A NORTH Wales city has been ranked in the top 10 places in the UK to dine out with your dog.

Google search data revealed a 390 per cent increase in the number of people Googling ‘dog friendly restaurants’ over the past five years.

And St Asaph has come out first in the entire UK.

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The research considered establishments that are not only dog-friendly, but actually cater to feeding canine companions with a specific menu, mirroring what their human counterparts are eating.

Leading dog-friendly holiday marketplace, Dog Friendly Cottages, has revealed the top ‘Dog Dining Destinations’ in the UK, with St Asaph coming out on top, followed by Wells-next-the-sea and Pwllheli.

The research took into account the number of restaurants, pubs, and cafes in 65 locations in the UK, that serve dogs an equivalent meal to their human counterpart, not just a dog bowl of water and biscuits.

London topped the list as the location with the most establishments serving meals for dogs, with 37, followed by Edinburgh with nine.

However, they fell down in the national ranking when the population of each location was considered, i.e. London has just one ‘dog restaurant’ per 242,757 people, compared to St Asaph which has one per 1,677 people.

The top 10 Dog Dining Destinations in the UK are:

1. St Asaph

2. Wells-next-the-sea

3. Pwllheli

4. Bedale

5. Keswick

6. Countesthorpe

7. Longton

8. Brecon

9. Ashbourne

10. Peterhead

One dog-friendly establishment is The Pig & Whistle in Healing, which created a specific menu for dogs as part of its zero-waste to landfill aspirations.

The restaurant said: “Trimmings and waste which is fit for human consumption is converted into meals for our local homeless charity, other trimmings from certain meats and in particular fish products are utilised in our dog menu. Dishes include a protein bowl, which is rice, fish and meat trimmings. We also serve doggy scrambled eggs for breakfast and as a sweet treat, come winter a peanut butter cupcake and in the summer a frozen doggy lollipop.”

A guide to the best ‘doggy dinners’ in the UK can be found at https://www.dogfriendlycottages.co.uk/dogs-dinner

Taking pets out to restaurants can be stressful, but with dog-friendly establishments serving specific meals for pups this experience can be made more enjoyable for both dog and owner. To make the experience even better for owners, their dogs and other guests around them.

Tips from dog behaviourist Nick Jones to help make dogs more comfortable in busy environments:

1. Take your dog on a long walk before settling down to dinner. No one wants their dog to get a case of the ‘zoomies’ whilst trying to enjoy their meal so give them plenty of exercise beforehand to tire them out.

2. Bring toys and treats along with you. Chews, bones and treats work really well at keeping your dog occupied and away from other guests.

3. Make sure your dog has their own space and consider bringing a blanket or bed with you to really help them relax.

4. Make sure your dog has plenty of water. Most dog friendly restaurants will happily provide a water bowl for your pup - just make sure to keep it topped up.

5. Keep an eye on your dog and know their personality. Make sure your dog looks relaxed in the environment and keep an eye out for any signs of anxiety. Things to look out for are ears tight back to the head, whites of the eyes easily visible, cowering, stiff body, or trembling.

6. Perhaps most importantly, keep your pup on a lead. Even if they're well behaved you never know when an incident might put them in harm's way so by keeping dogs on a lead you will protect them as well as remaining courteous to others in the restaurant.