These high street shops are welcoming dogs in a bid to boost retail spending

Virgin Radio

14 Jun 2021, 11:49

Shops including Wilko, John Lewis, H&M, Apple and Metro bank are opening their doors to our four-legged friends. According to The Times, 2,300 retailers are now welcoming dogs with open arms - and paws - in order to attract more custom.

A surge in searches for pooch-friendly shops has increased this year with 169 per cent more searches for dog-friendly shops than in the whole of 2020. 

Dogfriendly.co.uk co-founder Steve Bennett told The Times: “High street shops are realising that dog owners represent a huge proportion of their customer base.”

Joules, Whistles, H&M, Barbour, John Lewis, Apple, Heal’s, West Elm and White Stuff are allowing dogs to peruse the aisles with their owners, while Reiss and Waterstones said it was at the shop manager’s discretion.

Credit: Getty

Some stores are remaining dog-free including M&S, Next and Primark due to 'issues with dog mess' and pet allergies. 

The RSPCA applauded the dog-friendly shops and advised it could help to “avoid thefts of pets that have been tied up outside”, but to also think about the dog's social skills.

A spokeswoman said. “It’s important to think about it from the dog’s perspective, particularly with lockdown puppies or adult dogs who may have missed out on vital socialisation."