New research by Rover shows that 16% of dog owners are Millennials and 40% wish they could spend more time with their dog.
Top tips for a dog-friendly pub
- Spacing between tables: not all dogs are fond of other dogs, so gaps between tables is important! This ensures all dogs have plenty of space so they can rest peacefully.
- Noise control: pubs that are really chaotic, with loud music or sports commentary and no soft furnishings to absorb sound, will be really stressful for most dogs.
- Outdoor spaces: having a spacious beer garden is ideal, as is being near dog-friendly walks so canine companions can be exercised before they’re taken into the pub.
- Wide walkways: narrow corridors where dogs will meet head on can result in barking at best and scrapping at worst, which is stressful for both humans and dogs. Pubs that have bigger, open spaces will result in happier pups.
- Access to water: pubs can be warm places, so having a water bowl out for dogs is a kind gesture that will make their visit more comfortable.
- A ‘leads-on’ rule: keeping all pups on leads will make for a calmer environment. Ensuring dogs aren’t free to roam is important - if there are more fearful or anxious dogs around this can lead to aggressive displays.
But 65% of Millennials are still struggling to find a dog-friendly establishment to hang out in.
This has resulted in them needing to leave their dog at home or sacrificing the night out to stay in with their pets.
An ideal world
Rover marketing director Simon Le Grice said: “It is a great shame pubs still ban dogs, and it’s a missed opportunity for publicans.
“In an ideal world, we’d love for every pub in the UK to be dog-friendly.”
For its fourth year, Rover is launching the annual Dog-Friendly Pub Awards with the hope of finding the UK’s top dog-friendly pub and hearten other pubs across the country to welcome dogs.
Le Grice continued: “The Rover Dog-Friendly Pub Awards celebrate pubs across the UK that welcome man’s best friends and give them a happy and safe environment to hang out in.
“We know 40% of people say they wish they could spend more time with their dogs but struggle, so we’d love to see that change.”
Some 27% of Millennials surveyed said that if they knew of more dog-friendly pubs in their area they would take their dog with them and 32% said they preferred their dog to some family members and friends.
Canine companions
Eilir and Charles Rogers – licensees at the 2018 Dog-Friendly Pub Award winner the Dog, at Grundisburgh, Suffolk, said: “We know that being dog-friendly is not just the right thing to do, it's good business too.
“Many of our regular younger customers come in with their dogs and we’ve even seen a rise in numbers of canine companions in the past year or so.”
The new research shows that being dog-friendly is increasingly important for the pub trade and attracting this new generation of pubgoer.
Rogers continued: “Being able to bring your dog to the pub with you is really important.
“We’ve had customers in the past who say they’d have to get a dog-sitter or choose somewhere else.
“In the current climate, businesses need to do all they can to attract loyal customers and for pubs, one solution can be to become dog-friendly.”