The Kennel Club are urging more businesses to recognise the opportunities in being dog friendly.

Economy could benefit from an extra £5.6bn annually

Over three quarters of the UK's highest earning dog owners say they would take more holidays in the UK if more dog friendly options were available, according to the Kennel Club.

Research by the organisation has revealed that 72 per cent of dog owners would take more holidays in the UK if there was a better attitude towards dogs, and this figure rises to 77 per cent when looking at the UK's biggest earners (those with salaries of £40,000 or more).

Now, with over nine million dogs in the UK and around one in four households owning a dog, the Kennel Club are urging more businesses to recognise the opportunities in being dog friendly. They claim that if 2.9m dog owners were to swap their overseas plans for a dog friendly UK option, British tourism could benefit from an extra £5.8bn annually.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club secretary said: "The research suggests that local tourism could lure holiday makers away from extravagant holidays simply with the promise of a dog friendly getaway, so this could be a real boost to the British economy."

A number of businesses are already seeing the benefits of opening their doors to dogs and being creative with what they offer. The Beach Café in Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk, for example boasts 1,600 members in their K-9 Club and last year won the 'Be Dog Friendly Awards' in the cafe/restaurant category.  The café has a free self-service 'Wash n' Wag' dog wash facility which allows customers to rinse down their pet in a specially enclosed booth - removing the seawater and sand from their coats. Dogs on the premises are also offered free biscuits and fresh water.

Although the UK is traditionally labelled as a nation of dog lovers, many businesses still refuse to allow dogs in.  An increasing number of local authorities are also slapping Pubic Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) on public spaces such as parks and beaches, discriminating both dogs and their owners. According to the Kennel Club, six PSPOs have been implemented in England and Wales so far this year, and eight more are in the pipeline.

“We really need to listen to the public," continued Caroline. "The vast majority of dog owners are responsible and crying out for places they can go with their dogs without feeling victimised, offering a real financial incentive for businesses opening their doors to dogs and their owners.”

The Be Dog Friendly Awards are returning again this year and the Kennel Club is on the hunt for more dog friendly businesses to enter the competition. Now in its ninth year, the competition is part of the Be Dog Friendly campaign which aims to encourage more businesses and public spaces to be more welcoming to the nation's eight million dogs. 

Image (C) Kennel Club