Make Ireland more dog friendly

Q: Is your dog comfortable around strangers?

Signs that they may be uncomfortable can include: - Tension in the body - Ears held back and closer to the head - The brow might furrow and skin between ears might wrinkle - Tongue might flick out - Face muscles get tighter - Lowered tail If you notice your dog displaying any of these behaviours around strangers, it is best to remove them from the situation. Then slowly work on building their confidence up in ‘easier’ situations where they have lots of space, before you consider taking them to dog friendly venues. Signs your dog may be relaxed can include: - Tail hangs and moves loosely, free from tension - Body is free from tension - Relaxed facial muscles - Ears are in a neutral position, or slightly forward - Rounded eyes, without the white showing - Relaxed mouth, might be closed or held open, tongue might loll out Read more about understanding your dog's body language .

Campaign with us to make Ireland more dog friendly

We want to help make Ireland the best country in the world for dogs and the people who love them, and that is why we are running our Dog Friendly Ireland campaign.

This campaign highlights the small but effective changes that can be made in many different aspects of public life, in an effort to make Ireland more accessible to dogs.

Dogs Trust looks forward to the day when dogs are an accepted passenger on public transport, a welcome visitor in the workplace, a wanted tenant in rental accommodation and a regular customer in most food-serving establishments across the country.

Our aim

A 2022 survey carried out on our behalf, discovered 49% of households in Ireland have a dog*. This is much higher than our closest neighbours in the UK, where dog ownership only stands at 34%*.

But despite this, the UK - along with many more countries across Europe - provide significantly more Dog Friendly services and venues, allowing people to include their furry four-legged friends in their daily lives.

24% of respondents to Ireland’s Dog Census in 2024 said one of the biggest issues they face as owners is a lack of dog-friendly spaces in Ireland.

We want this to change. We want to help make Ireland the best country in the world for dogs and the people who love them, and that is why we are running our Dog Friendly Ireland campaign. This campaign highlights the small but effective changes that can be made in many different aspects of public life, in an effort to make Ireland more accessible to dogs.

How a more dog friendly Ireland could help us find more forever homes for our furry friends

In 2025, we rehomed 859 dogs. We firmly believe this figure could significantly increase if Ireland were to become more Dog Friendly, as responsible dog owners would be in a position to involve them more in their daily routines.

At the moment, restrictions in workplaces, hotels, social venues, rental accommodation and on public transport do very little to encourage potential adopters to welcome a furry friend into their life.

The benefits

Dogs provide a source of social support for humans. Increased social support has been associated with lower levels of depression and higher self-esteem
Dog owners walk on average 79% further per week. Exercise has been proven to boost the release of 'happy hormones' in the brain.**
Dogs are really social creatures and love to be included in their owners activities. They love being out and about with their owners enjoying new and fun experiences.
Having a dog around can boost productivity and teamwork.
Dog owners can make savings by not having to pay for doggy day care or a dog walker while they are out of the house.
Bringing your dog to work can improve work / life balance.**
Petting a dog has been proven to reduce stress, whether you are the dog's owner or not.**
Dogs are a social lubricant and increase the frequency of conversations amongst friends, colleagues and strangers.
Pet ownership has been associated with a number of positive health benefits, some of which include fewer visits to the doctor, lower cholesterol, lower blood-pressure and improved heart health.**
A huge part of becoming a well socialised dog is experiencing a wide variety of social situations. So what better way to contribute to a country full of well rounded, socialised dogs than allowing them frequent access to more venues and pleasant social experiences?

Dog Friendly Ireland Day 2026

We want to help make Ireland the best country in the world for dogs and the people who love them, so every year we celebrate Dog Friendly Ireland Day to spread the joy of integrating dogs into more aspects of our lives.

To mark this year’s campaign, Dogs Trust is inviting children across the country to show what a truly dog friendly Ireland looks like to them, through a creative design competition.

The winning design will be transformed into a limited-edition range of Dogs Trust t-shirts and tote bags, perfect for dog walks, beach trips and other dog friendly adventures.

To enter the competition, please submit your child's design here.

Learn more

Brown curly haired dog looking up at the camera, sitting in a dog bed with toys

Dog Friendly Holiday Accommodation

This Dog Friendly Ireland Day, we're encouraging holiday accommodation to become dog friendly, so more families can enjoy holidays with their dogs.

Dog-friendly holiday

Labrador, outside, at beach, in shade, in tent.

A guide to dog-friendly holidays

Planning a trip with your four-legged friend? This guide will help you organise a dog-friendly holiday.

small golden dog lying on couch with owners hand resting gently on their back

Renting with Rover

Will my dog be comfortable in dog friendly venues?

We're delighted to see more establishments open their doors to dogs. It’s fantastic to have the option to bring dogs with us to cafes and bars and on holidays. However, not every dog is comfortable in these establishments, as much as we would love them to be.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of questions below that should help give you an indication if these types of places are right for your dog, or if they might prefer a different activity.

Sometimes our dogs can show little signs that they would rather not be in a situation and it's not until we are familiar with these signs that we spot them and change what we’re doing to help our dogs feel better.

FAQs

Is your dog comfortable around strangers?

Signs that they may be uncomfortable can include:

- Tension in the body
- Ears held back and closer to the head
- The brow might furrow and skin between ears might wrinkle
- Tongue might flick out
- Face muscles get tighter
- Lowered tail

If you notice your dog displaying any of these behaviours around strangers, it is best to remove them from the situation. Then slowly work on building their confidence up in ‘easier’ situations where they have lots of space, before you consider taking them to dog friendly venues.

Signs your dog may be relaxed can include:

- Tail hangs and moves loosely, free from tension
- Body is free from tension
- Relaxed facial muscles
- Ears are in a neutral position, or slightly forward
- Rounded eyes, without the white showing
- Relaxed mouth, might be closed or held open, tongue might loll out

Read more about understanding your dog's body language.

Has your dog ever shown any signs of reactivity toward other dogs, people or children?

This can include barking at the dog or person, lunging toward another dog or person, growling, snarling or showing teeth, pulling away from another dog or person, trying to hide behind their owner or even jump into their arms, grabbing at their lead or their owner’s clothing.

If you notice your dog displaying any of these behaviours around other dogs or people, we recommend spending time helping them feel more comfortable around dogs and strangers before you start taking them to dog friendly venues.

It’s also important to note, that while you might be able to help your dog become less reactive, this still doesn’t mean that they will necessarily enjoy being around other dogs, children or strangers so, visiting dog friendly venues may never be something your dog will enjoy.

Does your dog have all the skills necessary so they can safely enjoy being in a dog friendly location?

- Can they sit or lay down when asked?
- Will they stay if asked?
- Do they know the ‘leave it’ cue?
- Can they calmly greet strangers without jumping up, or can they ignore them completely if they prefer?

If not, we highly recommend ensuring your dog learn all of these skills before you venture out.

Check out our digital training courses to help teach your dog these important techniques. All of these are important for your dog to know, to ensure they are a polite pup and will be more than welcome in dog friendly establishments. The ‘leave it’ cue is particularly important if food is being served, so your dog doesn’t gobble up anything they aren’t supposed to!

Is your dog able to settle easily when they are in a new or unfamiliar place?

Teaching your dog to settle is a very important skill for your dog to have learned before they are ready to visit dog friendly locations, as they won’t automatically know how to do it.

- Do they lose the ability to focus on you when asked?
- Do they show signs of anxiety?
- Do they pace around? Are they panting heavily even if they haven’t been exercising?
- Do they turn down food or treats that they normally enjoy?

Other important things to check

- Is your dog microchipped?
- Are their vaccinations up to date?
- Are their flea and worm treatments up to date?
- If they are on the restricted breeds list or wear a muzzle for other reasons, are they happy wearing their muzzle and does the muzzle allow them to pant and drink easily?
- Is the info on your dog’s collar tag up to date?
- Is there space for your dog where they won’t be accidentally stood on or tripped over and will they be comfortable there?

References:

*Dogs Trust Adult Education Survey June 2022, by Amárach Research.