A Happy Hour for You and Fido, Too

If you enjoy happy hour with co-workers or dates, imagine how much better it could be if you also spent it with man's best friend. That's the rationale behind dog-friendly happy hours held at bars and restaurants across the area. (There are some rules when dogs join the usual patrons at restaurants. The bars ask that your dogs be leashed and under control, not on top of the tables, much like the rules for humans.) So, if you're looking for a place to take your pooch after work, here are the destinations worth talking (and barking) about.

Doggie Happy Hour At Cantina Marina

600 Water St. SW; 202-554-8396

Mondays 5-9 p.m.

Best for: Dogs who love the great outdoors

Deals for Humans: $2 corn dogs and upgraded (tastier) margaritas for patrons with dogs.

People bring their dogs to Cantina Marina for the same reasons young professionals flock to the dockside bar. "It's like a little oasis," says Greg Shannon of Arlington County, who's relaxing at a table while his German shepherd, Alpha, relaxes with a water bowl at his feet. Today's visit to Cantina Marina is Shannon's first -- a treat for Alpha's eighth birthday. "I gave her some burger," and "she's been socializing." Of course, Alpha's not the only one enjoying the afternoon. "They've got good margaritas, and a very diverse crowd."

At the tables flanking the large, breezy bar are a mix of people holding leashes or just their cans of Tecate. Metal water bowls are scattered all over the pier, and a free "milkbone bar" has the pups sniffing around at the prime seats near the entrance.

Allan Arguello and Adrienne Johnson live a few blocks from Cantina Marina, and the two bartenders have been bringing their black Labrador, Guinness, since the happy hour began two years ago. "The managers and staff are very dog-friendly," Johnson says. "There's not many places where you can bring your dog, and here, you bring the dog and there's water and treats for him. And you get to meet a lot of people."

One of Cantina Marina's biggest draws is also one of its biggest caveats. Lawyer Gayle Girod, who brought her redtick coonhound, Lucy, complimented the spacious patio ("It's spread out enough that there's not too much barking.") and the staff ("They're great. . . . They don't seem to mind stepping over the dogs.") but noted that the bar is right over the Washington Channel, with only ropes separating the dinner tables from the water in some places. Lucy was too preoccupied to notice a group of ducks swimming through the marina, but Girod wasn't. "I wouldn't want to have a retriever here," she said.

Doggie Happy Hour At Hotel Monaco

480 King St., Alexandria; 703-549-6080

Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-8 p.m.

Best for: Dogs that love being around lots of other dogs (and humans)

The area's longest-running dog happy hour got a spiffy makeover when Old Town Alexandria's Holiday Inn became the boutiquey Hotel Monaco. The huge courtyard got new furniture to go with the microbrews and bourbon-based cocktails coming from Jackson 20, the hotel's restaurant and lounge.

But the twice-weekly happy hour is still a joyously chaotic scene, with dogs of all sizes playing, nuzzling and scarfing up the complimentary "gourmet" dog treats. "The best part is the interaction with other dogs," said Eileen Marousek. "And the treats," added Wendy Owens. The two women bring their vizslas, Anka and Rosie, regularly to socialize. "They actually get that it's about them," Marousek says. "They make new friends, we set up doggie playdates."

Among the corgis, terriers and Weimaraners, it was hard not to notice Blackjack, a gigantic, wrinkly black Sicilian mastiff whose tongue looked too large for his head. When he stood up to play among the smaller dogs, he looked like a dump truck parked in a Volkswagen lot. "Dogs are incredibly social animals," said trainer John Landry, who brought the good-natured Blackjack and Wilson, a German shepherd. "This is something all dogs should do. They love it."

Blackjack and Wilson belong to Diane Stanley of Gaithersburg, who also came to happy hour with her sons Logan, 11, and Cooper, 9. Blackjack's about 160 pounds and a year and a half old, and the family also has a French Mastiff. "We have 400 pounds of dog at home," Stanley laughed as yet another small dog and its owner came over to get a better look at Blackjack. The curiosity was mutual: Logan and Cooper were checking out the other dogs, too. The Stanleys stayed until the very end of happy hour, taking questions, until the hotel's staff began hosing down the floor.

Frisky Business Happy Hour at Helix Lounge

1430 Rhode Island Ave. NW; 202-462-9001

Wednesdays 5-8 p.m.

Best for: City-dwelling dogs with single 20- or 30-something owners

Deals: Reduced prices on food and drink, from burgers to "Tail Ale" (cans of Miller Lite) for people, and healthy dog treats and spring water for their four-legged friends. A portion of all sales benefits the Washington Humane Society.

For urban dog owners, happy hour at Helix Lounge is a welcome answer to a difficult choice. "I think it's great that you can go out with your friends and your dog," said Liz Falk. "Otherwise, I would have gone home to be with my dog and not socialized." Instead of heading back to Mount Pleasant after yoga class, she and Vida, a Labrador mix she found as a puppy while living in Costa Rica, were hanging out with five other women at a table on Helix's funky patio. Strings of colored lights glowed overhead and rock music played on the sound system.

Helix has been hosting happy hours with the Washington Humane Society since 2006, and adoptable dogs make regular appearances to warm hearts of humans and get a little playtime with the other dogs. This year, the hotel and Humane Society are working with AnimalAttraction.com, a singles Web site for pet owners, although Falk and her friends said the scene is more about the dogs than a singles-bar vibe. Groups of dogs -- all on leashes -- kept up an endless cycle of sniffing, barking and retreating to rest at their owners' feet.

Andrew and Robyn Cohen, who live on U Street, brought their chow mix Georgie for the first time, and "he had so much fun" that he wore himself out, Andrew said.

"We'll be back every week," Robyn promised. "What could be better than having drinks with your friends and your dog?"