Kitchener-Waterloo

Local restaurants say 'bone appetit' to puppy patios: Jasmine Mangalaseril

With more people sharing their homes with dogs, restaurants and breweries have made their patios Fido-friendly. You’ll often find bowls of water and perhaps a bit of bacon or dog biscuits, but some spots are creating dog-friendly menus. CBC K-W's food columnist, Jasmine Mangalaseril has more.

More patios in Waterloo region are offering drinks and snacks for furry companions

A dog licks a can of "dog beer"
Dogs are lapping up Brü Master's premium bone broth "dog beer" made by Asa Proveau, co-founder of Guelph’s Brothers Brewing Company. (Brü Master's)

When it's the dog days of summer, we hit our favourite patios with friends and family. Since many consider their furry good boys and girls part of the family, more restaurants are putting in the effort to make canine companions feel as welcome as their humans.

"A lot of things have changed since COVID," said Kat White, general manager of The Wooly Pub in Guelph. "We've really noticed the amount of people that have dogs and the amount of people that want somewhere comfortable to go out with their dogs. That's your family, so you want to go places that can accommodate that."

Weeks before the first lock down, Ontario loosened pet and companion animal regulations, allowing them on patios. That, combined with nearly three in 10 Canadians adopting a pandemic pet, has seen the emergence of more puppy-permitted patios.

Crack open a dog beer

At Guelph's Brothers Brewing Company, co-founder Asa Proveau noticed their patio saw growing popularity with dog owners. As the brew master, he decided to create something pets could enjoy too.

Through his research, he learned bone broth is beneficial to dogs.

A man sits next to a dog. He is holding a "dog beer", the dog is licking his lips.
Asa Proveau of Brother's Brewing Company in Guelph noticed a rise in patrons bringing their dogs to their patio. So he developed a dog-friendly "beer" made with beef bone broth. (Brü Master's)

"It's really good for gut health, for joint health, it's good for their coats, it can stop some shedding. It's just a very nutritious product," explained Proveau.

Earlier this year, he launched his new company, Brü Masters (the name is a play on "brühe," German for broth), a shelf-stable, pasteurized, unseasoned premium bone broth "dog beer." 

"It's just beef bone broth and then a little bit of lactic acid to lower the pH to make it shelf stable," said Proveau. "It's something that is safe for them…I tried to keep everything to a minimum, so it's just a two-ingredient product."

The broth can be lapped up (straight or diluted), used as a kibble topper, or frozen into pupsicles.

It's currently available at Guelph's Royal City Brewing and at Waterloo's Aristocanine Doggy Daycare and Bar. Proveau also has a Brü cart that has popped up at different markets throughout the summer.

Doggie dining

Some restaurants, like The Wooly in Guelph, offer barkuterie boards for special puppy party events. The plates often come filled with fresh dog-friendly fruits and veggies, unseasoned meats, cheese and dog biscuits.

A charcuterie board for dogs.
The Wooly held a Puppy Patio Party earlier this month. Doggy diners got the chance to snack on a barkuterie board full of fresh fruits and veggies, meat, cheese and dog biscuits. (The Wooly)

When they aren't throwing puppy patio parties, The Wooly keeps treats on hand.

"We always have biscuits on us, and we'll ask [if] they like cheese curds, do they like carrots, can I bring a piece of bacon?" said White.

Meanwhile, some restaurants like Beertown Public House, have dog-friendly menus.

"We have unseasoned grilled chicken breasts, a turkey patty, a beef patty, brown rice, and then also carrots and celery," explained Megan Stover who's the VP of people and culture at The Charcoal Group, Beertown's parent company.  "All of those items can be ordered individually, so that you can obviously pick and choose what is going to work best for your four-legged friend."

A happy black and white dog.
Patios are offering more than just water to keep your pup cool and happy this summer. (Royal City Brewing)

Stover mentioned Beertown also accommodates raw food diets. 

Pups can wash down their meal with The Barking Brew, an alcohol-free, dog-friendly beer crafted from locally farmed Canadian Angus beef bones.

A paw-sitive experience

Patios can be potentially confining spaces. They can be noisy, busy and filled with interesting aromas. So, before you head out, ask yourself if your dog's temperament is suited for being in a new-to-them place, surrounded by human and canine strangers, and if they're confident and well-socialized.

Cheryl Bishop, owner of Kitchener's Elite Dog Training explained being "well-socialized" takes on a different meaning when it comes to dogs.

"A socialized dog is not a dog that plays well with other dogs. A socialized dog is a dog that is well behaved, no matter where you take them," said Bishop.

A woman sits with 6 dogs.
Cheryl Bishop, owner of Kitchener’s Elite Dog Training, says dogs should be well socialized before bringing them out to busy patios. (Scruffy Dog Photography)

Your dog should be content and comfortable lying at your feet, while not causing issues for other diners or their animals.

To test their ability to do this, Bishop suggested taking them for walks on busy streets or standing a few metres from a busy plaza or grocery store entrance.  If they struggle to keep calm, but you'd like them to join you on a patio, you may want to consider an obedience refresher.

Pups on the patio policy sign next to a smiling dog.
Some local patios are allowing dogs this summer, with rules. You can find a list of do's and don'ts at Beertown. (Only1AndyWright Photography)

Other local dog-friendly patios in Waterloo region and Wellington County:

  • Block Three Brewing, St. Jacobs.
  • The Boathouse DTK, Kitchener.
  • Brewhouse on the Grand, Fergus.
  • Hop House, Waterloo.
  • TWB, Kitchener.
  • Willibald Farm Distillery and Brewery, Ayr.

It's best to call in advance for their pet policy and to book a seat in their pet-friendly section.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jasmine Mangalaseril

CBC K-W food columnist

CBC-KW food columnist Jasmine Mangalaseril is a Waterloo Region-based food writer and culinary historian. She talks about local food, restaurants, and the food industry, and how they affect what and how we eat. She’s on Bluesky, Mastodon, and Meta as @cardamomaddict.