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Off the leash: Melbourne's cafes and pubs dig deep for dog-friendly dining

Dani Valent
Dani Valent

Hungry dogs Captain, Ilsa, Rosco, Allan and Nikki tuck into tacos with Anita Basile and Tom Lillecrapp at Little Hop.
Hungry dogs Captain, Ilsa, Rosco, Allan and Nikki tuck into tacos with Anita Basile and Tom Lillecrapp at Little Hop. Justin McManus

If the kitchen at Fitzroy's Little Hop takes too long to send out his doggy taco (beef, hold the onion), Roscoe the wire-haired pointer takes matters into his own paws.

"He'll try to walk into the bar like he owns the place," says the actual bar owner Anita Basile. "It's like he's wondering, 'Why the hold up?'" Basile loves it. "Dogs cheer the place up and bring people together."

According to the latest Animal Medicines Australia report, Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, with around 40 per cent of households including at least one dog in 2019. PetRescue and the RSPCA also reported that the number of Australians adopting and fostering pets exploded during COVID-19 lockdowns.

A four-legged customer at Tiny cafe in Beechworth.
A four-legged customer at Tiny cafe in Beechworth.Olivia Cartledge
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Many businesses are throwing bones to the expanded market. Mocha Jo's cafe in Glen Waverley has created new branding for its "puppacino" frothed milk. Fitzrovia in St Kilda does poached or scrambled eggs for dogs and even a 150-gram fillet steak priced at $19.50.

Red Hill Brewery is planning doggy meat platters, while Liv Cartledge from Tiny cafe in Beechworth offers canine pumpkin cookies and has an online picture gallery of visiting pups. "We just love meeting the dogs," she says.

At the Winey Cow in Mornington, there is now a dedicated treat menu from supplier K9 Katering, which includes dehydrated chicken necks and beef bully sticks.

Dogs Captain, Ilsa, Nikki and Allan dine out at Little Hop.
Dogs Captain, Ilsa, Nikki and Allan dine out at Little Hop. Justin McManus

"When people know you're dog-friendly, they always come back," says owner Jill Henderson. "It drives revenue up and dog photos get so much engagement on social media."

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Conversely, businesses may suffer if they don't permit dogs. "I know a lot of people who won't go to a venue if they can't bring their dog," says Jon Ford from Werribee restaurant Teddy Picker, which has a huge deck out the back.

"I've created a place that is dog-friendly because of the demand."

Bianca Sondakh works in property finance during the week and runs Puppy Pub Crawls on weekends, rotating through seven different neighbourhoods. She hosts groups of up to 25 people, which tends to equate to 20 or so dogs.

Over a three-hour, three-venue tour, dogs may chow down on peanut-butter-and-blueberry "Dog Yog" cultured ice-cream, beef martinis and 'roo jerky. Sondakh noticed huge demand after a mostly tour-free 2020.

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"People have missed socialising but they are also keen to take their new dog out," she says. "I really enjoyed last year working from home so I didn't have to leave my pugalier, Hugo. Now I'm back in the office so I don't want to be apart from him on the weekend as well."

Chef Julian Hills says dogs add to the atmosphere of Zymurgy West, his Footscray West beer garden. "Dogs at tables make a group happy," he says. Zymurgy has even been reviewed by dogs. "People have a Facebook page for their dog and the dog posts that it went to this great place," he says.

It's not all waggy tails. Dog trainer Melanie Scott cautions dog owners – especially newbies – to go slowly if they want to take dogs to cafes and pubs.

"In lockdown, dogs got too used to having people around and a lot of them missed that critical socialisation window," she says. Her phone hasn't stopped ringing with resulting behavioural issues.

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If a dog isn't loving the latte lifestyle, Scott has some tips. "Practice at home by sitting at the table and having the dog on lead sitting beside you," she says. "Build that up over time. When you go to the cafe, take a chew toy and a mat to keep them warm on cold floors."

And keep expectations reasonable. "Don't expect them to sit there for two hours," she says. "Set them up to succeed, not to fail."

What are the rules?

According to Victoria's Food Standards Code, businesses may allow dogs into outdoor areas that are not also used for food preparation. They're not allowed in enclosed areas, defined as areas substantially or completely closed by ceilings, roofs, windows or walls.

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A dog-friendly bar hop of Carlton North and Fitzroy

Great Northern Hotel 644 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North

As well as having a famously dog-friendly beer garden, this pub sells branded leashes with attached bottle openers and hosts the @dogs_of_gnh on Instagram with more than 6000 followers.

The Empress 714 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy North

Dogs in the shady beer garden are as much a part of pub life here as dart competitions and boxing on the big screen.

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Little Hop 277 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

This tequila bar loves dogs so much that furry friend get free beef tacos.

The Rainbow Hotel 27 St David Street, Fitzroy

There's an outdoor pool table at this backstreet pub, so you can cue up while doggo hangs out.

The Standard Hotel 293 Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy

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Not just one of Fitzroy's prettiest beer gardens but also one of its most spacious – perfect for dogs who like a bit of wiggle room.

The Marquis of Lorne 411 George Street, Fitzroy

Pints in the public bar with your pup are possible at this corner pub.

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Dani ValentDani Valent is a food writer and restaurant reviewer.

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