurely brunch trip may become a puppachino to go instead.
Should I take anything with me to the cafe?
When it comes to a successful cafe trip, preparation is key- here are my top 3 must-haves to bring with you to get the most out of your cafe experience!
- Treat pouch filled with high-value food such as Prime 100, boiled chicken, or small sausage pieces. Remember, training doesn’t end at home! Taking some food along with you enables you to reward your pup for any good choices they make and helps to create a positive association in new environments.
- Your dogs training mat. This gives them a place to relax comfortably while you enjoy your brekkie and keeps them out of the way from other dogs, customers and staff.
- An appropriately fitted collar and leash. While out in public, it is essential you are able to keep your pet under effective control and abide by leash laws. This also allows you to tether your dog should you need to get up and leave them unattended at any point during your visit.
Most importantly, go out and have fun with your furry best friend! Let us know your favourite dog-friendly cafes in the comments below. For more tips and tricks, head to PK9 Online or book a private dog training consult to get started on your dog training journey.
