Unleash Restaurant Manners: Dining with Your Dog @Brewery Vivant Training sponsored by Round of Apaws Dog Training LLC (GR)

Our service dog, Eddie, is consistently enjoying enhanced abilities thanks to the training I receive and the guidance of professionals. Recently, Dani Potts from Round of Apaws Dog Training LLC sponsored Eddie and me to help us develop our skills while dining at a restaurant.

To prepare for this training, Dani requested participants bring a standard flat buckle collar, a 4 to 6-foot leash, and a small, lightweight blanket, towel, yoga mat, or bathmat. She instructed that while it is beneficial for dogs to have some basic skills for this training, it isn’t a requirement. Additionally, Dani provides dog bowls and cold water, which my lab truly appreciated!

Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids, Michigan, hosted the training and included one complimentary 5 oz. pour at the end of each class. Of course, a legal identification was required to partake in this drink offering.

Dani set certain goals for her Dine With Your Dog training. Inclusivity is a major goal since more and more people take their dogs with them wherever they go. She hopes to inspire confidence in both the owner and the dog to dine together at restaurants.

Class One

Eddie and I began our first training session on July 20, 2024. It was a lovely day and we arrived at the outdoor seating area looking forward to our outing. Eddie was ecstatic when the other dogs came. My first realization was that we were in a strange setting, with two other dogs less than 10 feet away. Eddie was overly delighted! Although he had been boarded and exposed to numerous other dogs, this close-seated situation with little interaction was new to us.

TIP #1: If your dog is too excited to focus initially, take them out of the training area without disrupting the other participants, if possible. Do a short walk with rewards. Once your dog calms, you can return. It took me less than a minute for excitable Eddie to settle, but he is 4 years old. Others may take longer. Ask Dani for help if you struggle with an overexcited pup.

Trainer Dani welcomed us and after a little introduction to the program, she dug right in. There’s not a lot of wasted time at these trainings. With only 45 minutes, it’s crucial to begin right away. The dogs need short training periods so this time element was great for us.

During the first class, we learned about the Relaxation Protocol and how to convince our dogs that lying down on the mat when it appears is a fantastic idea. We were encouraged to take things slowly and to reinforce proper behavior from the start.

Eddie is incredibly food-oriented, and there was so much reinforce-ment through rewards that he received numerous treats. By the end of the second class, I realized the goodies I had been serving were too large and rich for him to consume for 45 minutes. He choked, occasionally hurrying for the next treat. Typical lab! I planned to bring high-value, smaller, and less chewy treats to the next class.

TIP #2: Use small, high-value treats which can also include some of their breakfast kibble if they are enthusiastic about this. Hot dogs could also be used as a high-value treat. I combined kibble and small treats, including Zuke’s Salmon and Beef.

Training techniques Dani introduced at the first class were reinforced throughout the four weeks: Touch, Zen Hands, and Hanging Out Close. Zen Hands became Zen Table by the third class. These trainings are intended to provide us with strategies for keeping our dogs engaged and calm while dining out. After each class, we were given a handout to review and practice the training skills with our dogs before the next class.

We also experienced a crucial aspect of training while employees were entering and leaving the restaurant as it was getting ready to open. There was one door in particular that creaked so loudly that Eddie jumped up. Dani trained our dogs to become desensitized to sounds like rattling dishes, creaking doors, and people chatting. Before this training, I had never considered these problems. Because my lab loves to eat, I was always more worried about food dishes being around!

Class Two

Eddie was ready for work in the second lesson, and I noticed he was much less distracted by the other dogs. Dani also taught Auto Leave It, which helped Eddie pay more attention to what was expected of him when dining. She began adding glasses to the tables while we had our dogs settled on the mat.

Class Three

By the third training day, Dani began introducing bowls and plates to the tables to distract the dogs. In my case, Eddie ignored anything without real food!

It was very hot out that day, well into the eighties, and my mascara was running! Our lab does not like hot weather. He’s rather spoiled with air conditioning, and so am I. For the last ten minutes, he had enough of the warm weather and did not want to continue training.

TIP #3: Be cognizant of the time of year you are attending class, whether outside or inside, and whether your dog handles different climates well. If I were to take another summer outdoor class with Eddie, I would be sure to have a cooling mat for him.

It was extremely beneficial for Eddie and me to have other individuals around us in a class like this. I was able to observe and learn from other people when performing some of the training techniques. I love group training!

Dani noted a few things to keep in mind for a class like Dine with Your Dog. Firstly, make your training sessions short, 5 or 10 minutes, and repeat them throughout the day. She says, “Keep it short and keep it fun!” If your dog is excessively reactive and/or fearful, she recommends some reactivity training before a group class of this type.

Class Four

At the last class, Dani put out bowls with snacks in them. There was cheese and a little lunchmeat. By that time the dogs had received so much training that the dogs were well-behaved and not trying to get to the food. Each owner and dog received a certification of completion.

Dani spent some time with each dog at the end of her final class. Her love of animals, especially dogs, is evident in every interaction. She genuinely loves what she does and the dogs and owners with whom she interacts. After Eddie worked with her, he saw me and leapt into the air like he was so proud of what he did. Eddie loves Dani! That’s the mark of a superior and trustworthy dog trainer, whether your dog wants to do what the trainer or you instruct because they are having fun.

TIP #4: Round of Apaws Dog Training provides a loyalty discount if another class is booked with her within 30 days. Ask Dani for a promotion code if you qualify!

I am so excited to take Eddie out to our next dining experience. I will make sure and bring his mat and be ready with high-value treats. We enjoy being together. Thank you, Dani! We learned so much from you and Round of Apaws Dog Training GR.