The popularity of our canine friends in hotspots has continued to increase overtime, so much so that establishments have begun to introduce dog birthday parties in their bars. There are also now cafes solely dedicated to cats and dogs, despite the onlooking, raised eyebrows of the stubborn traditionalists.
A few years ago, you may have been abroad to mainly European countries such as France or Spain and realised that the inclusion of dogs in cafés and bars is somewhat common, whereas back home in the UK, adamant local business owners kept a stern foot on the ground when it came to allowing our furry friends through their doors.
However, there is no law that states that dogs can’t enter premises it’s more of a culture, rather than a legal issue. As long as they don’t enter places where food is being prepared and cooked, then they are free to wander and roam. It is more a business / franchise policy that has been enforced. As of 2017/18, 26% of the UK’s population have a dog in their household, which is approximately 8.2m, followed by cats at 18%, so just over one in four families own a dog which is a massive chunk of money to gain from a business perspective.
According to a recent survey of the UK hospitality industry, conducted by The Kennel Club, 97% of all dog friendly businesses stated that our canine companions have added value to their business, directly or indirectly.
Scientific research
The benefits aren’t just restricted to financial ones, dogs are also known to improve the atmosphere of a place as well as reduced stress levels of workers. Dogs also act as a lighthearted conversation starter between workers and customers which creates a community atmosphere especially in places that require face-to-face customer service, and this is essential in a pub atmosphere as a meeting place for social interactions, so the inclusion of a dog is bound to go hand in hand.
Stroking a dog is proven to elevate the production and release of serotonin, dopamine, also known as happy hormones, which as a result, lowers the blood pressure allowing a more calming output.
Dogs as a marketing tool
As far as passers-by go, dogs can be a sign of openness and friendliness. Marketing can go a long way in attracting potential customers to walk through the front door. Placing quirky, dog-friendly signs outside could also be a useful technique to attracting a family that would’ve otherwise carried on walking.
As touched upon earlier, Brewdog, the appropriately named brewing company from Scotland, have taken the combination of dogs and marketing to a whole new level. Not only are all 36 of their bars in this country and internationally dog friendly, last year they launched a ‘bespoke party service for our four-legged friends’, even launching a beer made for dogs, by boiling down carrots and bananas into a brew fresh on site.
Considerations to make
With the introduction of dogs into businesses, this does of course come with some obvious considerations that you should implement for your customers, as not everyone loves and appreciates dogs as much as others!
If you’re not an independent business, and part of a franchise or chain of businesses, it would be wise to double check your insurance policy, as having dogs present could invalidate your insurance policy.
It’s also common to consider having ground rules on where dogs can wander, for example, having a dedicated eating area solely for restaurant purposes where dogs aren’t allowed in, keeping hygiene as clean as possible.
Naturally a small portion of customers may have allergies to domestic animals such as dogs due to their oily skin. Providing plenty of signs are situated within the premises that warn customers, businesses can’t be liable for any reactions and you should be fully equipped for animals and customers to integrate as they please!
This article was brought to you by Seaton Lane Inn, a bed and breakfast in Seaham.
Sources
https://www.statista.com/statistics/308218/leading-ten-pets-ranked-by-household-ownership-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/pets-health/9583690/Pet-subjects-What-is-the-law-on-allowing-dogs-in-bars-restaurants-and-shops.html
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/07/dogs-boost-business-at-pubs/
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/our-resources/kennel-club-campaigns/be-dog-friendly/should-your-business-become-dog-friendly/
https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/articles/2018/08/dogs-in-the-workplace/
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Interesting thoughts and I’m suprised to see more people own dogs than cats! As much as I love dogs, not all of them are well behaved enough to be in shops or cafes and it must be horrible for those who are scared of dogs.
I think so. I love the way dogs are so included in Berlin. We have office dogs and it’s great.
I live in the US and I can definitely see how some businesses who allow dogs in the workplace are better than the ones who reject dogs. Like you said, the dogs bring a friendly and warm atmosphere that the non-dog places can’t have. And plus, dogs are adorable and cute, so whose face wouldn’t light up at the sight of them??
When travelling in France, we were surprised to find a dog in the room next door to us at our B&B. This is great, as long as the dog owners are responsible. It can be so hard travelling with dogs in Australia, as not as many places are “dog friendly”. We would certainly visit a “dog friendly” venue over a “no dog”
Dogs are a very important part of peoples lives and making accommodations for them can be a big attraction for people looking for places to eat and stay. I am all for it.
I think part of the reason it’s more common in Europe is because outside dining is much more prominent than it is in the UK. With the exception of the summer months you generally eat indoors over here so perhaps plays a factor in having less dog-friendly places.
Interesting to see if more places introduce it though as they always do seem appreciated in places that are dog-friendly – for some reason I didn’t realise Brewdog was one of them but that’s probably just because I’ve never seen a dog in the ones I’ve visited.