At Okini Restaurant and Bar in Vancouver, co-owners Steph Wan and Kevin Lin craft gorgeous plates of AAA steak served with duck fat potatoes and broccolini, and golden eagle sablefish doused in a fuji apple broth and adorned with zucchini.

But it害羞草研究所檚 the clientele feasting on these meals that make the restaurant stand out. The dishes are meant for dogs and join a milk bone-rimmed 害羞草研究所減awgarita害羞草研究所� and a beef liver-dusted and pepperoni-topped 害羞草研究所減awtini害羞草研究所� on the small, pet-friendly menu Okini offers.

害羞草研究所淭he reaction has been crazy; like more than I anticipated,害羞草研究所� Wan said. 害羞草研究所淓veryone害羞草研究所檚 really excited about it.害羞草研究所�

Okini害羞草研究所檚 efforts to ensure pets that tag along with their owners can fill their bellies too comes as a growing number of restaurants are adding dog-centric dishes to their menus.

Across Canada, there are now wineries selling 害羞草研究所渂arkuterie boards,害羞草研究所� bars with mini picnic tables dogs can use to nibble on treats and dining establishments delivering non-alcoholic beer, cottage pie or peanut butter and ice cream to pups on their 害羞草研究所減awtios.害羞草研究所�

Even big chains are in on the trend with A&W Canada offering $2 grass-fed beef patties for dogs last month and Shake Shack Canada selling vanilla custard laden with Wufers biscuits. Starbucks has similarly been known to dole out cups of whipped cream some dub 害羞草研究所減uppuccinos害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所減up cups.害羞草研究所�

Matt Davis, the director of reservation company OpenTable害羞草研究所檚 Canadian business, suspects the increase in restaurants catering to dogs stems from a boom in pet ownership that shows no signs of slowing.

The Canadian dog population rose by 200,000 to 7.9 million between 2020 and 2022, the Canadian Animal Health Institute has said.

害羞草研究所淭here seemingly (are) pets everywhere,害羞草研究所� Davis said, noting that pups are plentiful when he害羞草研究所檚 out in Vancouver or visiting Toronto.

害羞草研究所淧eople are becoming more attached to them and they just like to be with them more frequently.害羞草研究所�

A May survey OpenTable commissioned of 1,000 dog owners in Canada found more than one-third dine out with their pets and 46 per cent take part on a weekly basis.

At Lobster Burger Bar in Toronto, not a day goes by without someone ordering from the 害羞草研究所減aws to claws害羞草研究所� menu, said Christopher Chan, the restaurant害羞草研究所檚 director of operations.

害羞草研究所淲e give the dogs little tables they can eat at, but I害羞草研究所檇 say half the owners like to pick them up and like them to eat at their table,害羞草研究所� he said.

While many need no excuse to bring Fido along for $11 cups of Thanksgiving turkey, zesty rosemary chicken or salmon meals from Puppy Gang Fresh Foods, Chan has noticed birthdays bring out plenty of dogs.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 probably the No. 1 (occasion they visit for) and if they don害羞草研究所檛 get a seat, they害羞草研究所檙e so upset,害羞草研究所� he said.

Lobster Burger Bar害羞草研究所檚 interest in catering to dog owners stemmed from the restaurant害羞草研究所檚 late owner Marcel Schneebeli, who noticed pet ownership soaring during the pandemic, when many people were home alone and seeking companionship.

Once lockdowns and other health measures lifted, these new pet owners realized there were few restaurants willing to welcome animals.

害羞草研究所淓ven if there was outdoor seating, sometimes dogs weren害羞草研究所檛 allowed,害羞草研究所� Okini害羞草研究所檚 Wan recalled. 害羞草研究所淭here were just so many restrictions in my city.害羞草研究所�

OpenTable害羞草研究所檚 research found 62 per cent of dog owners have experienced difficulty finding pet-friendly spots, though it害羞草研究所檚 becoming an easier task in recent years because the pandemic convinced some provinces, including Ontario, to rework laws to allow dogs into some parts of restaurants.

Wan and Lin, who own Boston terrier Tobiko and Pannacotta, a Maltese-Pekingese, were keen to be part of the wave of change.

After rounds of taste testing from their own dogs, they opened their patio to animals in late May and quickly found a canine customer base.

But it害羞草研究所檚 unclear how long the demand for such offerings will remain.

A recent survey of 300 Canadians from financial services firm Stifel found 41 per cent of respondents planned to decrease their spending on pet food and accessories over the next 12 months. Almost 60 per cent, however, expected to increase spending in these areas.

Davis predicted there害羞草研究所檚 no end in sight for the dog-friendly menu. In fact, what restaurants like Okini are doing is just the beginning, he said.

害羞草研究所淵ou go into a grocery store in Los Angeles and there are dogs just everywhere, as if they were just part of the normal consumer that would be in a grocery store,害羞草研究所� Davis said.

害羞草研究所淪o in my mind, I think this is only going to increase.害羞草研究所�

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Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press