Doggie dishes
Concepts with dog-friendly patios can serve dog meals. Lazy Dog offers brown rice with a grilled hamburger patty or grilled chicken for $4.95, along with complimentary bowls of water. This menu keeps customers from sharing their own food with dogs; Lazy Dog’s meals are served on disposable plates, and consumers are forbidden from allowing their dogs to eat off or drink from their own plates and glasses.
When developing a dog menu, Enright says operators should stick to proteins and grains and avoid certain ingredients, including chocolate, garlic, onions, grapes and nuts. She says dairy products are acceptable in limited qualities but warns some dogs are sensitive to dairy and may experience diarrhea—which operators likely don’t want happening on their patios.
Portion sizes are also important, considering some dogs only need 300 calories a day, Enright says. She suggested restaurants list calorie counts and consult with a veterinarian or dog professional when devising a dog-friendly menu. For its dog treats, Shake Shack partnered with NYC dog bakery Bocce’s Bakery to develop bone-shaped dog biscuits and a Pooch-ini custard featuring dog biscuits and peanut butter.