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Paws on the Lawn – Dog Friendly Pub Event in Melbourne

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PAWS ON THE LAWN

College Lawn Hotel, Prahran (VIC)

by Alex Hatzidakis

I could probably fill out an entire book’s worth of dog-friendly venues within the Prahran/Windsor vicinity. But while many claim to be a hotspot for you and your pup – some offering dog bowls with refreshments, while others serve up treats for your canine friend—The College Lawn Hotel sits above the rest. Not only because it is usually a dog’s haven year-round, but they pride themselves on the fact. The sport orientated pub on Greville Street happily welcomes visiting dogs in their spacious beer garden and courtyard, usually found nibbling on a treat or salivating over their owner’s food. 

So, it is only natural for a pub that has seen more breeds of dog come through the doors than your local vet to run a day celebrating our best friends. Paws on the Lawn welcome locals, newcomers, and everyone in between to come and enjoy the day and have been running it since 2016, with ever-growing popularity and no signs of slowing down anytime soon.  

The three-hour event is usually run on a Sunday between 12 pm to 3 pm. The day generally starts with a few keen owners and their dogs, making the most of the temporary space, consisting of a makeshift obstacle course, balls, treats and toys.

Friends and family play catch up with a beverage in hand while dogs run amok, playing and making new friends. As long as your dog is well behaved, they are more than welcome to stay off-leash as the whole beer garden is closed off for your dog’s safety and, of course, your peace of mind. 

Subsequently, dogs aren’t the only ones allowed to have fun; happy hour prices apply to house wines and beer and espresso martinis for the event’s entirety. Hard to pass by, especially after seeing the beers cleverly renamed after the staff’s dogs. How could you resist?

It isn’t all play as the event also welcomes much-needed adoption programs to showcase their organisations. This time around, Hear No Evil – Australia’s first and only legitimate deaf-specific rescue dog adoption program and registered charity—was also there, leading to much-needed exposure with fellow dog lovers. 

Nevertheless, within the first hour of the event, the place was packed, and every dog was familiar with every other heavy breathing pup. Friends chattered amongst each; drinks flowed as the doggos slowly tired themselves out. By the time it hit 1:30 pm, every pup lay exhausted by their owner’s side, just in time for the day’s raffle. Unfortunately for myself and my pup, we were not winners, as the three prizes–packed with dog goodies – were handed out to the eventual winners. 

Speaking to the event’s visitors, locals were in numbers as they attended their umpteenth event; one attendant claimed, ‘there are not many places that run this sort of thing around these parts of the woods. It’s a great day!’ 

While there were many regulars of the pub and the event in attendance, there was also an abundance of newcomers who so happened to be strolling past on their daily walk, only to find a bustling pub of dogs. They had no choice but to attend, according to several dogs I interviewed. 

As the event came to a close, it was time to take the exasperated pooches home. Many stayed on, while many took the opportunity to call it a day. The gates opened, and service resumed as normal, but for many, it was a day of inclusion and fun. For many, it’s an opportunity to let their dogs experience something unlike anything else. 

So make sure to mark the next ‘Paws on the Lawn’ in your calendar, Sunday, May 8th. And bring an appetite to enjoy the pub’s various meals and happy hour drinks. The dog will love you for it. 

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