Do I Take My Dog With Me?
Ah, summer! It's the season of farmers markets, camping trips, lakeside lounging, and live music. And naturally, you want your pup to come along for the fun. But before you clip on the leash and head out the door, there’s one big question to ask:
Should I take my dog to _______?
(Go ahead, fill in the blank—festival, beach day, neighborhood BBQ...)
While our hearts say “yes, of course!”—our dogs may feel differently. So let’s break this down like a puzzle. When you look at all the pieces, you get a clearer picture of whether this is the right moment to include your four-legged friend or give them a cozy stay-at-home pass.
Puzzle Piece #1: How Will Your Dog Feel There?
Every dog has a different emotional response to new environments.
Ask yourself: Will they feel excited, nervous, overwhelmed, or calm and confident?
Adolescent dogs in particular tend to get over-excited or overstimulated, and when their big feelings bubble over, we humans often see behaviors like:
- pulling on leash
- barking
- lunging
- or simply being too distracted to listen
These behaviors aren't signs of being "bad"—they’re signs of an emotional system working overtime. And that’s our cue to either not go, prepare more, or scale back.
Our goal should always be to help our dog feel Safe, Calm & Happy anywhere we take them!
Puzzle Piece #2: Is the Space Dog-Friendly?
Outdoor events are often pet-friendly… but not always. You’ll want to check:
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🚫 Are dogs restricted due to food service or health codes?
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🚫 Are there too many people (1,000+ crowds can be overwhelming)?
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🚫 Will there be other animals that might stress or excite your dog?
Even “dog-friendly” doesn’t always mean “dog-appropriate.” Think beyond the signs—consider the vibe of the place and whether your dog will thrive or just survive.
Many towns around us have a Summer Concert Series that is outdoors and in pet friendly environments. Most of these concerts would be OK as long as you are not sitting too close. However sometimes, especially if the music is closer to heavy metal style, the music is simply too loud! If you are having a hard hearing the person sitting next to you, it's way too loud for your dog. Just because an environment is pet friendly, that doesn't mean that it is safe for your pet.
Puzzle Piece #3: What’s Your Role at This Event?
This one’s big and often overlooked. Ask yourself:
- Do I need to get something done, or can I leave if it’s not working out?
- Will I be distracted (watching kids, shopping, catching up with friends)?
- Am I OK walking away empty-handed if my dog isn’t doing well?
For example:
- A farmers market might work if you’re window shopping... but not if you're on a mission for fresh zucchini.
- A concert might sound fun... but only if you can enjoy it without worrying that your dog is scared or pulling you toward every person they see.
- A parade can be fun & exciting...but if you are waiting to see a family member pass by, you may want to be closer or stay longer than your dog is able to handle.
You’re a multi-tasking rockstar, but no one enjoys an event when they’re too stressed to focus. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment. If you’re already juggling things, it might not be the best moment to bring your pup along.
Training Your Dog to Be Successful in Public Spaces
Build Teamwork Skills
Start with loose leash walking and build from there! Other great foundational cues:
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“Watch me” for attention when a dog or other distraction is walking a bit to close for comfort.
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“Let’s go” for moving past distractions or a heel through tight spaces for navigating larger crowds.
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“Leave it” for ignoring food, people, or other dogs. Candy tossed at parades can be very challenging.
Practice Activity-Specific Skills
Going to a busy patio or picnic? Train:
- Settle on a mat or beside your chair
- Ignore passing people and other dogs
- Stay relaxed around clapping or music
- Calm around fast moving people or objects
- Ignore it or leave it for flying balls and frisbees
- The ability to settle back down rapidly after the crowd yells or cheers.
Build Up Gradually
Don’t go straight from backyard to concert venue.
Instead:
- Practice in your driveway or neighborhood
- Try a calm park or quiet weekday market
- Gradually increase the stimulation level
- Always have an exit plan just in case you need to leave in a hurry.
Think of it like fitness training: we start small and add intensity over time. That’s how we help our dogs feel prepared instead of pressured.
Don't try to race to the finish line of being able to take your dog everywhere with you right now! Instead, take your time and slowly expose your dog to things in your community that you like to do. Overwhelm leads to unexpected behaviors! Avoid overwhelming your dog by building up slowly.
Check out this reel about Building Up Belle's confidence around children to see how we started easy and slowly increased the activity happening in the room.
Pack for Your Dog
Final Thoughts
When you take the time to look at the whole picture—your dog’s emotions, the environment, and your own bandwidth—you’re more likely to make the right decision for everyone. And when the time is right, you’ll enjoy those shared adventures even more.
💡 If you rush it, you risk frustration—for both of you.
💖 But if you build the experience thoughtfully, you’re laying the foundation for a lifetime of enjoyable outings.
Want help creating a training plan for summer adventures? I’d love to support you!
Contact me at yooperpaws@gmail.com to get started on your custom summer success plan. Let’s make this your best season yet—together!
