Dog-friendly bars are beginning to open up across the country. This gives owners a chance to kick back and relax with both their friends and their canine companions, all in one spot. Dog-friendly bars tend to offer amenities like leash anchors and water bowls for dogs. However, if you want your local dog-friendly bar to remain the perfect hangout spot, there are also some guidelines you should follow to be a responsible patron.

Only bring friendly, well-trained dogs.

If you have a dog who is anti-social, who does not like strangers, or who gets aggressive in the presence of other dogs, the bar is not the place to socialize them. Work on bringing them to training classes and dog parks first. With some patrons sure to be tipsy and distracted, the bar is not a place to train your dog. Once trained, however, they will be the perfect fit.

Keep your dog on a leash.

Even if you are confident your dog will stay near you and won't hurt a fly, keep them on a leash at the dog-friendly bar. Other patrons may not want your dog going up to them, and after you've had a few drinks, you may not pay as close an eye on an off-leash dog as you should. A leash keeps everyone safe and happy.

Take it easy on the drinking.

After a couple of drinks, it can be fun to cuddle your dog, tell other patrons about them, and just socialize with your canine companion at your heels. But after too many drinks, you're less likely to properly "read" your dog's social signals. In order to mitigate this risk, be aware of how many drinks you have while at the dog-friendly bar. Make sure to always be aware of other people's dogs. 

Keep your food to yourself.

If you order food at the bar, you can share it with your own dog if you see fit. But don't share food with other people's dogs. Not only may the food not be something those dogs should eat, but feeding them may get them overly excited, leading to some problems. You don't need to create commotion with the whole bar barking.

With the guidelines above, you can have a great time at a dog-friendly bar while also keeping the bar a great place to be, for dogs and dog owners alike. Make sure you also check what the rules are at the particular bar you're visiting, and follow them closely. For more information, contact a company like PG & J's Dog Bar.