05/31/2026
The Animal Hospital at Thorndale hosted a fantastic Pups & Pints event at the Social on 30, and my dog almost missed it. He can be timid, and some days that feels like too much to take on, but I decided to give it a try, and my pup exceeded my expectations. We had a moment where he got startled and barked, but we recovered. Overall, the outing was a big win for us in my book.
If you are thinking about taking your dog somewhere new, here is what helped us:
✅ Plan for a short trip. I told myself one hour max.
✅ Bring high value treats. Reward calm behavior and eye contact.
✅ Advocate for your dog. Tell staff where you want to sit and let people know how to approach or pet your pup.
✅ Bring friends to relax you. Your energy sets the tone for your dog.
✅ Drop the pressure. Your dog does not have to be perfect, and people are more understanding than you think.
The more experiences our dog have, the better they will be able to handle them. We cannot shelter our dogs from hard things. We have to work through them together.
