Dogs are everywhere inside Canton’s hopping new breakfast and lunch spot. Paintings of them hang on the walls. Polaroids of them are posted everywhere. And, of course, one adorns the restaurant’s logo. To be clear, the living, panting, drooling, shedding, yet irresistibly lovable kind have to stay outside, but their positive energy undoubtedly adds to the great vibe at Good Boy Bagels—and bowls of cold water and dog biscuits are available for them on the patio out front.

Since it opened in May, the cafe has attracted a loyal following of people who come for the hand-rolled bagels, housemade sausage and sides, and locally roasted coffee from Ceremony. Once they experience the warm, welcoming space, they keep coming back.

“I’ve always loved hosting gatherings, and I always said that if I ever had a place like this, I would want it to feel like you were coming to my house,” says co-owner Lauren Kistner.

She accomplished that by decorating the space with bright colors, art sourced from Etsy, and some of her own work, including paintings of food. Her business partner is Benjamin Sawyer (it’s his dog, Luffy, on the logo), who runs the back of the house. A veteran of respected kitchens like Magdalena, most recently he was a butcher at John Brown General & Butchery in Cockeysville.

“Since I’ve been in Baltimore, what I’ve really craved the most is bagels,” says Sawyer, a New Jersey native who lives in Canton. “I would visit my mom and get bagels at our local bagel shop every day. I just felt like we didn’t have our style of bagels here.”

Sawyer has created a menu that melds the type of bagel from back home—denser than many made here—with items like pit beef from his adopted state of Maryland. The king of the breakfast specials is the 40 Gold (the name pays homage to the legendary Chaps Pit Beef on Route 40), a bagel sandwich that pairs the beef—usually bottom round rubbed and injected with seasoning, rare on the inside, charred on the outside—with fried eggs, onion, and cheddar horseradish cream cheese.

Because Good Boy’s bagels are flatter than most, when the halves are pressed together, they don’t squeeze out the components between them like many other bagel sandwiches do. Take for example the pizza bagel, a delightfully garlicy concoction that leaves the marinara on the side. Instead of taking a bite that pulls all the cheese and sauce off the bagel and onto your chin, it holds its structural integrity. Dunk it in the tub of marinara at your leisure.

Each bagel here comes out hot and fresh with a subtle natural crunch, so it doesn’t need to be toasted. Hash browns are a single fried, circular, bagel-sized patty that can go on the bagel or beside it. Pasta salad uses pimento cheese, elevating it from a standard side to a star. Breakfast sausage is made in-house, heavy on sage and ginger.

Oh, and no need to tie up your pup if you want to order: An employee will come outside to take your order. And if you want to pick up curbside, instead of listing the model of your car, you can give your dog’s name and breed. It’s these little touches that have made Good Boy Bagels a favorite for Cantonites—two- and four-legged alike.

GOOD BOY BAGELS: 834 S. Conkling St., Canton. HOURS: Mon., Wed.-Fri. 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. PRICES: Bagels: $2 (single), $22 (baker’s dozen); breakfast and lunch: $10-20.

While most pets stay at home when their owners go to work, there are a few who join them for the daily grind. Cats and dogs alike can be found in stores across Baltimore and the businesses are happy to share their stories.

“We are so fortunate our customers have embraced the cats in our locations and they have become local celebrities in their own right,” said Courtney Belew, marketing manager for Ace Hardware. “Customers often stop by just to say hello, and it’s been a wonderful way for us to connect with our communities and add a little extra personality to our stores.”

Whether you are a cat person or a dog lover, there are stores, breweries, and even a print shop where you can find a new furry friend hard at work.

“Since we work long hours, it’s comforting to know Archie’s needs are being met,” said Rennie Friedlander, referring to her golden retriever who spends his days at the Simply Beautiful Flower Shop. “He’s very social and is seldom left alone. He enjoys seeing everyone and is always ready to go to work.”

If you are out for a stroll or just needing some hugs, be sure to check out these locations with adorable associates:

FLUFFY FOODIES

Nepenthe Brewing Co.

Who wouldn’t love having their best friend come to work with them every day? That is what Brian Arnold and Jill Antos, owners of the brewery, thought when they started bringing their lab, Benny, into their homebrew shop six years ago. He is a valued part of their team often meeting customers for a belly rub—or two. Benny is a rescue pooch, and had some separation anxiety when they first adopted him.

“When we opened the shop he immediately let us know that he didn’t appreciate being left at home while we went off to work,” said Antos. “So we brought him with us one day after opening, and it was great. He loved it, we loved it, and our customers fell in love with him. The rest is history.”

The Avenue in Hampden
While Killer the cat is not attached to a storefront, he is a local celebrity on The Avenue. If you eat outdoors in the area, especially at Nori, Killer is likely to come and ask for some sushi or maybe just a scratch behind the ears. With some of his Instagram photos garnering around 1,000 likes, the Unofficial Mayor of Baltimore City/Hampden is famous in his own right.

Gypsy’s Truckstaurant
Gypsy’s Truckstaurant offers a home away from home for all neighbors and visitors, including a gray, long-haired cat known on their Instagram account as “his Highness.” He is pictured lounging in the sun and under tables, making any cat lover feel at home. You know you are in the presence of royalty when you see the feline with one white back foot.

Monument City
A local celebrity, Willow the cat is known for keeping Monument City Brewing Company’s free of mice. In a recent mishap, Will was “rescued” from the brewery by some good samaritans who quickly returned him when they realized he already had a loving home. They even threw a party for Will on his safe return home. You can visit the gray feline at the brewery, just make sure not to take him home when you leave. There’s even a hoppy saison named in his honor.

SNUGGLY SALESMEN

Greedy Reads
If you are itching for a new book or just a pooch to pet, Greedy Reads is the store for you. Audie, a black pup with just a few white hairs around her snout, greets customers and can often be found posing for pictures on the front stoop. As the star of the store’s Instagram account, Audie has stolen hearts and shown just how fun reading can be.

aMuse Toys
The toys are not the only thing that amuses patrons at this family-friendly store. If you stop by, owners Claudia and Tom Towles are sure to introduce you to at least one of their three pups. Customers like to get to know Olive, Lucy, and Lola and that also allows them to get to know the family better as well, according to Tom. All three dogs are a mix called “bugg”—half Boston terrier and half pug. “Puppy therapy. When around pups you can’t help from smiling and feeling loved,” said Tom. “That energy translates to folks walking in; it is just infectious.”

Ace Hardware
It is common to find a cat or two as store mascots in Ace Hardware. This company is a co-op that means each location is an independently owned and operated local business, so it’s up to each retailer to decide if a cat is the right fit. Ace likes to consider their store cats “four-legged associates” and they have a very important job to perform: entertaining customers, mild insect and pest control, and being door greeters. In Waverly, you can meet an orange tabby named Benjamin (after Benjamin Moore). Stanley (after Stanley, Black and Decker) is the chunky orange cat found in Canton, and Decker (also after SBD) is a gray and white cat with bright green eyes who will greet you in Fed Hill.

A local rescue group Animal Allies Rescue Foundation (AARF) approached Ace about adopting a cat for their stores. All three of their cats were AARF rescues, and they even host regular fundraisers and pet adoption pop-ups for the organization.

“As a 100-percent volunteer run rescue, we know every penny counts and goes toward placing local animals in a good home,” said Belew. “We’re so glad we are able to be one of their sponsors and look forward to growing our partnership with AARF in the years to come.”

ARTISTIC ANIMALS

Simply Beautiful Flower Shop
Nothing is more picturesque than dogs and flowers. Archie, a golden retriever, is the only example of picture perfect you need. The owners Brian and Rennie Friedlander never questioned bringing their pup to the shop—he goes everywhere they go. One dad brings his kids every Friday to see the golden dog; his kids even call it the Archie store. During the holidays, many people bring gifts for Archie and, when he is not at the store, he loves to go on deliveries with his dad.

“We all love him and he brings out the best in us. Everyone plays a part in caring for him,” said Rennie. “He’s always available for a snuggle and it’s always nice to take a quick minute to take him outside.”

Baltimore Print Studio
Kyle Van Horn and Kim Bentley are a husband-and-wife team who own and run Baltimore Print Studios with the help of their black pooch, Eleanor. Featured throughout their Instagram page, Eleanor helps them attract a crowd at events like Artscape. During normal weeks, Eleanor can be found lying around the shop or even on tables sometimes.

Marlow, McCrystle & Jones Florist
Golden retrievers aren’t the only pups who like to stop and smell the roses. Emma and Fergus are two corgis that help run the Marlow, McCrystle & Jones Florist shop. You can find photos of the working dogs on the company’s Facebook page. These dogs are even pictured on the sign outside the shop, proving to be the face of the store.

Pups are our BFFs. They cuddle us when we’re sad, lick us when we’re sweaty, and they love to go outside and explore. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite pup-friendly spots in Baltimore so that you never have to leave your furry friend behind. These restaurants offer complimentary dog treats and water bowls, give pets free rein of patio seating, and some even host special events that encourage you to bring your dog as your plus-one. Wherever you go, these spots are totally paw-esome.

Pup-Friendly Patios

Riptide by the Bay: This waterfront eatery is smack-dab in middle of Fells Point and has earned a reputation as a popular pup hangout. The outdoor patio is dog-friendly and offers scenic views that both you and your pup will enjoy. Try ordering the Maryland crab cakes, local oysters, or BBQ ribs. 1718 Thames Street, 410-732-3474

Pratt Street Ale House: The Pratt Street Ale House patio is totally furball friendly. You can indulge in great food and craft beers while lounging with your pup at the numerous outdoor tables. There’s nothing better than beer and belly rubs. 206 W Pratt St., 410-244-8900

Atwater’s at Belvedere Square Market: This local cafe has a large patio perfect for dog-watching. There’s tons of umbrellas to stay out of the sun and plenty of space for you and your dog-owning friends to meet up. And you’ll love Atwaters’ hearty soups, decadent sandwiches, and hearth baked pastries just as much as we do. 529 E Belvedere Ave., 410-323-2396

Sam’s Canterbury Cafe: Guilford locals flock to this neighborhood cafe for the brunch menu, featuring fare like the jalapeño cheddar waffles and unique flatbreads named after Baltimore spots, “The Charles,” “The Hopkins,” and “The Calvert.” Surrounded by trees and greenery, Sam’s Canterbury Cafe’s patio is a true oasis for families, friends, and pets alike. 3811 Canterbury Rd., 443-438-4545

Miss Shirley’s Cafe: Baltimoreans agree that Miss Shirley’s Cafe has some of The Charm City’s best brunch food, like the infamous funky monkey bread, broiled grapefruit brûlée, or grandpa’s cornbread squares. And the outdoor patios are pet-friendly at all Miss Shirley’s locations. Multiple locations including 750 E. Pratt Street, 410-528-5373

Dining with Dog Treats

Bmore Licks: This family-owned ice cream shop is one of Canton’s most-loved spots for a sweet treat. They offer more than 100 flavors of homemade ice cream and dozens of milkshake, sundae, and snowball creations. The best part? Bmore Licks serves dog-friendly ice cream, too, with tasty flavors ranging from Cookies & Cream to Fruity Pebbles. 2437 Eastern Ave., 410-732-5425

The Dog Chef Cafe: Handmade frozen yogurt, sweet potato fries, kale pretzels, and donuts . . . these are just a few of the dog-friendly goodies you can buy at The Dog Chef Cafe. The cafe sells tons of healthy, fresh dog food, and they emphasize locally sourced ingredients and organic meals. These treats look so good, you might be the one begging for once. 863 North Howard St., 301-785-2998

Patterson Perk: Head to this canine coffee shop, located in Canton, for plenty of pup-friendly perks. Grab your BFF a free dog treat and head outside to soak up the sun on the patio. For a sweet snack, order a blueberry scone, or try the artichoke and goat cheese panini for a savory bite. 2501 Eastern Ave., 410-534-1286

Furry Fun

DogWatch Tavern: DogWatch Tavern is a fun-house for adults, with tons of happy hour specials and bar games like Skee-Ball and pinball. And don’t worry, your dog will have fun, too. DogWatch offers free treats and water bowls for all pups, and pets are more than welcome to hang at the outdoor tables. 709 S. Broadway, 410-276-6030

The Admiral’s Cup: The Admiral’s Cup doesn’t just allow dogs, they love dogs. The lively saloon hosts frequent #DrinkWithYourDog events where they offer free pup portraits and discounts on beers from Flying Dog and Full Tilt. Check out the Admiral’s Cup Facebook page for more information about upcoming dog-friendly events. 1647 Thames St., 410-534-5555

Blue Pit BBQ: This laid-back hangout has tons of dog-friendly outdoor seating, perfect for big parties, as well as an extensive whiskey collection, an array of smoked meats, and tons of hefty sandwiches. They’ve hosted events like Yappy Hour, a specially tailored party for people who love drinking with their dogs, and many of their proceeds benefit local animal shelters. 1601 Union Ave., 443-948-5590