- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
Do you love shopping but don’t want to choose between retail therapy and spending time with your dog? Whether you’re looking to browse the high street with your dog or take them to your local garden centre, it can sometimes be hard to make out a shop’s dog policy. Plus, it often varies by location.
Fortunately, dog-friendly places in the UK are increasing in number. In this article, we’ve rounded up some of the best options. If your favourite shop isn’t on the list, review sites like Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor often have comments from dog owners mentioning if a specific shop is dog-friendly.
Before you head out, it’s also important to make sure your dog is confident and well-behaved enough to handle a trip to the shops. We’ve included some expert advice on how to train your dog to be a polite customer.
Dog-Friendly or Dog-Tolerant? Are Dogs Allowed in UK Shops?
In the UK, there’s no specific law to prevent dogs from entering shops. But most shops have policies around whether or not dogs are allowed. Unless otherwise stated, it’s usually safest to assume that most shops don’t allow dogs. That’s certainly the case for high-street shops like Zara, many shopping centres, and larger stores like IKEA.
Some shops will tolerate dogs but won’t necessarily go out of their way to make your dog feel welcome. Others are truly dog-friendly, offering water bowls, treats, and plenty of fuss.
Due to food hygiene regulations, supermarkets aren’t dog-friendly. Most places that serve food also don’t allow dogs indoors. So no sharing a McDonald’s or Starbucks with your dog—unless you use the drive-thru!
If you do want to dine out with your dog, look for a location with a patio, as many restaurants and pubs welcome dogs in their outdoor spaces.
Of course, these rules don’t apply to assistance dogs like guide dogs and service dogs. The Equality Act 2010 states that service providers must make reasonable adjustments that allow people with assistance dogs the same access to their services as anyone else. This means assistance dogs are permitted in shops and on public transport.
Here are 16 of the most dog-friendly shops in the UK. Before visiting, it’s always worth checking with the manager, as restrictions can vary from place to place.
Anthropologie
Known for its gorgeous clothes, accessories, and home décor, Anthropologie is also pet-friendly. As long as your dog is on a leash and well-behaved, they’ll be welcome at most Anthropologie stores nationwide, although be sure to check with the manager first.
Lush
With a strong stance against animal testing, Lush welcomes well-behaved dogs into its stores nationwide. Feel free to browse the make-up, bath bombs, shower gel and more, knowing that no animals were harmed during their creation. Lush stores can smell incredible—not a bad thing for humans, but bear in mind your dog’s sensitive sense of smell may mean their tolerance levels will be a bit lower than yours!
The Apple Store
Apple Stores have a reputation as being one of the most dog-friendly shops in the UK. If you want a phone upgrade or a new laptop, feel free to bring your dog along. You might want to stick to times when the store is likely to be quiet, as it could be a little overwhelming for your dog during busier times. Bear in mind that if the store is located within a shopping centre that isn’t dog-friendly, you might not be able to bring your pup along.
Dobbies Garden Centres
Want to spend a few hours finding some dog-safe plants to spruce up your home? Dobbies welcome well-behaved dogs to all their garden centres—as long as they’re on a lead. While you can access most areas, the food hall and indoor restaurant are off-limits. Dogs are allowed in the outdoor patio areas of the restaurants, though. Dobbies also offer dedicated Dog Drinking Stations with fresh water. However, if your dog poos while you’re browsing the plants, it’s your responsibility to clean it up!
Oliver Bonas
From fabulous fashion to homewares, furniture, and even dog-themed gifts, Oliver Bonas is the place to go when you’re looking to inject some serious style into your life. If you want to bring your dog along for the fun, most Oliver Bonas stores allow well-behaved dogs, so long as they’re on a lead.
Waterstones
Want to browse some dog training books with your pup by your side? Well-behaved dogs are allowed in many Waterstones shops, but it does depend on the discretion of each shop manager. Sometimes they even have dog guests—The Britain’s Got Talent winner and his owner Ashleigh signed copies of Pudsey: My Autobidography at Waterstones in Peterborough. Some branches may even offer water bowls for your dog, which is particularly handy on a hot day! Many Waterstones also have a cafe section, although your dog may not be allowed into this area.
Burberry
Burberry makes some adorable accessories for your pet, often featuring their signature check fabric. But these items aren’t cheap, so you might want to bring your dog along to check you’ve selected the right size. It’s not clear whether all Burberry stores allow dogs, so check ahead first. If the Burberry branch you’re looking to visit is within Selfridges, small dogs are usually allowed.
Pandora
What’s better than shopping for an adorable pet-themed charm? Having your dog by your side while you choose, that’s what! Pandora doesn’t advertise whether dogs are allowed in their stores. However, if you’re visiting a Pandora in a shopping centre where dogs are allowed, chances are your pet will also be welcome in the shop.
Selfridges
Selfridges welcomes dogs, but it depends on their size. Their website states that while assistance dogs are always welcome, other dogs are only permitted if they’re small or medium-sized. Dogs that fit this description must be kept on a lead and be small enough that their owner can carry them on an escalator. Even though Selfridges welcomes some dogs, if the store you want to visit is in a shopping centre that doesn’t allow dogs, like The Trafford Centre, you won’t be able to enter the shop.
TK Maxx
Up for browsing bargain clothes and homeware with your dog or even size them up for some new accessories? Whether or not you can bring them along to your local TK Maxx depends on each store. Some reviews state that only small dogs are allowed but that they should be carried. So, before you visit, it’s best to check ahead.
Homesense
As part of the TK Maxx family, Homesense follows the same policies. So, while most branches should welcome dogs, it’s up to the manager of each one. Small dogs are probably more likely to be allowed, but make sure you confirm this before a visit to avoid disappointment.
Cath Kidston
Dogs have featured in many Cath Kidston prints over the years, so it’s no surprise that the company is big on dogs, and its stores are very dog-friendly. Visit your nearest branch and browse their quirky home furnishings and accessories with your dog in tow.
Mountain Warehouse
Looking for new hiking boots for some outdoor adventures with your dog? You should be able to bring them along to any Mountain Warehouse shop. However, as there’s no clear company-wide policy on this, you should ask your local store before planning a visit.
Flying Tiger
From stationery to homewares and toys, there’s always plenty to choose from in this shop. It’s unclear whether Flying Tiger shops accept dogs, so it’s best to check first. If you’ve ever been to a branch of Flying Tiger, you’ll also know that they tend to be tightly packed, with fairly narrow aisles. As a result, they’re probably best suited to smaller dogs.
CeX
If you’re looking to buy a new game or exchange an old one, CeX is the place to go. It does seem like you can bring your dog along to most of their stores as long as they’re well-behaved and on a lead. But as with any store that lacks a clear policy, the manager will likely decide whether or not you’ll be allowed in.
HMV
Did you know this store was named after a painting of a dog called Nipper listening to a gramophone? His Master’s Voice was the original name of the music store HMV, and most stores still welcome dogs to this day. But if the store is located in a shopping centre that doesn’t allow dogs, you’re out of luck unless there’s an alternative entrance from the street.
Petiquette: How to Train Your Dog to Be a Paw-lite Customer
iStock/JackF
If you’ve never taken your dog to the shops before, preparing them first is important. This ensures that they and other dogs are likely to be welcomed back again.
Leigh Siegfried, training director and founder of Opportunity Barks, recommends building your dog’s confidence at home and then testing it in increasingly busy environments.
Once your dog is comfortable wearing a harness and walking on a lead, she recommends teaching your dog to confidently manage the following tasks:
- Walking over different surfaces
- Climbing obstacles or objects
- Waiting at thresholds, for example, at a doorway
- Changing direction
Once your dog is comfortable completing these at home and outdoors, she recommends planning your first outing to somewhere with a lot of natural features, like a garden centre. “That way, you’re not asking your dog to go into a shop with a slippery linoleum floor and be super well-behaved.”
It’s also important to consider your dog’s personality and experiences. A fearful or reactive dog without much experience meeting strangers isn’t likely to enjoy a trip to the shops. But a well-socialised, confident dog who enjoys meeting new people? They’re probably going to love it.
Caroline Wilkinson, certified animal behaviorist and founder of Barket Place recommends working on these three commands:
- Settle: “This builds up your dog’s ability to cope with real-life distractions.”
- Wait: “This allows you to move around your dog while they stay still, so you can pay for your items easily or look around different shelves of items.”
- Leave: “This is especially useful if you’ll be visiting stores that might have items your dog finds interesting, like food or toys.”
In terms of equipment, Wilkinson says that “a well-fitting harness will help your dog feel the most comfortable and ensure their body can move naturally.” Siegfried adds that having a secondary safety backup, for example, one lead attached to your dog’s harness and another on their collar, can help keep your dog safe if a piece of equipment fails or falls off.
Wilkinson says that many dogs will find busy shopping environments to be stressful. “There’s lots of noise, people, and lights to contend with. This can be overwhelming for even the most relaxed of dogs.” She recommends looking out for signs of stress in your dog, including:
- Lip licking
- Yawning
- Panting
- Freezing
- Reluctance to move
And if your dog doesn’t seem to enjoy this experience, book some doggy daycare sessions, and hit the shops solo!
