Orlando is a Great Place for Pet Parents

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a delicious meal on a breezy patio on a summer afternoon. That fun is doubled when you can bring your furry friend along with you! Orlando is a wonderfully dog-friendly place, with many restaurants, bars, parks, and markets where you and your dog can stretch your legs and enjoy some snacks. Before you go, though, it’s important that you get to know the restaurant’s rules so that everyone can have a great time at their meal.

Even if a restaurant says it’s dog-friendly, or allows dogs in their outdoor dining area, the rules are different than they would be if you enjoyed lunch at home. It’s important to be mindful of the restaurant staff’s needs as well as the comfort of the other diners around you. 

Dog Dining Etiquette Tips

Be Sure Your Dog is Up For the Outing

You know your dog better than anyone else does. You know whether your dog is leash aggressive and nervous around other dogs or strangers. If your dog experiences any of these issues, it’s probably best to leave them at home. When you’re focused on your food, you might not see the warning signs that your dog is about to snap. What’s more, aggressive and explosive movements plus a table full of food and drinks equals a recipe for disaster. Putting your dog in a situation where they will likely be uncomfortable is unfair to everyone involved.

Everyone Else Might Not Love Dogs as Much as You Do

Every pet parent believes that their dog is the best dog in the world that deserves love and affection from every human that crosses his path. While we agree with you, not every human in the world is a dog lover – and that’s ok! Make sure that your dog is not encroaching on other people’s dining experience without their express permission. Keep a handful of treats with you to encourage your dog to return to your side if they start to wander. 

Try Not to Sit in the Center of the Dining Space

Going out in public with your dog involves a lot of extra equipment: leash, water bowl, treats, and beyond. If you’re situated right in the middle of the dining area, all this extra stuff may cause a tripping hazard for staff and other diners, and it also doesn’t give your dog much room to stretch out and chill while you eat. If it’s at all possible, find yourself a table at the corner of the patio so you can set up comfortably and your dog can maintain a personal bubble, should they need it.

Don’t Tie Their Leash to the Furniture

You may think it’s ok to tie your dog’s leash to the table or chair you’re sitting at since you’ll be right next to them, but it’s much safer for everyone if you maintain your hold on their leash. First of all, you’ll be able to react quickly if something should happen, like your dog starting to wander or someone needing to pass by. Secondly, even if your dog isn’t being reactive, there’s always the possibility that they could pull the furniture over when they move, which poses a serious safety issue to you, your dog, and those around you.

Don’t Let Them Sit at the Table

Your dog should stay by your feet during your meal. First of all, as you know from some of our previous blogs, human food is not always safe for dogs, and when you order it from a restaurant, you don’t know exactly how they’ve prepared it. It could include garlic or spices that will make your dog sick. Secondly, letting your dog sit like a human can reinforce begging behavior at home, and that’s a no-go for everyone. Finally, letting your dog eat from the plate might gross out other restaurant-goers, and we’re sure the restaurant staff doesn’t want to clean dog slobber from their plates and silverware.

Time Your Visit

As we all know, dogs can get bored after a while of sitting around, especially if there are so many new sights and smells surrounding them. According to Reader’s Digest, you want to leave the restaurant before your dog gets tired, bored, or has to potty. Be intentional with the time you choose for your restaurant trip, as well; it’s best to avoid visiting during peak hours. Instead, go when you know the crowd isn’t too big and you’ll be able to enjoy yourselves. 

Great Places to Eat and Drink With Your Dog in Orlando

As we mentioned above, Orlando is a wonderfully dog-friendly city! Here are just a few of our favorite places to bring our dogs for an afternoon: 

Barley and Vine Biergarten

This charming craft beer and wine garden allows dogs both inside and out on their expansive covered patio. They don’t serve food, but they do often have visiting food trucks, and you’re welcome to bring your own food from one of the many restaurants nearby!

Sideward Brewing

Sideward Brewing offers a huge variety of craft beers made in-house as well as delicious snacks and sandwiches. Their covered and fan-cooled patio space is frequented by local dogs who love tagging along with their owners for a pint. 

Pups Pub

This brand-new bar in Orlando is designed specifically with dogs in mind! Featuring turf flooring, designated play areas, and Paw Patrollers who make sure everyone is having safe fun and staying clean, Pups Pub offers monthly memberships so you can bring your dog for a pawty whenever you want. 

903 Mills Market

Looking for more of a relaxed environment for a great breakfast or lunch? 903 Mills Market is a quaint local eatery with some of the best breakfast sandwiches in town, and plenty of space to be comfortable in their outdoor eating area. They have plenty of water bowls on hand for your thirsty pups!

We’re always looking for the best places to bring our dogs along with us! Of course, we love bringing our dogs to the farmers’ markets with us when we attend every weekend. What are some of your favorite dog-friendly places around Orlando? Send us a message and let us know!

When the COVID-19 quarantine began early this year, we pet parents were certainly thankful for the company of our furry friends. Many people brought home a new dog or cat for their companionship, giving animal shelters across the country record adoption numbers. Our pets have helped reduce our feelings of loneliness when we’ve been self-isolating, reminded us to stay active, and given us an outlet to snuggle and pet and laugh the stress away. 

Still, it can be monotonous for both you and your dog to see the same scenery day after day. Now that some health and safety restrictions have been lightened, we have the opportunity to take part in a few different public activities. Your health and safety is of the utmost importance, so if you do choose to participate in any activities, be sure to follow all of their stated safety rules, maintain a 6’ distance from other people at all times, and keep hand sanitizer and masks handy. With that in mind, here are some of our favorite dog-friendly social distancing activities in Orlando. 

Parks

Many dog parks around Orlando have reopened. Lake Baldwin Park is one of our favorites; it’s big enough to give everyone plenty of room to stay distant and offers lots of different activities in one place. Lake Baldwin Park is famous for its dog beach, but it also has a wooded trail area and lots of open grassy areas for dogs who love to fetch. 

Other parks that aren’t specifically dog parks offer a breath of fresh air for you and your dogs. Take a stroll around Lake Eola with your dog now that the temperature is finally starting to cool off. Or you can head to one of our frequent stops at Cranes’ Roost park near Altamonte Springs. Both offer opportunities for walking, playing, and relaxing safely.

Shopping

Nothing beats a morning of open-air shopping with your dog! Head over to Park Avenue in Winter Park to take in a little window shopping; many of the restaurants and stores in that area are dog-friendly. Farmers’ markets are another great option, and a handful of markets have resumed their normal operation with extra safety precautions in place. Pawsitively Pure has a booth at the Lake Mary Farmers’ Market every Saturday Morning at 9 AM. Friendly leashed dogs are always welcome. To keep everyone safe, booths have been spread out and all vendors wear masks.

Restaurants

If your dog loves coming with you to grab lunch, Orlando has plenty of options available with social distancing rules in place. Areas like Thornton Park, Mills50, and the Milk District have wonderful restaurants that serve everything from sandwiches to tacos. Best of all, many of these restaurants offer outdoor seating or takeout options so you and your dog can enjoy your favorites in a safe space. 

Rule number one for when you and your dog venture outside of the house: be smart! Following posted instructions and all possible safety precautions not only keeps you safe, it also helps keep those around you safe. In any new situation, it’s a great idea to keep some tasty treats handy for training and reward purposes. If you want to bring some extra special treats along with you, head over to our store and pick out your dog’s favorite flavors.

Courtesy of TripSavvy

A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of setting up our tent at Blue Jacket Park for their annual Paws for Peace event. If you’ve been following us on social media, you probably know that we’ve been making appearances at park events like these all around Orlando and Central Florida. Even when events aren’t involved, we love taking Jackson and Finley out for a day of fun in the sun, and the best part about it is, we have a huge selection of locations to choose from.

One of the things we love the most about living in Central Florida is how many wonderful dog parks there are in our area. Here’s a list of some of our favorites:

• Crane’s Roost Park in Altamonte is pet-friendly in most areas. This beautiful park over the water has clearly designated pet walk areas and is open to on-leash pets. Just be sure to check their event schedule before you go - during big events, no pets are allowed unless otherwise specified.

• Blue Jacket Park in Winter Park is a popular spot for runners. Like Crane’s Roost, Blue Jacket is an on-leash park, but if you have an active dog that likes to join you for a jog, this is a great place to do it.

• Doctors Dog Park is located near Wekiwa Springs and has a number of fun amenities for you and your dog, like pet showers, benches, water fountains, and a bridge. This park is off-leash, so your dogs have plenty of room to run and play!

• Barber Dog Park is not far from the airport area, and it’s a great place for agility training! Barber includes a separate area for small dogs, so you can rest easy letting your little one run around with his buddies. Take your dog around the agility equipment and give them a few lessons on climbing and jumping - it’s sure to enrich and entertain them!

There are a number of other dog parks waiting for you to explore around the Orlando area. Check out this list from BringFido.com to see some of the top rated dog parks and beaches in the area. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages to find out where we’ll be next!

The Dog Days of Summer

in Orlando

If you haven’t noticed, summer is officially here in Central Florida! Around our neighborhood, we’ve seen more people walking their furry friends and playing outside, and we’re sure you have too. That’s why this is our favorite season of the year - it gives us the perfect opportunity to take our dogs outside to exercise and have fun.

If you live in the Central Florida area, you’re in a great spot for pet-friendly activities. Here are just a handful of our favorite summer dog destinations in the Orlando area:

• Wekiva Island: The Island is a fun destination for pets and owners alike! Located at Wekiva Springs, Wekiva Island is 100% dog friendly, from the cabana to the bar and even to the canoe! This is a great choice for any pet parents whose pup has an adventurous spirit and likes to play in water.

• Thornton Park: Want to bring your dog along while you head out for a quick bite or a coffee? Stop by Thornton Park, where you can find plenty of pet-friendly spots with outdoor seating. Dexter’s is one of our favorites!

• Dog Parks: Great news: Orlando has a number of beautiful dog parks where you can take your pup to run off some energy. Lake Baldwin Park features a small dog beach where pups can wade and splash as well as plenty of dry areas to explore. There’s probably a park close to your home!

• Smyrna Dunes Beach: If you’re willing to drive a few extra minutes, you’re in for a treat at Smyrna Dunes Beach. This beach is dog-friendly, so you and your pup can have fun in the sun together. Be sure to pack extra sunscreen!

• Hiking Trails: You may not realize just how many walking trails are set up around the Orlando area. Many of these trails are dog-friendly, so you can take your pooch on an extra long walk. Try Turkey Lake Park if your dog likes the shade of the woods, or opt for the Cady Way trail for a scenic walk near Baldwin! Check out BringFido.com for a list of all the dog-friendly trails nearby.

Your dog deserves a getaway this summer! Before you go on your adventure, make sure your pup is hydrated and has food in their tummy. Our bone broth for dogs is a great way to give your pups a nutritious boost when they need it most. To learn more or order your bone broth, browse the Pawsitively Pure website.