Is it just us or is central Christchurch looking more and more like Paris, London or Milan? Seeing a dog in your local café or restaurant is becoming commonplace.

We have so many dog-friendly businesses now, it would be easier to list the unfriendly ones. But what’s the view like from the other side of the counter? And what do the dogs think?

A new Food Act in 2014 removed prohibitions on animals being allowed in food premises. Businesses can now choose to let dogs into customer dining areas as long as they manage any risks to food safety.

In Christchurch the council has also got on board. A new dog control policy and bylaw in 2016 replaced a mishmash of regulations with one easy-to-understand rule for the entire central city – dogs on a leash are good to go.

The change allows leashed dogs in Cathedral Square, Victoria Square, New Regent Street, Cashel Mall and New Brighton Pedestrian Mall, where dogs were previously prohibited.

At The Colombo in Sydenham, the precinct’s central area is dog-friendly for friendly dogs on a lead. Management team member Jenette Thomson says The Colombo doesn’t just tolerate dogs, it celebrates them. Last year’s Colombo Dog Fashion Show was a huge hit and will be repeated in October.

While the central area is dog friendly, each store in The Colombo has its own policy so you’ll need to check with staff whether it’s OK
to bring your dog into your favourite shop.

At Black Betty café, they get a lot of dogs in. “We love our fur babies,” says manager Alisha Parata. “They bring a lot of joy to a lot of the customers, and the staff.”

Visiting dogs must be on a lead, well-behaved and be kept 5m from the kitchen.

Alisha feels people are more accepting since COVID. Not just about dogs either. “The mindset has changed. People are kinder and more forgiving.”

One thing that would make life easier for the Black Betty crew would be if people making a booking told them if they were bringing a dog along. “We once counted eight dogs inside on a rainy day. It was all fine but it’s a busy venue and we have to watch for overcrowding so it’s great if when you are booking you can tell us you have a dog,” Alisha says.

For over 30 years, Dux Group has welcomed furry friends and always has fresh water bowls available. Dux Dine and Dux Central also have Dog Beer for sale. Sister venue Sumner Social also welcomes dogs in its outdoor area. The only requirement is that all dogs are on a lead.

Ross Herrick, operations manager at The Dux, says there are very few problems. Although he once had to ask a guest to put her dog on a leash. “She took offence, stating that her dog never bothers anyone, at which point I turned and pointed to her very large dog across the courtyard. It had its paws up on another table asking for food from the occupants.”

At Maestro Hospitality, Group Venue Manager Erin Duck says they love dogs at all their venues – No.4, Beach and Fiddlesticks.

“All our staff love interacting with friendly pups when they come in; it is such a treat for us.”

At No.4, dogs are welcome in the outside courtyards. At Beach, they are welcome on the dog deck and in the picnic table area. At Fiddlesticks, dogs are welcome on the boulevard.

Dogs are required to be leashed and on their best behaviour. “We hope for well-socialised dogs that are polite and happy to be in a bustling environment.

“The worst thing would be to see a dog that is stressed or anxious when in a place like a bar or restaurant – and dogs must be supervised at all times. We don’t allow owners to tie their dogs up somewhere and leave them while they have a good time inside!”
Erin says.

Teaching your dog some new skills will also make a visit to a café or restaurant more fun for everybody. Geoff at canine services centre Kuri says a dog’s worst nightmare is to be tied up, especially in a busy, bustling environment like a café. It scares them as they cannot run away or freeze, so all they can do to protect themselves is fight.

Teaching your dog a “down and stay” command means they will settle down and probably have a wee kip, without the need to be tied up. Even better, if you also teach them a “crawl” command, you can get your dog to hide under the table or a chair.

This means people won’t stand on your dog’s tail or trip over them with hot drinks in their hands. Or pester them. They won’t even know they are there. And when they find out, they will tell you what a good dog you have!