One-in-three adults in the UK owns a dog, according to data on pet ownership by UK Pet Food, meaning you’re already likely to have four-legged visitors among your regular customers. But are you maximising revenue by selling dog treats and even doggy dinners?

A massive 72% of dog owners say they are more likely to visit a restaurant, pub or café if they can bring their dog with them. In 2022, £10bn was spent in the UK on pet products, and there is a clear opportunity for pubs to take a share of this.

Figures show that business owners that became dog friendly for the first time in 2022 reported growth of between 20-50% in revenue, according to the data from DogFriendly, a database listing more than 60,000 businesses that welcome dogs. The research also shows that people will spend more time in a pub, if they have their dog with them.

Jessica Morris is the CEO of The Canine Menu, a company specialising in dog hospitality, with a range of natural and high quality treats and meals, equipment and displays. She explains the importance of clearly advertising that your pub is dogfriendly, to reap the full rewards.

“A lot of people will be on holiday or ending a dog walk near your venue, so it’s important to have clear signs outside to show that you’re a dog friendly pub — and what that means. A sign with dogs allowed or dog friendly is the starting point, but it’s also a good idea to be clear on boundaries and rules, as while some people love dogs, others don’t,” she says.

“It’s all common-sense stuff: if you’re a restaurant, keep dogs to the bar area, for instance. Be mindful that some people might have allergies and think about the space you can welcome dogs and their owners. And if you have a space for dogs, make sure it is dog-friendly — and that’s not having a manky old stainless steel bowl out front full of green/dirty water.”

Hooks under tables or on walls for people to attach the lead to, an area outside to wash muddy or sandy feet, towels and fresh drinking water. Inside, a blanket or dog bed, to make sure they’re comfortable, along with a range of dog treats (and even meals) for sale at the bar.

“Being dog friendly is also making sure staff know how to deal with dogs. For example, if two dogs come in, try and sit them away from each other, not in the middle of a walkway or near the kitchen,” says Jessica.

“A lot of the conversation about dogs in pubs focuses on dogs misbehaving, but generally people don’t get annoyed if they’re sitting quietly under a table. A dog that’s comfortable is a happy and quiet dog. There’s research that shows that dogs have the same cognitive capability as a two-year-old child, and no-one expects a toddler to sit without anything to do,” says Jessica, adding  that longer lasting dog chews are good for keep them occupied.

Doggy dinners are also increasing in popularity, with customers happy to spend money to treat their four-legged friend to a meal. “Dogs are part of the family and people love to treat their dog when they’re out for a meal. Regulars might complain about the price of a pint going up by 10p, but they’ll happily drop £2.50 on a dog chew,” says Jessica, explaining that as well as increasing footfall by attracting new dog owners to the pub, by creating a canine menu and offer, pubs are upselling to customers already coming through the door.

Opportunity to Boost Sales

Natural dog chews retail at £2.50-£3.50 each, with gross margins of up to 65% — even modest sales of around five dog snacks per day can generate approximately £6.4k in incremental annual revenue

• Owners stay longer, spend more and return more frequently when their dogs are actively catered for
• As well as good signage outside to advertise the pub as dog-friendly, include information on the website and in any social media, so anyone looking for a suitable venue can find yours
• Be more than just be dog-friendly, by promoting the fact that you have treats and meals available, somewhere to clean muddy dogs, and comfortable spaces for their pets