A Note on Researching Dog-Friendly Seattle

For those who have asked how I find dog-friendly establishments in Seattle that meet specific criteria (i.e. serve breakfast in Belltown), here’s a bit more information. If I don’t know of an establishment that I have personally been to off hand, I typically start on BringFido which aggregates dog-friendly listings from various resources and crowdsourcing. However, as a general rule of thumb, I never rely on the restaurant listings as fact.

Often times, listings are out of date and a restaurant no longer allows dogs. Also, a vast majority of listings are restaurants that allow dogs only on the patio. Still, it can be a good starting point for research.

Another good resource is Yelp. You can search for “dog” and then narrow down by other criteria (neighborhood, food, etc.). If you find a review that mentions dogs allowed, you may be on to something!

Once you have a “lead” you need to do a little leg work to verify the establishment is indeed dog-friendly. If I’m in a hurry, I simply pick up the phone and dial, and ask if they allow well-behaved leashed dogs inside. If you feel like you are speaking with someone who isn’t really sure, you should always ask to speak to a manager.

If you are told that you can bring your dog, let them know you plan on doing so. I also usually ask for the name of the person I spoke with, just in case.

Want Help Finding a Dog-Friendly Establishment or Activity Near You? Just Let Me Know!