After biting incident, dog etiquette questions pop up at Greenville breweries, restaurants

No matter where you live or what you do, if you own a dog, that dog is like a part of the family. A dog is there with you at your lowest moments and your most triumphant times. You take your dog hiking, to the park, even out to eat.

From al fresco dining at a downtown restaurant to a nearby street festival to having drinks on the patio at a local brewery, dogs are a part of the experience for many every day.

But there is a flip side to the enjoyment of having a day with your dog. After all, dogs are still animals, and there are hundreds of different scenarios that might pop up in a simple afternoon. That's why dog etiquette is so important in public settings, as 13 Stripes Brewery recently learned at Taylors Mill.

"Since we opened, we have allowed dogs on the deck (at 13 Stripes)," said Michael Robinson, co-owner of 13 Stripes Brewery. "But with this first incident, that changed pretty quickly."

The "incident" happened on a busy Friday. A dog bit an adult customer at the brewery. Right after that, Robinson and his partners and the owners of Taylors Mill, agreed that the only way to protect themselves was to stop allowing dogs at the mill.

It was a decision no one came to lightly, Robinson said, but one that was necessary to avoid future issues.

"We always strive for a welcoming, inviting space at Taylors Mill," said Alex Reynolds, communications and special projects director for Taylors Mill development. "We know that 99 out of 100 dogs are going to be great, but one incident can cost a small business a lot and that blows back on everyone here."

The incident also raises issues of dog etiquette. What rules should dog owners follow when they take their pets to a brewery, restaurant or retail outlet?

The Community Tap on Wade Hampton Boulevard in Greenville is very dog-friendly and has been since it opened. It doesn't make food in-house, so the proprietors can allow dogs inside in addition to on the deck space. But it's a decision that requires some diligence, according to co-owner Mike Okupinski.

"Most of our incidents over the years have been two dogs that might not get along," Okupinski said. "The owners usually take care of that quickly. But you do have some times when you have to ask customers to take their dog out on the deck, and we are pretty vigilant that any issues are taken care of as fast as possible."

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At 13 Stripes, the announcement that dogs would no longer be allowed on the property was met with both support and blowback from customers. On Facebook, some 13 Stripes customers said they would not be coming back because of the change. Others were glad they wouldn't have to worry about dogs on the property any longer. And still others were disappointed, but didn't come out and say they wouldn't be back. They just wished, they said, that things could be different.

"I think Taylors Mill is overreacting with their new no-dog policy," said Lindsey Lustig, a dog owner from Greenville who makes many of her brewery and restaurant choices based on the pet policy. "I appreciate the steps they made to make the environment safe for everyone, but I think banning dogs is not the best solution. Perhaps designate an area where dogs can be on site that does not bother those that are not dog-friendly, (because) I think breweries are the perfect place to bring dogs."

There is certainly a dog culture knitted tightly to the craft beer culture. It's the same with the outdoor sports culture. At the soon-to-open Tetrad Brewing on Stone Avenue next to the coming Half-Moon Outfitters, co-owner John Bucher said the pet policy is one they are reviewing.

"It's been something we have looked at more since hearing about the 13 Stripes incident," Bucher said. "But people love to hike with their dogs and go to breweries with their dogs, and that certainly factors in."

Common sense also factors in, Bucher said. A dog trainer at Camp Bow Wow, Sean Hendrickson agrees and said dog owners have to know their pet's limitations before putting them in a public and often very crowded, situation.

Hendrickson said dogs have to have a say on what they find fun and what they don't. In a situation like eating outside at a restaurant or at a crowded brewery, the dog can't be treated like a lawn ornament or something paraded around. The dog has to feel like it has a say in what is happening, and that's up to the owner to understand.

Plus, dogs are still animals, and animals have base instincts. For a dog, he explained, each interaction leads to a "fight, flight or play" reaction. More often than not, the reaction is play. But the other two have to be considered.

"Body language of a dog is key," Hendrickson said. "You can tell so much about a dog by its body language, so if it's panting but it's not hot outside, or if they seem stiff or rigid, that's something to pay attention to. If their eyes are moving, but there is no focus, that's something to notice."

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It's also important for those around dogs to know they have a role in the success of a dog's trip out. Anyone looking to pet someone else's dog needs to ask first and then approach by letting the dog smell their hands. This goes for adults and children. Anything else could put the dog in a defensive position, and that is where fight or flight comes into the conversation.

A calm demeanor also is important. Dogs feed off of people's energy, and a calm person is one that a dog can trust. With children, this is especially key because while dogs are great at determining adult energy, a child is more often a wild card.

Tips on dog etiquette in public

From "The Cesar Way"

Feed them first. How would you like it if someone brought you to a place with all kinds of delicious-smelling food when you were hungry and then forbade you to eat? You wouldn’t — you’d hate it and probably would be pretty annoyed with them.

Well, your pooch is having the doggie version of this reaction. The difference is that the dog's solution isn’t to get mad — it’s to act up and keep trying to get food. One way to minimize food envy in your dog is to feed the pet right before you head out so that it arrives at the restaurant with a full belly.

Wear them out. If your pup is full of energy when you arrive to eat, getting them to sit still is going to be a lot tougher. They have to get that energy out somehow, and if they’re not extremely well-trained, it’s likely to manifest itself in barking, pacing, whining, or other bad behaviors.

Keep this from happening by taking a long walk before going to the restaurant or making a pit stop at the dog park before you eat. This way, your dog will be ready to plop down and rest while you enjoy your food.

Head where it’s puppy-approved. No one should ever just try to head into a restaurant with their dog unless they know the venue is friendly to pets, but hopefully you already know that and have found several places with outdoor eating areas that Fido can enjoy.

Today’s technology lets you take it even further than that, though. With sites like dogfriendly.com, it’s easy to find places that not only allow pets, but also welcome them with open arms. How do you think your dog would like being served his own doggy meal?

Bring distractions. Many waiters are happy to bring out a little bowl of water for visiting pooches, but don’t count on it. If you’re headed out to eat with your pup, always take a travel water bowl with you so that she stays hydrated — and has something to do!

Speaking of which, being forced to sit still and do nothing while you eat can get pretty boring for your dog, so why not bring something for them to do? Chew toys and tough-to-chew treats can be fantastic ways to keep your dog distracted throughout your meal and elicit good behavior.

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Know your dog. Some dogs are completely calm and in-control about eating out at a restaurant, but it sends others into a frenzy. You know your pooch best. If you know that he or she freaks out at the sight of kids or other dogs and you have difficulty controlling the behavior, eating out together might not be the best idea.

Anyone taking a dog to a restaurant should always make sure that the pet is trained in basic commands first, such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” “down,” and so on. Your wording may differ, but you get the gist. If your pup can’t follow those rules, heading out to eat with them shouldn’t be an option.

One final, overall rule that you should always use when out and about with your dog — make sure the pet is leashed. Even if your dog is well-behaved, you never know when a surprising incident might set him off or if you’ll have to pull him out of harm’s way. By keeping the pet leashed, you’re protecting not only others in the restaurant, but your dog as well.

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