Inviting canine customers into a restaurant can come with a certain degree of chaos. Some dogs can be likened to rowdy patrons who have had too much to drink: loud, unpredictable and not quite in control of their bodily functions.
But they can also provide a more intimate experience for guests. “The whole dynamic of the workforce changes when you add in the element of dogs,” says Allison Locher, lead bark ranger at restaurant-dog park Yard Bar in Austin, Texas. “It’s a bonding experience between you and a customer.” Not to mention, it's just plain adorable.
Here’s how Yard Bar and other restaurants prepare workers to serve four-legged friends and their humans.