Dog-Friendly Apple Orchards: Pros, Cons & Tips (Vet Verified)

If you're headed out for some fall festivities, you'll definitely want to bring your dog along. You can do many fun things during fall, including taking your dog to pick apples with you and your family.

Tons of orchards all across the world allow dogs on the premises, but many do not. Before you and the family go out this season, it is important to know the proper etiquette of going to orchards with dogs and how to find a dog-friendly orchard in your area.

The Do’s of Apple Picking With Dogs

Before you go on your outing, here are some things to keep in mind about your trip.

1. Do Keep Your Dog Leashed

If you are out and about in any public space, it is best to keep your dog on a leash. Not only will this protect your dog from running off and getting into mischief, but it will also protect other people, ensuring no one is tripping or stumbling over your pet.

2. Do Respect Others

Remember that everyone at the orchard is having a fun day celebrating with their loved ones or having a solo day by themselves. The last thing they want is to be bothered on an otherwise peaceful adventure.

Also, some people fear dogs, or they simply don't like them. It's hard to remember when we love our dogs so much that not everyone is a dog person. Some people have had a bad experience, making them very afraid of dogs.

Other people just don't really care for the species in general. No matter someone's reason for not wanting to be around dogs, it is important to understand that that person is entitled to have those feelings.

You should always enter a public space keeping in mind that every person is different and everyone deserves their own personal space. Don't let your dog get into someone else's space without intervening and make sure to keep them very close to your body so you can maintain proper control.

3. Do Pick Up After Your Dog

Chances are, your dog is going to make messes. It is your job as their owner to clean them up. Dog owners often get a bad reputation because less responsible owners ruin an otherwise good thing.

When you are on an outing with your dog, you should have poop bags ready to go. You should also make sure that your dog is not being destructive or getting into things that the facility owners don't want them to have.

When you're on your outing, remember to bring poop bags, collapsible food and water dishes, and other supplies that you can keep in a backpack. That way, when your dog does their business, you already have all the supplies on hand to quickly clean up.

4. Do Only Take Trained Dogs

If you have a pup that isn't quite mannerly yet, it might not be such a great idea to take them along. A mischievous or misbehaving pup is sure to bounce around and potentially create quite a ruckus.

You should only take a dog in public that is command trained and willing to respond to your requests. If you have a dog that jumps on every person they see and is terrorizing the orchard, you might have a problem with the orchard owners.

The Don'ts of Apple Picking With Dogs

1. Don't Take Unfriendly Dogs

The last thing you will want is to put your dog in a predicament where they feel uncomfortable if they have shown any signs of aggression. It can take just a second to lose control of your dog and these mistakes or slip ups can be carrying major repercussions.

Dog bites are taken very seriously. If you take your dog in public knowing they can be aggressive, it is solely your responsibility to deal with consequences. If your dog bites someone, you might be dealing with legal issues and it might even result in your pet needing to be euthanized.

It's simply not worth the risk.

2. Don't Extend a Retractable Leash

Retractable leashes are pretty fantastic in theory but they may not be viable for all dogs in all scenarios, especially a venture to an exciting new orchard. It doesn't matter how big a fan you are of that retractable leash; the issue is that it may add unwanted risk to your adventure.

A retractable leash can sometimes give dogs too much leeway, and you may not be able to intervene in time if your dog wanders off too far and approaches someone who isn’t a fan of dogs. When you have your dog so close to other people, having this lack of control can be very problematic.

Not to mention, it doesn’t actually matter if the people at the orchard don’t mind your dog; another dog might not be appreciative of your dog’s approach from far away. If startled or uncomfortable, they may, at times, end up having an unfortunate tussle with your dog.

For these reasons, it’s often considered safer to keep your dog’s retractable leash short; it gives you more control over them during your trip.

3. Don't Let Your Dog Chase Livestock

At many apple orchards, there will be animals roaming free! Not only will the land owners likely have pets of their own, but they also might have other animals, such as chickens, goats, sheep, cattle, and horses.

If you take your dog and they are taunting or being aggressive toward any farm animal or someone else's pet, it can cause quite a stir. The last thing you want is to be banned from an orchard because your dog is out there chasing chickens.

4. Don't Let Your Dog Eat Apples

The last thing you want to deal with when you get home is major gastrointestinal upset. If your dog has eaten a bunch of rotten apples or gotten into something nasty, they might have quite an upset tummy.

Though apples are safe for dogs, they must first be washed thoroughly should you wish to offer your dog someone. In addition, you shouldn’t offer your dog apple seeds.

Finding a Location

To find a dog-friendly apple-picking location near you, it’s often quickest to check the internet. You can also ask locally for recommendations as word-of-mouth travels fast.

Because many orchards are pretty small mom-and-pop operations, you might even have to call the facility to verify whether or not you are allowed to let your canine compadre tag along.

In Conclusion

Now you know a little bit more about how to conduct your dog when you're out. Not every orchard will be pet friendly, and some of them might not specify online. If you can't get a definitive answer, contacting them directly before risking it is always best.

Remember, you should always be respectful, clean up after your dog, and ensure that they're on their best behavior.

• Related article: 15 Dog-Friendly Activities in San Francisco (Update)

Featured Photo Credit: lumix2004, Pixabay