How to take dog to the home of friends or relatives

Bringing your dog to a friend or relative’s house for coffee, lunch, or dinner is possible. However, the visit must be carefully planned to ensure it’s a pleasant and stress-free experience for both your dog and the people present.
Being sure of your dog’s friendly nature and ability to play with everyone isn’t enough. A visit to someone else’s home is, in fact, a different situation that needs to be managed with attention. Let’s see how to do that.

1) Make the necessary assessments and prepare the ground

Before deciding to bring your dog to a friend or relative’s house, it’s essential to make some preliminary evaluations. Every dog has a unique character, and not all dogs feel comfortable in a new environment. Some might be shy or frightened, while others are excessively energetic.
The ideal situation would be that your dog and the people you're visiting have already had the chance to meet and familiarize with each other. Bringing your dog into a home where they’ve never been could be stressful, while arranging informal meetings in neutral places for a gradual introduction can be a great way to prepare the ground.
If it’s a gathering with more people, it’s important that everyone is aware of the pet and, of course, agrees with it. There could be people allergic to pet fur or those who are scared or uncomfortable.
If other guests also decide to bring their dogs, it’s essential that the animals have already met and are sociable with each other.

2) Ensure they respond well to essential commands

Before going to another person’s house with your faithful companion, make sure it knows how to respond to basic commands like “sit” and “stay.” This will make managing their behavior throughout the visit much easier.
If the dog responds well to the commands, give them a small treat (for example, a snack) to reward their good behavior. On the other hand, in case of small moments of tension, remain calm without losing your authority. Even in the presence of guests, don’t avoid saying no if necessary, and avoid being overly harsh if the situation doesn’t require it.

3) Ask to organize a restricted space and don’t forget its things

It’s certainly helpful if the friend or relative’s house is prepared to welcome pets. This means, first of all, removing fragile or dangerous objects such as vases or wires to avoid accidents. Additionally, a comfort zone should be created where the dog can feel calm and protected in case of need. For example, they might need to be moved from the main room if they feel uncomfortable or if a guest is scared.
Generally, creating a familiar space for your dog can promote their well-being. Therefore, it’s important not to forget the items that help them feel at home, such as their bowls, favorite food from habitual foods, toys, or favorite blanket. You should also bring poop bags, a spare leash, and, of course, snacks to reward them when they behave well.
In addition to the familiar items, it’s important to maintain the usual routine as much as possible, so don’t forget regular walks before the visit, spend extra time outdoors for play and bonding to help them stay relaxed and happy.

4) Don’t let them approach the table

When your dog is in a new environment, such as during lunch, dinner, or a snack at someone else’s house, they might be tempted by the food and approach the table to ask for some human food. As with holiday celebrations, it’s better to be firm and avoid giving in!
If, however, they behave well and don’t approach the table, make sure to recognize their good behavior. Reward them with an extra cuddle or a snack.