Any time you visit a brewery in Tampa, or anywhere else for that matter, it’s important to make sure that your dog knows how to socialize with other dogs and people to make sure your brewery visit is safe, fun, and enjoyable.
 

According to the Princeton Veterinary Hospital, socialization can help your dog become more comfortable around strange people and dogs as well as new places and situations – both of which will occur when you take your dog to a brewery for the first time. In fact, under-socialized dogs may exhibit fearful, timid, and aggressive traits, and react out of fear rather than curiosity.

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Dog socialization is a process depending on how much experience your dog has around other dogs and people. When socializing with other dogs, start with another owner and dog that you trust to prepare for the possibility that your dog might behave unexpectedly, and always keep
your dog leashed should you need to quickly remove them from the situation.

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Be able to recognize the signs that your dog is becoming stressed or uncomfortable with the current situation. These signs include:
· Vocalization (bark, whimper, whine, growl)

· Stance (shift weight, stand in one place and lift paw, turn head away, cower, slinking movement)
· Ears (erect, close/flat against head)
· Mouth (close mouth tightly, pull lips back, erect whiskers)
· Other signs (drooling, trembling, hair standing up)
 

By being able to identify the signs that your dog is becoming stressed, you can quickly removethem from the situation. You may have to take the socialization slow or seek out the help of a professional.

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An easy way to get the socialization you and your dog both need is to join a dog group. In doing so, your dog can work on his or her socialization skills while you gain resources, tips, advice, and possibly a few friends to join you on your next brewery trip.

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According to The Dog Daily, it is important to do a little bit of research before joining a dog group. Be sure to ask questions like whether or not there is a requirement for all dogs to have updated shots or if there are any dogs with aggressive tendencies in the group. Will the group be
a mix of various dog sizes? How many dogs will be in the group? Are dogs required to be on a leash? How much experience do the group members have when it comes to orienting a new dog into the group?

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There are plenty of resources to find a local dog group. Petful suggests looking on social media sites, searching social ads in the newspaper or on Craigslist, or even checking bulletin boards in veterinary offices or pet stores.