Home / Home and family: quiet regulation safeguarding daily life
10th June 2026
Claire Morris, Associate
While our licensing team advises and supports premises in relation to alcohol, regulated entertainment and SEV licensing, what follows is a somewhat creative interpretation of the National Licensing Week’s “Home and Family” theme, but to us it felt like the most obvious.
Given that many households would consider their dog an important family member, we’re going to take a look at what makes a great dog-friendly pub. And to help me with this, is my Bernese Mountain Dog, Oscar. Oscar is not only the face of Morrison’s own brand Dental Sticks but he is also an excellent pub companion (although it is never his round) and observer of pub life. Pictures are provided for attention and because he clearly has a face you can trust. You can see more of him at his little Instagram account, @oscar_looking_at_the_stars
We love walking into a pub to see a ‘wall of fame’ of puppy patrons, the jar of treats on the bar and a pup-friendly menu. Annual dog show – even better. Dogs are also a great conversation starter between customers.
But a good dog-friendly pub isn’t just one that just rolls out the red-carpet for our canine companions. Creating a genuinely dog-friendly venue also means thinking carefully about the four licensing objectives – prevention of crime and disorder; prevention of public nuisance; public safety; and the protection of children.
So, below are Oscar’s top ten tips for pubs that want to cash in on the ‘Puppy Pound’ and run a happy and safe dog-friendly premises everyone can enjoy.
Dogs themselves don’t take up much room physically. However, they can become protective if they feel their space is being invaded by other dogs. So, think about whether your premises can realistically accommodate dogs to minimise the risk of ‘dog politics’.
Make sure it’s clear whether dogs are allowed in or not, and whether they are allowed throughout the premises or just in certain parts. Some people have allergies to dogs. Some people, including children are nervous around dogs. Some people welcome dog-free areas in the way some people welcome child-free hotels.
Clear signage and staff who can explain the house rules diplomatically help avoid confusion and conflict. Oscar hates it if we have to do a U-turn out of a pub, especially if he is already getting a lot of fuss from men who are in the throes of saying things like “that’s a proper dog, aren’t ya fella?!”
Having a bowl or two of water makes dogs feel welcome and settled when they come into a pub, especially if it’s new to them. When people see Oscar heading for a drink, we often hear the words “We’re going to need a bigger bowl…”
The best thing about going into a dog friendly pub are staff who are confident with dogs and love dogs too. They will have a good rapport with dog owners, which is always helpful from a management perspective. Dogs can also spot them a mile off and will rinse the situation.
On one of his first visits to a pub, Oscar was mesmerised by ‘magic treats’ produced by a member of bar staff from behind one of his ears. Friend for life. Great dog friendly pubs also have staff who are aware of and know who to deal with common situations that might arise when dogs are around.
Owners and premises should keep an eye open for potential hazards created by having dogs on site. For example, loose leads, water bowls and spilt water, and dogs lying around in strange shapes with tails or paws sticking out can all create unexpected hazards, particularly in busy venues.
Owners should ensure their dogs are in a safe area, so they don’t get hurt by accident and don’t get under the feet of staff or other customers.
Not everyone is comfortable being around dogs. This can include children. It can also include adults, who will often refer to themselves as ‘more of a cat person’ but we all know that is really a code for something else…
Having certain areas specifically for dogs and their owners (or – to look at it another way – having certain areas for “cat people”), or certain seating arrangements can ensure everyone enjoys their visit to the pub.
Our local John Lewis has a similarly worded sign as you enter the store. The message is friendly, clear and perfectly reasonable. Good dogs have responsible owners. Dogs know when they need to go home, and so should their owners. Owners should also keep their dogs close (secured if necessary), know where they are at all times, and be aware of who is approaching their pet.
Dogs can do dog maths (speed = distance / time) and move quickly when they want to. We took our eyes off our first Bernese – Bootsy (named after Bootsy Collins) – for three seconds and in that time he found his way through two sets of doors to the back of house. We were frantic. Lessons were learnt. Bootsy – on the other hand – was having a great time, being hand-fed his very own ‘taster menu’, by two lovely waitresses who intercepted him at the door to the kitchen as they finished their shift.
Beer gardens can be a fantastic place for dogs for obvious reasons, but they shouldn’t become a canine version of Lord of the Flies. Friendly signage should remind owners to ensure their dogs remain under control (especially if beer gardens are not completely enclosed) and do not cause a nuisance or risk to other customers or nearby residents through excessive barking.
Premises should also ensure dogs have access to shade and water especially in warm weather if dogs are expected to remain outside. The provision of bins, and routine checks of the beer garden in case owners haven’t ‘bagged up’ is also advisable.
This is a big one. Food hygiene is crucial and must always remain a priority. Customers won’t return if they feel this is compromised. Operators must ensure food preparation and service areas are appropriately managed. For their part, owners should ensure their dogs don’t encroach on service areas, other people’s tables, or communal food-related areas. Not everyone’s first thought is ‘aw, look, fluffy confetti!” or “excellent nose boop art Marmaduke!”.
Dogs are special and deserve their own policy. We all know that ‘puppy training’ is actually all about training the owner, not the puppy. Similarly, a clear and well-written Dog Friendly Pub Policy gives staff the confidence to manage dog owners and situations consistently. It also sets clear expectations for dog owners and helps ensure that all customers can enjoy the premises, whether they arrive with two legs or four.
So – those are Oscar’s top ten tips for running a dog friendly premises in a way that reflects the four licensing objectives. But this is really a long way of saying “please put pictures of your dogs in the comments below” – we look forward to seeing them, whether they are at the pub or just living their best life.