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Business Fact Sheet

What is Open for Dogs?

'Open for Dogs' is the Kennel Club’s campaign to break down barriers for dogs and their owners. It actively encourages more businesses to be dog friendly and open their doors to people and their dogs.

You can register your interest in being 'Open for Dogs' by clicking here

Being 'Open for Dogs' makes good business sense…

  • 4 in 5 businesses agree that being dog friendly has helped them bite back against the recession 1
  • 96% of people think more places should be open for dogs 2
  • 84% of people think that more cafés and shops that serve food should be open for dogs 3

Guidance on dogs and food preparation areas

There is nothing in existing food hygiene legislation that bars pets from premises serving food.

As the proprietor, you must ensure good hygiene practice, such as ensuring food is protected from contamination.

Pets are mentioned specifically in the section on commercial production of food in a domestic environment, where as a guide to compliance it is advised that pets should be excluded from area where food prep is taking place.

So whether or not to exclude dogs from area where food served is down to discretion of proprietor but should not compromise the safety of food being prepared served or consumed on the premises.

Food hygiene regulations from food standards agency

1 Kennel Club Open for Dogs Business Survey, June – July 2009. 181 responses.
2 Kennel Club Out and About with Your Dog Survey, July 2008. 1,000 participants.
3 Kennel Club Out and About with Your Dog Survey, July 2008. 1,000 participants.






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