One of the best ways to help your dog become comfortable and confident in the real world is to get out there and experience it! I am always telling my clients that training does not just happen in your living room. Once your dog understands a skill, we need to practice it around real-life distractions — people, shopping carts, doors opening, different surfaces, interesting smells and, of course, other dogs. Dog-friendly stores are a GREAT way to do this. They give you an opportunity to practice loose-leash walking, attention, waiting politely and simply learning how to be calm in a busy environment. For puppies, these outings can also be a wonderful part of socialization. Remember, socialization does not mean your puppy has to meet every person or dog they see. Learning to calmly observe the world is socialization too! The good news is that St. Louis has more dog-friendly shopping options than you might think. I did some research and put together a list of places where you may be able to bring your dog along. Some companies have a clear pet-friendly policy while others leave the decision to the individual store or shopping center. Policies can also change, so when in doubt, make a quick call before you go. Dog-Friendly Retail Stores Lowe’s – Lowe’s officially welcomes pets in its stores. Dogs should be under control and walking calmly beside you, leashed, harnessed or carried. I love a store like Lowe’s for training because there is SO much going on — carts, lumber, noises, people and lots of new smells! PetSmart, Petco and Pet Supplies Plus – Of course the pet stores make the list! These are great places to practice, but they can also be more challenging because you are much more likely to encounter other dogs. If your dog gets overly excited around dogs, I would start somewhere easier and work up to the pet store. Treats Unleashed – Another obvious choice for St. Louis dog owners. Pets are welcome, and the stores are filled with some pretty tempting distractions! This can be a great place to practice walking past treats and toys, checking in with you and keeping four paws on the floor. Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s – Both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s have an official pet-friendly policy unless a state or local law prohibits pets. These large stores offer lots of space and plenty of interesting things for your dog to see while you practice good manners. Tractor Supply Co. – Here is another one to add to your list! Tractor Supply says friendly, leashed pets are welcome in its stores year-round. This can be another great environment for practicing around new sights, smells and distractions. At Home – At Home has a surprisingly clear pet policy. Pet dogs are permitted as long as they are under the direct control of an adult and are leashed, harnessed or carried. If you need a new throw pillow AND your dog needs some training practice, everybody wins! HomeGoods, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx – These are popular places for people to shop with their dogs, but policies may vary by individual location. I would put these in the CALL FIRST category. If your local store welcomes dogs, they can be wonderful places to practice walking through narrower aisles and staying focused around people. The Home Depot – You will often see dogs shopping at Home Depot, but policies can vary by location. I would call the store you plan to visit before heading out with your dog. Total Wine & More – This is another one where the policy may depend on the individual store and local regulations. Call first before bringing your dog inside. Plaza Frontenac – This is a fun one! Plaza Frontenac officially allows leashed pets in the mall, and many of the individual stores allow dogs as well. Individual retailers can still have their own rules, so ask before entering a store. The mall itself gives you a wonderful indoor environment for practicing calm walking around people and distractions. St. Louis Premium Outlets in Chesterfield – The outlet center is listed as pet friendly and has more than 90 designer and name-brand stores. Because it is an outdoor shopping center, it can be a great place to combine a walk with some training and shopping. Individual stores may have their own pet policies, so check before going inside. After Shopping: 10 Dog-Friendly Patios to Try in St. Louis If you and your dog have worked up an appetite, St. Louis has plenty of patios where dogs are welcome too. St. Louis Magazine and Sauce Magazine have both featured dog-friendly patios around town. Here are 10 that I think give you a nice mix of neighborhoods and environments. As always, patio policies can change, so it never hurts to check before you go. Russell's on Macklind – A South City favorite with a dog-friendly patio. This can be a nice place to practice settling quietly under the table while you enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Tamm Avenue Bar – Dogtown seems like the perfect neighborhood for a dog-friendly patio! Tamm Avenue has long been known for welcoming dogs, with a shaded patio and water bowls for four-legged guests. Billy G's in Kirkwood – The large patio offers shade, plenty of seating and dog bowls. Pair it with a walk through downtown Kirkwood and you have a great real-life outing. Rockwell Beer Garden at Francis Park – This is an especially fun option because you can take a walk through Francis Park before settling into the dog-friendly beer garden. Exercise first and then practice relaxing! Taco Buddha - Botanical Heights – The covered, heated patio is dog friendly, making this one useful beyond perfect patio weather. It is another great opportunity to practice calm behavior while food, people and activity are nearby. The Golden Hoosier – Its dog-friendly patio and casual atmosphere make it a fun South City stop. This is a good environment for practicing the very important skill of doing absolutely nothing while your person eats! Arzola's Fajitas & Margaritas – This Benton Park restaurant has a back patio where dogs are welcome. Dinner out with your dog can be great practice for settling around servers, conversations and all those wonderful food smells. Civil Life Brewing Co. – The biergarten welcomes leashed dogs and has a relaxed neighborhood feel. It is a nice choice when you want an outing that feels social without necessarily being as stimulating as a pet store. Urban Chestnut - Midtown – Dogs are welcome in the Midtown biergarten. The open-air setting gives you room to work on calm manners while still enjoying a lively St. Louis brewery atmosphere. Square One Brewery & Distillery – The Lafayette Square brewery has a spacious, dog-friendly courtyard patio. It is another great spot to practice settling and ignoring distractions while you enjoy your meal or a drink. You may notice that The Boathouse at Forest Park is not on this list. It is normally a wonderful dog-friendly patio, but the restaurant is currently closed for renovations during 2026. I would definitely put it back on the list when it reopens! Even Better: Places Where Your Dog Can Come Inside A dog-friendly patio is great - until St. Louis gives us one of those 95-degree summer days or a freezing winter afternoon! There are also a few places where well-behaved dogs can join you indoors. These are especially valuable for real-life training because your dog gets to practice in a completely different environment. Zoomies Pet Cafe + Boutique – Yes - Zoomies belongs on this list! Zoomies on Macklind was created specifically as a coffee shop where people can enjoy the space WITH their dogs. Leashed dogs are welcome inside, and there are also outdoor areas and a fenced Barkyard. This is probably the most obvious St. Louis choice when you want coffee and indoor time with your dog. 2nd Shift Brewing – Dogs are welcome inside the brewery as well as outside. That makes 2nd Shift a particularly nice option when the weather does not cooperate. Wellspent Brewing – Another St. Louis brewery where dogs are welcome inside as well as on the patio. A brewery can be a great place to practice settling, provided your dog is comfortable in that type of social environment. E61 Cafe – This coffee shop near Forest Park is also reported to welcome dogs inside. Because individual policies can always change, I would still confirm before making a special trip with your dog. Turn Your Errand Into a Training Session Before you head out, make sure the environment is appropriate for YOUR dog. A busy store, patio or cafe is not the place to begin if your dog is frightened, reactive or completely overwhelmed around people or other dogs. Start somewhere easier and build up gradually.  Bring treats and reward the behaviors you want. If your dog checks in with you - reward it! If they walk nicely beside you - reward it! If they calmly watch a person, dog or shopping cart go by - reward it! You do not need to spend an hour there. Ten successful minutes can be much more valuable than staying until your dog is exhausted or overwhelmed. And please remember that your dog does NOT need to greet everyone! One of the most valuable things we can teach our dogs is that they can be around people and other dogs without having to interact with them. Calmly observing the world and then looking back to you is a wonderful skill. So the next time you need to run an errand - or just want to grab a cup of coffee or sit on a patio - think about whether your dog can come along. Grab your leash, bring some treats and turn an ordinary outing into a real-life training adventure!

Many of my clients look at me in astonishment when I say it is OK to feed your dog human food from your plate! We have always been told that this act creates begging behavior and causes intestinal problems. Under certain circumstances, this is indeed true. However, if done correctly, using foods that are safe for your dog (click on the link to see a list of foods that are unsafe ) and in moderation, it is actually a wonderfully, positive thing! There is a new trend in teaching and relating to dogs called bond-based learning which I incorporate into my dog training programs. The thought process behind this type of teaching is that by having a strong bond with your dog, it will ensure your dog makes positive choices when it comes to good behavior. A technique used in this type of training is food sharing. Food sharing provides an opportunity for social learning with you and your dog. It has been shown that food sharing helps reinforce the bond you have with your dog and allows them to feel safe and secure around you. Sharing food with your dog does not always equate to begging. Begging behavior can happen even when you don’t feed from your plate. Since their sense of smell is more heightened than ours, smelling you cooking and serving dinner can be overwhelming as they salivate over all the deliciousness. Many dogs can’t contain themselves from their desire to join in and beg which becomes a big distraction during meals. I have found that the opposite is true when you are sharing your meal with your dog. Now, I am not saying you should feed your dog when they beg. What I am saying, is that you can feed your dog when they are laying calmly next to you and not begging which in turn teaches your dog not to beg! This is where marker training comes in. Give your dog the “Down Stay” cue and after just a couple of seconds, mark the behavior with your marker word (i.e., good) and treat off your plate. Begin to spread out the length of time that you are marking and treating. If your dog does beg, ignore them until they settle back down for a minute or two and then mark and treat. Your dog will soon learn that being patient and quiet during meal time leads to tasty things! This opens up a whole new world of possibility for you and your dog! Imagine a holiday dinner that includes your favorite, furry family member! And next Spring and Summer, think about all the outdoor dining experiences you can have! Food sharing is a great for socialization and a wonderful bonding experience! If you are interested in learning more about my positive reinforcement and relationship-based training methods, reach out for a free phone consultation. You can learn more at PetImpact.com .

Bringing a new dog into your home where there is already an existing dog doesn’t always run smoothly. The fact of the matter is every dog has their own distinct personality that may not jive with each and every dog. There may be a difference in energy levels, play styles or socialization preferences. If it isn’t a good match, unwanted behaviors may occur including marking, guarding and aggression. Typically, the dog who is exhibiting these behaviors gets the blame. But look closely, in reality, there are two sides to every story.

Your love for your dog is not just the emotional feeling you have for them, it is the actions you take as it relates to the care you give them and specifically your approach to teaching them. Here are 5 ways to express your love for your dog when training (in no particular order).

We are all showing signs of stress during this quarantine whether that be binge eating, over-sleeping or just plain crabbiness. So, it is not surprising that our dogs are feeling the pressure too. Dogs are extremely sensitive to our emotions which may cause them to act out as well. They don’t understand why their routine has changed, why they can’t go to the dog park, why their parents are around all the time (yes some dogs actually want space!), why people don’t greet and pet them anymore on their walks and most importantly why their parents are so stressed out.