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Eating in a restaurant with a dog

This used to be part of Dog Jaunt’s “About” page, when I planned to provide you with a list of restaurants where we have eaten with Chloe concealed in her messenger bag (or out of her bag, with a wink from the management). It wasn’t bravado or counting coup — I just think that the nearly-universal ban on dogs in U.S. restaurants is lame, and I wanted to demonstrate that a quiet, clean, contained dog can accompany her owners to restaurants and be unobtrusive.

On second thought, I’ve decided to post only about restaurants that are comfortable with being described as dog-friendly. Why ruin a good thing for other dog owners by drawing a health inspector’s attention to restaurants that turn a blind eye to a well-behaved dog? And why get a restaurant in trouble that had no idea Chloe was with us?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that dogs be prohibited from retail establishments where food is served (the code refers to other animals as well, but I’m focusing on dogs). It is up to the states to implement laws regarding dogs in restaurants, and the states have followed the FDA’s recommendation, with some variations (e.g., some states are open to variances or local ordinances that permit dogs in outdoor eating areas). Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, service dogs are permitted both indoors and in outdoor eating areas, and since there is currently no ID required to prove that your dog is a service dog, some people take inappropriate advantage of that exception. Here is an in-depth article about how the federal code, state laws and federal law interact.

The concerns underlying FDA code provision 6-501.115, and informing the comments that people post in places where the topic is discussed, include health hazards (restaurant staff patting the dogs and neglecting to wash their hands afterwards, and people allergic to dogs being exposed to dander), safety hazards (dogs tripping patrons or impeding progress through the restaurant), and annoyances (dogs urinating or defecating on the floor, or annoying other patrons by begging or otherwise seeking attention).

Here’s what I think. I think dogs should be allowed indoors in U.S. restaurants as long as they cannot be seen or heard or smelled, if there is no opportunity for them to pee or poop, and if they cannot shed on or lick another patron. Outdoors, on a patio or a sidewalk, I believe they should sit or lie quietly next to their owner, completely out of the path of the wait staff and patrons.

I cannot recall having ever been annoyed by a fellow patron’s dog in Europe, where well-behaved dogs often accompany their owners to restaurants. They have met all of my requirements for dogs in U.S. restaurants, except that they are visible.

By contrast, I have been repeatedly annoyed by the behavior and sound of babies and toddlers, who are welcomed in U.S. restaurants. Does anyone believe that a table that’s been drooled on by a baby is clean once a busboy swipes a quick towel over it? Haven’t we all been approached by a sticky toddler demanding conversation and amusement? Or heard a child in the midst of a meltdown? Why have babies and toddlers not been banned from U.S. retail establishments where food is served? [7/1/09: I’ve just been criticized as a kid-hater for this paragraph. I’ve deliberately described the worst of children in restaurants, because opponents of dogs in restaurants describe the worst imaginable canine behavior to make their point. I believe that clean and well-behaved children are a perfect delight in a restaurant, and I would love to see them joined by clean and well-behaved dogs.]

So here’s what I do. I will bring Chloe into a restaurant but only in her messenger bag. In it, she is silent, and generally falls asleep. I put her, in her bag, on the ground under my feet, not on a chair or bench. I do not pat her or otherwise interact with her, except that, from time to time, I may drop one of her usual treats in through the top hatch. (I do not give her food from my plate; I drop the treats in to amuse her and remind her of why she loves her messenger bag.) She has only been noticed twice: the first restaurant invited her out of her bag to enjoy the outdoor patio, and the second restaurant asked us to leave.

If you are asked to leave, go and with good grace. If you are asked whether there is an animal in your bag, tell the truth. Sometimes the person asking is a dog lover and is willing to bend the rules; sometimes you’ll be shown the door. Resisting or arguing would be inappropriate — you are, after all, breaking the law. It would also be inappropriate to fib about your dog being a service dog. Apologize for the mistake you made (my approach is big-eyed wonder that a dog in a bag isn’t okay), pay for what you have ordered, and depart gracefully.

Why bring Chloe to a restaurant at all, given that I’ve ensured that I can’t see, hear or smell her? For convenience. If I am out of the house all day, or on the road, it is convenient for me to eat at a restaurant. I will not leave my dog in the car, for health reasons (even in Seattle, cold or hot weather can threaten a dog’s life) and for security reasons (purebred dogs are a crime target, and the slightly-open window that provides her with ventilation also invites car theft).

I would not bring Chloe to a fancy restaurant because it’s unnecessary. A serious dinner is a special event, like going to the theater — it deserves a nice outfit, so I’ll need to return home anyway.

USB flash drive for your dog’s collar

You say “how about a tag for your dog that contains a USB flash drive,” and the keep-it-simple crowd bursts into derisive laughter. Their argument: A tag with a flash drive is expensive and it’s pointless, since the person who finds your dog may not know what a flash drive is or may not have access to a computer. And who, besides you, needs a ton of information about your dog’s medical history and care requirements? All someone else needs is your phone number, so they can get your dog back to you.

Another crowd, however, thinks a USB flash drive dog tag is a pretty cool idea. Their argument: Lost dogs with medical conditions like epilepsy or severe allergies need special attention and, often, regular medication. It may take hours before a dog’s chip can be read and her vet’s office contacted, and that’s time that some dogs can’t afford. The information on the flash drive could be read right away. (Why not just call the dog’s owner, who’s surely also attached a phone number to her dog’s collar? The promotional materials for these products are pretty tactful, but the gist is that the lost dog’s owner may not be available, either temporarily or permanently. It’s probably not a coincidence that these products seem to have been developed after Hurricane Katrina.)

I think a USB flash drive tag would give some pet owners peace of mind. An owner could certainly worry that her sudden death or absence would leave a beloved pet in trouble — and in a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina, a pet’s medical records can be destroyed, so a really anxious owner could imagine her pet suddenly ownerless and without a medical history. Alternatively, if an owner were traveling abroad and her dog escaped her sitter or kennel, the contact number on the dog’s regular tag may well not work. Owners fretting about these scenarios might take comfort in knowing that their dogs are always accompanied by their medical history and information about their background, training, and care.

One option is PetSafe’s Micro I.D. Rescue Collar ($20.00 plus shipping): It looks like a normal dog collar, except that clinging to it is a chunky plastic enclosure (I’m estimating it’s about 2″ by 1″ by 1.5″) containing a small USB flash drive. I’m more drawn to waterproof hanging tags like the PCPetID ($19.95 plus shipping), or the Top Tag Pet ID ($39.95 plus shipping) — though I vigorously object to the claim by their makers that this kind of tag is better than a microchip because it only requires a computer, not a scanner. That’s lame: Collars and tags can and do come off dogs, but a chip is permanent.

An even sleeker option is the KoogaTag ($29.95 plus shipping) offered by KoogaPet.com. Their tag is truly tiny — hardly bigger than the the part of a flash drive that’s actually inserted into your computer. According to a New York Times article about the product, the company was able to keep the tag small “by leaving the tag’s electronic contacts exposed. The company says contacts will not corrode unless exposed to seawater for long periods.” Though the contacts are exposed, the tag is waterproof. An 800 number is printed on the tag, as is a number unique to your dog.

KoogaPet envisions your dog only carrying a KoogaTag, clearly, but I suggest that you use it (or any other flash drive tag) as a supplement to your existing tag. In many situations, a simple phone number will do the trick, so why not provide it? I would hang your KoogaTag so that its contacts side faces away from your other tags, to ensure that the contacts aren’t constantly whacked by the other tags. It may not be necessary, but it’s what I’d do.

Will I get a flash drive tag for Chloe? Probably not, though I do love pet gear and I am an anxious gal — she’s a healthy dog, and she already has a bunch of stuff hanging off her small neck.

Traveling by Atlanta public transit with a small dog

Photo by Steve Hardy

Photo by Steve Hardy

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) operates buses and rapid transit trains in Atlanta and Fulton County, with additional service in DeKalb and Cobb counties. There is a MARTA train station at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), in Clayton County. MARTA’s pet policy [PDF] states that “small pets confined to rigid pet carriers with locks or latches” are allowed on board.

Cherokee Area Transportation System (CATS) operates buses in Cherokee County, and provides commuter service to Atlanta. Its pet policy states: “No pets except for handicapped assistance allowed on the buses.”

Clayton County C-Tran operates four bus routes in Clayton County and connecting to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The customer service representative I spoke to said that small dogs in carriers are allowed on board, at no extra charge.

Cobb Community Transit (CCT) operates local buses in Cobb County and express buses to Atlanta. Only service animals are allowed on CCT buses.

Gwinnett County Transit (GCT) operates local buses in Gwinnett County and express buses to Atlanta and connecting to MARTA. A GCT customer service representative told me that only service animals are allowed on board.

Xpress “is a public transportation service in partnership between the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and 12 metro Atlanta counties…with luxury coaches carrying riders throughout the region Monday through Friday.” The customer service representative I spoke to told me that only service animals are allowed on board.

For other posts about traveling with dogs on public transit, take a look at Dog Jaunt’s handy guide!

PuppyPurse carrier for small dogs

The PuppyPurse carrier is getting some buzz lately, perhaps because it’s summer again and dog owners quail at the thought of closing their dogs into a regular carrier in all this heat. The PuppyPurse is really a sling for your dog, with four leg holes. The sling wraps around your dog’s torso and closes along your dog’s spine, presumably with Velcro. There are D-rings at the neck and tail to which you clip two straps that can be shortened to go over your shoulder, lengthened to go across your chest, removed altogether (so your dog becomes a handbag), or half-removed and used as a leash. You can even use one of the straps to lash your dog to your hip, like a fanny pack.

It’s meant for small dogs, between 2 lbs. and 6 lbs. “plus” (the XXL size will fit a dog with a 16.5″-18.5″ chest circumference). I think Chloe would fit into the XXL, and she’s a rangy 11 lbs.

Some comments express concern about the degree of support the PuppyPurse provides to a dog’s back end, but it looks as though the sling extends far enough behind the rear legs that that wouldn’t really be a problem (and the makers of the PuppyPurse assure us that it’s “great for pets with arthritis, a broken leg, or other medical or physical problems”). The pictured dogs all look happy as clams, for what that’s worth.

I do see that it’s breezier than a regular carrier, but it doesn’t work for me for a number of reasons. First, the reason I put Chloe in a carrier is to conceal her in a place that doesn’t allow dogs, or contain her appropriately in a place that requires dogs to be in a carrier (on public transit, for example). Otherwise, she walks on her own. The PuppyPurse obviously wouldn’t work in either of those situations.

Second, I carry a purse every day of my life, and I know what I do it — I cut a corner too close, or I lean a bit going through a door, and my purse gets whacked. I fear that if Chloe were over my shoulder in a PuppyPurse I’d lose sight of the fact that she’s a dog and treat her just like my regular purse. I think it’s safer for her to have a carrier’s protection.

And keep in mind that a regular carrier provides protection in the other direction too. If you have a cranky or nippy dog, the PuppyPurse seems like a problem waiting to happen: There your dog is, looking adorable and attracting pats — and right at nipping height, especially for youngsters who are likely to be the first to tick off a cranky dog.

And finally, carrying Chloe over my shoulder in a PuppyPurse would mean that I’d have two things over my shoulders in this heat — at least with a carrier, I can stick my essential purse items in the pockets. So nope, this product is not for me. But maybe I lack vision — let me know what you think!

Traveling by plane with an in-cabin dog: Carrier on lap during flight or not?

In an earlier post, I suggested that you pull your dog’s carrier out from under the seat in front of you and put it on your lap, after takeoff and before landing. I think the physical contact helps Chloe, and I certainly find it soothing. Southwest’s new pet policy set off alarms, however. On Southwest flights, your pet’s carrier must remain under the seat in front of you for the entire flight. Do other U.S. airlines have this same requirement? Turns out that some do, alas, so I’m providing you with two lists.

The first list below is of U.S. airlines that specifically require that your pet remain under the seat for the entire flight; the second is of airlines that either allow you to move her out from under the seat or that don’t specifically forbid it. To view the airlines’ complete pet policies, and see where the quotes I’ve provided come from, please visit Dog Jaunt’s list of U.S. airline pet policies.

In the second case, it’s never stated that you can put your dog’s carrier on your lap but it’s also not forbidden. As always, be courteous to your seatmates (make sure, for example, that no part of the carrier impinges on their space or blocks the armrest).

Please note that on every U.S. airline,  you cannot remove your dog from your carrier during flight, or allow any part of her to stick out of the carrier. At most, I will insert my arm into Chloe’s carrier, keeping the zipper closed up to my forearm so that she can’t poke her nose out.

So what will I do on airlines that require you to keep your dog under the seat? I will turn Chloe’s carrier (after takeoff) so that it’s half under the seat and half under my feet. That way, she has a bit more room, she can see me, and I can feed her ice cubes and treats during the flight. It’s no more than other passengers do with their carry-ons, and, as with their bags, it only takes up my floor space.

Airlines requiring that your dog’s carrier stay under the seat for the entire flight

AirTran (“The pet must remain in the carrier and under the seat for the duration of the flight.”)

Allegiant (“…pets must be comfortable while remaining in the carrier, under the seat, at all times.”)

American (“Pets must stay in their closed and/or zipped kennels under the seat in front of you at all times.”)

Southwest (“Cats and dogs must remain in the carrier (including head and tail) and the carrier must be stowed under the seat in front of the Customer (Owner) during the entire duration of the flight.”)

Sun Country (“Your pet must remain in its carrier and stowed during the entire flight underneath the seat in front of the passenger.”)

United (“The kennel must fit completely under the seat in front of the customer and remain there at all times.”)

US Airways (“Pets must remain inside their approved container under the seat directly in front of you.”)

Airlines that allow you to move your dog’s carrier out from under the seat during flight (or don’t disallow it)

Please note that I have quoted the language each airline provides about in-cabin pets during flight — in many cases, the policies only say that the pet must remain in her carrier, which I regard as allowing (or at least not forbidding) me to put her carrier on my lap.

Keep in mind that flight attendants have the final say — if they tell you to stow your dog, stow her with a smile. It’s never a good idea to argue with flight attendants.

Alaska (“The pet must stay in its container (including head and tail) at all times while onboard, and be stowed under the seat during taxi, takeoff, and landing.”)

Continental (same as United)

Delta (“Your pet must remain inside the kennel (with door secured) while in a Delta boarding area (during boarding and deplaning), a Delta airport lounge, and while onboard the aircraft.”)

Frontier (“For safety reasons, your pet must remain in the travel container at all times. If your pet is disruptive, you must soothe him/her without taking him/her from the pet container.”)

Hawaiian (“The animal must be confined to the pet carrier, and is subject to inspection and approval by airline personnel prior to acceptance.”)

JetBlue (“All pets must remain inside the pet carrier while at the airport and onboard the aircraft.”)

Spirit (“Pets must remain in the container at all times on board the aircraft, and must be harmless, inoffensive, odorless, and require no attention during transit. Pets must be completely contained within the pet carrier.”)

Virgin America (“Pets must stay enclosed in their kennels while onboard and in the airport terminal.”)

Vehicles reviewed for dog-friendly features

You’re looking for a car that will safely and conveniently carry you and your dog, but you dread the effort involved in sizing up all the available options. Happily, you have help: DogCars.com‘s mission is to assess cars, minivans, SUVs and any other vehicle “from a dog-lover’s point of view.” The reviewers focus on practical questions like how easy it is to open up the rear cargo space and fit and secure crates in it, and whether the vehicle’s HVAC system will reach the area where your dog is traveling.

Click on “Vehicle Reviews” to see the DogCars.com reports — the list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s a very useful resource. If nothing else, the reviews will give you a sense of what questions to ask and what measurements to make when you’re out kicking tires.

Temporary dog ID tag, Martha-style

In an earlier post, I suggested that you make a temporary ID tag for your dog and add it to her collar, so that if she is lost while you’re traveling, the person who finds her will have a local address and telephone number for you. I offered a couple of ideas for making inexpensive tags, but true to form, Martha Stewart has a much nicer idea.

In the current issue of Martha Stewart Living (July 2009, with a couple of red, white and blue sundaes on the front), Martha suggests making a temporary tag by printing your information on card stock and cutting the card stock and two pieces of clear adhesive into tag-sized circles with a circular craft punch. For the details, see page 42 of the July 2009 issue. [7/17/11 Please note that I just updated this post by providing a link to the relevant page on Martha’s site — no need to dig through your back issues!]

Martha has another pet ID tag idea, which involves slightly more effort but would also work as a temporary tag (though the results are nice enough to be permanent): Type your dog’s info into Martha’s tag template and print the resulting tag on a Shrinky Dinks sheet, then bake the tag until it shrinks to the correct size.

Both projects take a bit of shopping and trouble, but the resulting tags are very attractive (and very legible), and the supplies can be used for future trips.

Dog-friendly restaurants: Chowhound

Chowhound is one of my favorite websites — it’s a collection of regional “boards,” where people post questions and suggestions about great places to eat. Find the region you care about, then type in your query in the search bar directly above (“Search this board”). We’ve used it for years to find restaurants when we travel, but only recently realized that it’s also a resource for dog-friendly restaurants. Type “dog friendly” into your query, and see what your fellow foodies suggest.

Other dog travel blogs

Dog Jaunt has competition, which is good news for all of us — for you especially, because the more sources of information there are about traveling with a dog, the better for you. (It’s good news for me too, because it suggests that people are interested in traveling with dogs — also, if bloggers are out there asking hotels and transit providers and restaurants questions about dog-friendly products and services, it will help steer the rest of the world towards viewing dogs as valuable clients.)

Here is a list of the dog travel blogs I know about, with a brief description of each blog’s focus and affiliation. Do you have a dog travel blog that I haven’t listed, or do you know of one? Please send me a link!

DogFriendly.com’s Dog News — DogFriendly.com “publishes world-wide pet travel guides for dogs of ALL sizes & breeds.” Its blog began posting in August 2008, and is particularly useful as a source of ideas for dog-friendly activities and places to go, mostly in the U.S. but including some foreign spots too.

Dogtime travel blog — Dogtime.com’s owners “like building websites and companies, among them award-winners BabyCenter, GoCityKids, ViTrue, Flycast, and Sharkle. So it felt like a no-brainer when we decided to combine our passions to produce DogTime, the place for all things dog.” Dogtime.com has a number of blogs; the travel blog began posting in March 2008 and primarily offers reviews of pet travel products.

Dogtipper.com’s dog travel blog — Dogtipper.com “is the work of professional writers Paris Permenter and John Bigley.” Their dog travel blog began posting in March 2009 and offers “packages at dog-friendly hotels, special events and festivals that welcome dogs, and more!”

Dog Travel Blog — This is a British blog which began posting in June 2009, by authors who wanted to share what they went through to take their two greyhounds and a lurcher to France for a five-week visit, what they did while they were there, and the hoops they had to jump through to return home.

Luxury PAW’s Blog — PAW “provides the only curated collection of luxury, (3-star or higher rated) pet-friendly hotels available online.” Its owner, Janine Franceschi, began posting in January 2009 — many of her posts describe lovely, high-end hotel stays she and her Irish Setter Beau have enjoyed.

PetAirways Blog — Pet Airways is a pet-only airline that will roll down the runway for the first time on July 14, 2009. Its blog began posting in November 2008, and touches on a variety of pet-travel issues.

PetFlight.com — Created by the owner of a yellow Lab named Brent, this blog began posting in 2005, and is particularly helpful for its “monthly reports of pet related air travel incidents.”

PetRelocation.com Blog — PetRelocation.com offers “worldwide door-to-door pet transportation services.” Its blog began posting in August 2006, and focuses (surprise!) on pet transportation issues. It’s particularly helpful regarding airline travel and requirements for taking your pet overseas.

Pets on the Go — Pets on the Go describes itself as “the definitive guide for information on pet friendly B&Bs, inns, hotels, resorts and private rentals.” It has two blogs: Jet Set Pet “is where our staff loosens the leash a bit to give you their take on the latest travel trends,” and Advice offers “expert answers to your general pet travel questions.” The Advice blog consists of seven posts from 2004; the Jet Set Pet blog had more posts, but also seems to have started and ended in 2004.

Pet Travel Blog — This blog began posting in January 2007 and is an outgrowth of Puppy Travel, “a full service travel agency for PETS & PEOPLE.” The author was “a professional travel agent  for over 26 years” and has been “a pet travel agent specifically for 7 years.” The posts focus on airline travel and the benefits of arranging travel through a pet travel agent.

PetTravel.com Blog — PetTravel.com describes itself as a “worldwide travel guide for pet owners,” and it also offers a searchable database of “pet friendly hotels & services” and the extremely useful Pet Travel Store. Its blog began posting in February 2009 — since it only includes a handful of posts, it’s not yet clear what its focus will be.

Halo Purely for Pets Blog — Halo offers “holistic pet care products for optimal pet health,” including food, treats and grooming products. Its blog began posting in April 2007, and although it covers a wide range of topics, it does have a “pet travel” category that includes a handful of posts.

Travel, She Wrote — See Dog Jaunt’s review of this blog, which began posting in October 2007.

TravelingWithPets.com — The author, Melissa, says “this blog is all about our adventures while we vacation with our pets.” She began posting in January 2006, and describes her decision process in choosing a means of transporting her dogs and cat, as well as some places she and her husband and their dogs have enjoyed together. The most recent post is dated May 2, 2007.

Dog-friendly Portland, Maine

BostonZest, a terrific blog about “enjoying a full-flavored life” in Boston, has only good things to report about Portland, Maine — on a recent trip, the author’s dog Maggie Mae was welcomed in stores, coffee shops, and on Casco Bay Lines ferries. Read the post for more information.

I’m island-mad, so I’m particularly intrigued by Casco Bay Lines, which ferries “passengers, vehicles and freight between Portland, Maine and Peaks Island, Little Diamond Island, Great Diamond Island, Long Island, Chebeague Island, and Cliff Island. We also offer scenic cruises, summer-time music cruises, private charters and lobster bakes.” CBL has a tempting write-up about each of the islands it serves, and all of its scenic cruises sound lovely. The company’s dog policy states: “Dogs (except service animals) require tickets to board and must be kept leashed at all times.”