2021 is the year to make your visitor attraction more dog friendly. Here’s how.

Even pre-pandemic, there was no doubt that the UK is a nation of animal lovers, with pets playing a significant role in day-to-day family life. Pet Plan’s 2018 Pet Census showed that 49% of pet owners say their pet is part of the family and life fits around them where possible.

It comes as no surprise then, that 89% of dog owners feel guilty about leaving their dog behind when going on holiday, 67% plan breaks around their dog, and 56% choose to travel with their dog simply because they enjoy their holiday more if they have their pooch by their side.**

Throw in the bothersome new post-Brexit requirement for owners to obtain a new animal health certificate (AHC) every time they visit the EU or Northern Ireland and average dog boarding costs of £26+ per day and it all points to increasing demand for dog-friendly days out and staycations.

But even without the growing market for dog-friendly days out, there are several other benefits to becoming a dog-friendly attraction:

• The dog-owning community is tightly knit. Get your dog-friendly features right and you’ll tap into a thriving network of peer-to-peer recommendations.
  
  
• Depending on your attraction type, being dog-friendly can help extend the season. After all, dogs need to be walked and entertained whatever the weather – and unlike families with children, families with four-legged members aren’t always restricted to school holidays and weekends.
  
  
• Dogs are an excellent ice breaker. By welcoming them to your attraction, you may well find that your visitors chat with each other more, fostering an even friendlier atmosphere.
  
  
• The Hound Pound is real! Fifteen per cent of owners say their pet is the most important thing in their life, that money is no object and that they would do anything for their pet.*** Nowhere is this more obvious than in the willingness of dog owners to splash out on luxe pet-friendly add-ons when booking accommodation, such as personalised water bowls, dog concierges, bespoke canine menus and doggy spas.

The good news is that you don’t have to bring out the all the bells and doggy whistles for the VIPs (Very Important Pets) when you choose to make your visitor attraction more dog friendly. Simple dog-friendly touches such as water bowls, free dog treats and selling ice-cream for dogs on hot days will go a long way towards getting a happy wag out of the canine crowd.

7 points to consider before you welcome dogs to your attraction

1. Make it crystal clear – on your website and on arrival – exactly where dogs are allowed within your attraction. Are they allowed in catering outlets, or inside exhibitions? Is there anywhere you want to keep dog free?
   
   
2. Clarify what type of dogs are welcome (small or large, well-behaved and/or on a lead, for example) and how many are allowed per owner.
   
   
3. Dog owners’ responsibilities should be communicated clearly too, and any equipment provided to ensure owners can look after their dogs safely and comfortably. Install dog litter bins if necessary.
   
   
4. Remove anything that could be considered a danger to dogs, such as sharp drops and poisonous plants.
   
   
5. Do you need to charge an entry fee, however small, for dogs? This could cover any extra costs such as staff training, insurance and free treats.
   
   
6. It might be worth investing in staff training on issues such as how to read canine body language and handle any dangerous situations.
   
   
7. Consider becoming listed by a specialist dog-friendly days out organisations to help grow your reach.

 

* PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report, Feb 2020: UK dog population of 10.1 million owned dogs; 26% of UK adults own a dog.

** Statista 2018 UK survey: dog owners behavior regarding holiday travel 2018

*** Pet Plan’s 2018 Pet Census