I'm on a quest to try out every dog friendly bar, cafe, walk, park, shop, activity there is to do in Wellington. 

The list is long!!!

If you've ever thought my dog isn't ready for that pub visit, they can't handle it. 

Or not gone somewhere with your dog because the unknown fills you with too much dread. 

I've got you!!

I'm testing out places to give you the lowdown, so you know exactly if it's the right environment for your dog. 

First up - The Tasting Room 

https://www.thetastingroom.co.nz

Located at the end of Courtney Place. 

Open 7 days a week. 

This is a long standing hospitality venue in Wellington, since 2004!

Quick Verdict

⭐ Overall: 4 / 5
🐕 Best for: Dogs with some real-world experience
⚠️ Not ideal for: Easily overwhelmed or high energy dogs still learning to settle

The Environment (What It’s Really Like)

• Dogs are allowed inside and outside (even allowed up on the comfy bench seats)

• Staff super welcoming, brought over a water bowl unprompted, gave the dogs pats but also waited for the dogs to come to them. We like this! 

• Steady constant flow of people coming and going (a nervous dog may struggle with this)

Is this venue right for my dog? 

The biggest mistake I see in places like this is expecting a dog to just… cope.

To lie down.
To relax.
To ignore everything going on around them.

But for a lot of dogs, especially high energy ones, this is asking a lot for them.

For my own dogs I took them for an off leash walk first to burn off that top layer of energy. And even so my dogs did a couple of excited barks coming in and took a minute or two to acclimate and settle in the environment. Though absolutely zero judgement, the staff were understanding that dogs bark and that they needed a minute to settle in. 

What I’d Focus On Training Here

Bringing a dog here, I wouldn’t be aiming for perfection.

I’d be focusing on small, achievable wins.

1. Settle Practice
I’m not expecting a long settle straight away.
I'll give them a chew or step on their leash to help them relax into the space. 

2. Strategic positioning
Where you sit matters for your dog more than people think.
I chose a low down table near the kitchen door, as for my personal dogs they find it easier to relax when I'm at a low table. Which did mean staff walking past with food etc. If you have a nosey dog keep that leash short so you don't trip them up!

The majority of tables here are tall tables. Outside you'll have lots of people walking past. Which can be very distracting for some dogs. 

Though perfect training opportunities! 

Think about what your dog will find easier and position yourself accordingly. 

3. Short sessions
Success here isn’t “we stayed for an hour”.
It’s “my dog had a good experience”.

Leave early > stay too long.

Is your dog ready for a visit here?

A good way to assess this:

Your dog is likely ready if they can:

• ✔️ Walk nicely on leash to get to the venue (paid parking on street can be 10 second walk to a few minutes walk, free/coupon parking about a 10 minute walk)

• ✔️ Ignore people walking past

• ✔️ Settle for short periods

• ✔️ Respond to their name in a busier environment 

If that feels like a stretch right now - start somewhere quieter for now. 

Final Verdict

The Tasting Room is truly dog friendly. Warm welcome, water bowl provided, lovely staff, dogs allowed on furniture.

Best suited to dogs who already have some foundation skills in place.

For beginner dogs or those still learning it could get a little overwhelming. 

Here's a video of the venue: Click Here

Want Your Dog To Handle Places Like This?

This is exactly what I help dog owners with. Not just obedience, but real-life skills.

Knowing:

• where to go

• when your dog is ready

• and what to actually do when you get there

I’m currently putting together a guide that breaks all of this down across dog friendly spots in Wellington, so you can confidently include your dog in more of your life. 

In the meantime, follow along with this series as I test more locations and show you what actually works.