Directory of dog-friendly restaurants

Given the USD 47.7 billion US consumers alone are expected to spend on their pets this year, it’s not entirely surprising to see the likes of the Sniff Dog Hotel and the many other pet-focused innovations we’ve seen emerge in recent months. Along the lines of Fido Factor, in fact, one more we recently spotted gives consumers a new way to discover the dog-friendly restaurants in their neighborhood. California-based Dining with Dogs is a free site that lets dog owners find restaurants in their area that allow dogs in their outdoor seating areas. Currently focusing on New York, Chicago, California, Arizona and Florida, the ad-supported site lets users submit and review restaurants as well as interact with other dog lovers online. Reviews can also be posted directly to Facebook and other popular social networks. Guides to pet-friendly hotels have been around for some time, but this new focus on restaurants adds a new point of differentiation for restaurateurs worldwide. Eateries around the globe: time to develop a dog-friendly policy, if you don’t already have one. Everyone else: how else can you help guide pet lovers to local establishments that will treat them — and their pets — right…? (Related: Peer-to-peer petsitting service — Social networking for dogs — RFID collar tag helps dog owners meet new friends.) Spotted by: May Lam