Home to pups of all shapes and sizes and their ever-doting owners, Gloucestershire is a dog-friendly county that offers plenty of ways for pawrents to show their fur babies some love.
From special doggy spa days in the Cotswolds to frozen yoghurt for four-legged friends in Stroud, take your pick from SoGlos’s list of canine luxuries in and around the county.
Serve your dog tasty food from Cotswold RAW
Totally natural – and tasty, too – Cotswold RAW's nutritionally complete raw food meals provide a healthy, balanced diet to keep dogs bright eyed and bushy tailed, as well as helping to give them a glossy coat and improve things like their digestion.
Dogs will love lapping up its chicken bone broth, which can be added to their meals or served as a revitalising drink, and gnawing on duck necks, cow ears and salmon skins from Cotswold RAW's wide selection of natural dried treats, too.
Shop for dog toys and treats at Be More Bob
Full to the brim with the very best loot for dogs, Cheltenham's specialist pet store Be More Bob stocks everything from leads and collars to beds and doggy apparel – not to mention plenty of toys, natural chews and treats. It's also the south west's largest stockist of Ruffwear and is trained to fit dogs for the brand's harnesses, life jackets and other products.
All dogs are welcome for a sniff around – friendly pups will have a great time meeting the shop's namesake, Bob the borderdoodle, while those who are less keen on canine company will be given plenty of space to browse at their leisure.
Pick up a puppuccino from a Gloucestershire café
Expect to get a little messy when your dog gets their puppucino fix: they won't be able to resist sticking their snout in to slurp up all the cream, while their humans keep things civilised with coffee and cake!
These tasty, pet-safe treats are available from dog-friendly cafés all over Gloucestershire, including Gloucester's plant-based and wellness eatery The Happy Shroom; SGGLA Café of the Year 2022, Curious Café in Cheltenham; and the vibrant Luxe Café Bar in Cirencester, where pups can also get their picture taken in front of the flower wall.
Go on a dog-friendly staycation in Gloucestershire
Your dog can join you on an overnight adventure at one of Gloucestershire's many dog-friendly hotels, with even some of the county's most luxurious retreats welcoming four-legged guests – including five-star bolthole Ellenborough Park and contemporary country house Cowley Manor.
Or opt for self-catering by renting out a dog-friendly cottage in the Cotswolds from Bolthole Retreats and make the most of walks from your doorstep.
Take your dog out for dinner in Gloucestershire
Hungry hounds are spoiled for choice with dog-friendly places to dine all over Gloucestershire – from bars and restaurants in Cheltenham to rustic Cotswold pubs.
Fans of a good beer can take their dog along to Cheltenham's BrewDog bar and get their polaroid picture on the Paws of Fame board; while food-loving pups can choose from their own menu of 'yappetisers' at the super dog-friendly Gardeners Arms in Alderton – with beefy chunks, chicken breast or sausage served with rice and gravy.
Visit a dog-friendly attraction in the Cotswolds
With so many dog-friendly attractions in the area, doggy days out in the Cotswolds could mean anything from a picturesque walk around Painswick Rococo Garden to riding a train along the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.
Watch the penguins with your pooch at Birdland, pose among the purple-hued fields when Cotswold Lavender opens in the summer months and check out SoGlos's round-up of dog-friendly attractions in the Cotswolds for more ins-paw-ration.
Discover the best dog walks in Gloucestershire
Put your best paw forward and set off across rolling Cotswold hills, through enchanting woodlands and along winding footpaths that take in Gloucestershire's gorgeous countryside, which is packed with places to walk your dog.
From trekking to the top of Cleeve Hill to soaking up the ancient scenery in the Forest of Dean, discover 14 of the best places to walk your dog in Gloucestershire on SoGlos – with 12 woof-derful destinations for dog walks to explore in the Cotswolds, too.
Swim with your dog at Sandford Parks Lido
Take the plunge with your dog at Sandford Parks Lido when the outdoor pool opens to four-pawed swimmers for the annual Dog Swim – planned for Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October in 2023.
Pups can practice their doggy paddle with their owners, who are allowed to get into the pool to swim alongside them. And don't forget to bring some floating toys to play fetch with, too!
Get pampered at a dog-friendly spa day
For a spot of R&R, one of Broadway's loveliest dog-friendly hotels, The Lygon Arms, offers a 'Nails and Tails' spa day for pampered pups and their owners.
While you relax in the spa with a treatment or two, your four-legged friend will be chauffeured from the hotel to get a full-body groom at Broadway Dog Groomers, where they'll get a bath, cut and blow-dry; their nails clipped; a luxurious blueberry facial; and, to top it all off, a spritz of paw-fume – with a choice of scents, from Jimmy Chow to Jean Paw Gaultier!
Teach your dog new tricks at Lechlade K9 Centre
As well as stimulating their brains and encouraging them to burn off some of their boundless energy, training exercises are a great way for dogs and their owners to strengthen their bond.
At Lechlade K9 Centre, water-loving mutts can have a go at hydrotherapy; there's top-class facilities for agility, with champion trainers to show owners and their dogs how to master the course; and dogs put their powerful sense of smell to good use, with scent detection classes to teach them a new skill. And for those who simply want to run around and have fun, there's a secure canine exercise park, complete with enrichment areas and a splash pad.
Get dog-friendly frozen yoghurt from Winstones
Whatever the flavour, there's always something special about a scoop of Winstones Ice Cream – with the iconic ice cream parlour on Rodborough Common also offering dog-friendly frozen yoghurt for panting pooches, making it perfect for a post-walkies treat!
Serving Frozzys frozen yoghurt, with a range of flavours including cranberry and blueberry, dogs can enjoy a lickable treat while their owners get stuck into some of Gloucestershire's most famous ice cream.
Buy a designer dog collar from Holland Cooper
Treat your furry fashionista to a luxurious new accessory from homegrown Gloucestershire designer, Holland Cooper – which has a stylish collection of dog collars and apparel, made from leather with gorgeous detailing.
Order online or visit the boutique at Dunkertons Park, where pups and their owners can enjoy a pint together at the Dunkertons Cider Tap Room.
