Do Others Who Take Their Dogs out in Public Feel This Way?

It was my birthday recently and the only request I had for my birthday dinner with my family was that we go somewhere I could bring my dog with us. She is my best friend and her company brings me so much happiness so of course my family honored this request.

There is a restaurant I had been to once before at which I loved the food and it also happened to have an outdoor patio seating area. Fortunately for me they allowed dogs on their patio, so we made the reservation and made it clear we’d have a dog with us.

The night comes and as they’re beginning to escort us to our table, they’re about to take us inside the restaurant. We mention that we have the dog with us and we thought we’d have a table outside. They replied that yes we’ll be outside but on their second floor patio. I didn’t even know they had one so this definitely threw me off.

My dog was not happy about climbing the stairs inside, as they were just planks, no backing underneath. So up I went, in heels, carrying my dog. She’s not too heavy but this was not part of my plan for the night.

At this point when we arrive upstairs we are completely inside the restaurant. Other tables are nearby, people are eating and drinking at the bar. Every single head turned in that room as I carried my dog through there and then back again once we were done with our meal.

Now I don’t know about anyone else, but I always feel uncomfortable when I’m put into situations where people might not like the presence of my dog. She’s not a burden and I know many people like dogs. I just always feel guilty for bringing her into a place where maybe dogs aren’t there typically.

I didn’t let this sensation put too much of a damper on the night, but it did persist. I felt like I was taking up too much space with her there.

I’m not sure what the takeaway is here. I don’t know if I need to figure out how to come to a place of inner security or if this is just how I’ll feel in this type of situation. I don’t think every problem has a clear solution.

Sometimes you just have to take it one situation at a time.