Pet (Dog) Etiquette when Entertaining
Follow the Pet (Dog) Etiquette rules when Entertaining, so everyone has a good time when dining together–both the guests and the dog!
When you host a dinner party, there are so many etiquette rules and ideas that you are expected to follow, right?
We all love our pets, but, sadly, this doesn’t mean your friends and guests will, too. We’re always trying to make sure our pet behaves, and that everyone has a good time (both the dog and the guests).
Pet (Dog) Etiquette when Entertaining
Yes, we had a dog, Haggis Barley McStitch, a Cairn Terrier who we were so in love with. Because we have Alder now, and we entertain a lot, we already know our little dogs have never been angels!
In the past, when guests would come, we’d corral Haggis out in Paul’s office (separate from our house). He’s not good with kids. He was, until one kid ruined that for him when he was a puppy (we know exactly what happened), and now it’s impossible for other kids to be able to love on him.
Once he grew up, we’d let him stay inside to see if he could behave himself when we had company over. Behaving himself, for Haggis, meant to contain his excitement, and not jump up on the guests when they walked through the door.
Talk about hospitality! Our dog LOVED to greet people at the door! :)
We didn’t want our guests to be annoyed, but on the other hand, he was a part of our family.
How to know if you should put the dog out:
- Evaluate your guests’ body language: Are they pet lovers? Do they seem to like your dog or animal?
- If the dog can’t stop jumping up: Especially when excited, usually when greeting the guests, who are often bearing gifts of delicious platters of foods in their hands!
- If the barking is out of control: Our dog is a protector, so one thing can set him off (which can be scary or alarming when you’re not expecting it).
- Beggars at the table: If the dog can’t leave your guests alone, chin in laps or annoying, slobbery behaviors.
- Stealing food: If you’re entertaining casually with food at easy reach, watch out.
- If your dog is super-protective and nips at people he/she perceives to be a threat to you (even when they’re good friends).
We have friends who keep their dogs in the laundry room or garage, or crate them. Usually these are larger dogs who can literally make you fall over if you run into them.
Alder the Whoodle
Now with Alder the Whoodle, many times we’ll let him calm down, and he does pretty well. If it’s warm out, we put him in the Sprinter van (with water, his ball), because he loves to sit in the drivers seat, no matter what, and just watch. He’s happy there.
We’re still in the process of teaching Alder now to be a gracious guest. We’ve yet to break his initial excitement when people come through the door. He usually settles right down, but if not … out to the van he goes.
We know he’s not perfect, and we’re always thankful when our guests are gracious in return, as we are when we go to friends’ homes with pets!
Here’s the question today:
Do you keep your animals in the house when you entertain? Or, do you do as we do, and watch the “body languages” of your guests?
Dog recipes to try:
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I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
We have two dogs – one of them is very calm with guests and other than barking when the doorbell rings, will leave people alone and lay on her bed under the table. We’ve had her since she was a puppy and she was trained and socialized pretty well. When food is out she usually only begs from my husband and I, though occasionally she will sit (at a respectable distance) and stare at a guest. No drooling in the lap. We almost always keep her out during parties. The second dog is a recently adopted retired police dog. The most important thing to him is that someone is petting him. He has absolutely no concept of personal space. He gets to say hi during parties, but then usually is shut in our bedroom where he can sleep on his bed while our guests are here.
Oh he is too an angel look at that sweet boys face. :).. I have a dog (granddog) in my home but I wonder if you had problems outside your home ever with cats? I do great with others cats but was at a home once were food was on table and on kitchen counters and the 2 cats were up on kitchen counters ugh..I personally didnt eat hardly and neither did some others. Most my friends that do have cats their cats are not on counters.
I just read some of these and remembered something that makes me chuckle. 8 yrs ago when we got Bella, our friend told us “she is NOT begging’, she is just hoping’. Since then, if Bella sits at our feet and stares at us eating…we know she is just hoping.
Such a relavant topic! We all have pets, some more hospitable than others. I have little pup, but she’s well behaved. She inevitably gives guests her “adorable” look and gets a morsel. She knows how to work a crowd.
Debbie, always love the charming pups! :)
Great post Sandy! I love Haggis :)
I’m thankful that Amber is well behaved, but she does tend to squeeze her 80lb self under the table when we are trying to eat so I’m mindful of that. And if kids are eating on low tables, forget it ;)
For the most part our friends are dog lovers & love on amber, but I try to be aware of body language and let her hang in the bedroom if needed.
Really great post!
I think that is really the secret. If your guests are dog lovers, too, it’s a no brainer! :)
I am a dog lover who grew up with dogs in the home. We don’t have one now, because my husband doesn’t like them. I have a dear friend who has an inside dog who meets your criteria number six: “If your dog is super-protective and nips at people he/she perceives to be a threat to you (even when they’re good friends).” Yet she normally insists that the dog should be unrestrained in the house–even though she’s nipped at me. Needless to say, we rarely visit my friend’s house any more. Very sad.
Ooooh, I agree. Nipping is a no-no! :)
It all depends. Abbie used to be great; obedient at the door; just a bit of begging but would soon realize it wasn’t working and do what she does best. Sleep.
However, as she ages (she’s a 14 year old cocker spaniel) she seems to have lost all of her manners. I wonder if losing some of her hearing and sight aren’t a part of it but she has decided that barking for attention is her new gig…and even her most ardent supporters get weary of it I’m sure. So…I’ve done something I never thought I would. I put a mesh muzzle on her. To say it has been a blessing is an understatement because now all she has to do is see it and be quiet! Even so, because her begging is also worse, now she gets to visit a bit but then it’s up in a crate that I keep in my bedroom just for times like this.
She might carry on a bit but finally settles into slumber and we’re all happier I think. There is no doubt in my mind that training a younger dog and dealing with an older one are totally different…but finding a solution that works is also so important. I love her so much but that doesn’t mean she gets to ruin social times for me in my home!
I don’t do well with begging, Barb. It’s good you have the crate option! I’m glad you have Abbie! :)
pet peeve: feeling compelled to act like a host’s annoying dog doesn’t bother me, as the host is making copious excuses for the animal’s behavior.
Three thoughts
1. I grew up with an indoor dog and cats, but my mother’s default was to assume the animals would be an issue for the guests. Most guests will not speak their true feelings, especially if they are new to your home. A real pet lover will seek out the animal eventually.
2. We had about 3 options for our pets, kept ready for them at a moment’s notice. The dog(s) were put in their special place when guests arrived and during meals.
Most guests arrive en masse, or with bags or platters, coats to remove, etc. A dog sniffing, jumping or weaving among feet is annoying or even, in the case of children and elderly, a potential hazard.
3. My husband has animal allergies.
This has made me very sensitive to situations I didn’t care about before. We are not able to visit many friends in their homes and that’s no fun.
Great tips, Deb! Thanks for sharing. And the last one is a no-brainer … put the dog away!
I usually don’t have a problem with our Maltese when guests arrive, who are usually family and people he knows well. He expects to be greeted like the prince of the house but doesn’t insist on it. He does get very protective when strangers or service people come to the house so I always pick him up before I answer the door. He’s so cute that people usually just want to love all over him, but he’s actually quite shy; the crazed barking is all an act. I then put him is a closed room if the people are not animal people. He likes to follow any workmen around and “supervise”.
Janet, he sounds like my Dad’s dog, Cowboy. He’s so cute, we love his kisses and affection. But they are good at putting him away if he gets annoying.
I agree with the other commenters, this is such a great post. My mom isn’t a dog lover, and I know she would appreciate it if her friends would not let their dogs sniff and jump on her. It is funny because it always seems like the dogs become her best friends and jump on her more than anyone or follow her around. A lot of her friends have dogs, and she dreads going to their houses sometimes because she knows she will have to deal with it the whole time she is there.
Shari, those dogs are TRYING to make your Mom a dog-lover! LOL I agree, her friends should be more sensitive!