4 useful tips for owning a dog in London
4 useful tips for owning a dog in London.
When I moved to London from Bournemouth, I was a little worried. I was a young single dog-owner and unsure how I’d cope with the responsibility of having a dog in a busy city, with a 9-5 and (hopefully) a social life.
Well, I was pleasantly surprised! Here’s how you can successfully own a dog whilst living in a city like London…
1 . Dog walks in the city
Unbeknownst to most, there are actually loads of green spaces in and around London. If you’re picking an area to live, South of the river tends to have more open spaces over all - (I live within walking distance of Brockwell park and Dulwich park) - but nearby big parks like Hampstead Heath or Victoria Park would be great spots too.
Top tip: Beware of chicken bones. For some reason there are hundreds of discarded chicken bones around the city streets and parks, just waiting to be gobbled up by dogs. Keep an eye out!
2 . Getting around the city with a dog
Public transport in London is completely dog friendly! This includes the tube, buses, trains and black cabs and now, Uber Pet!
If you have a smallish dog, a carry bag, sling or rucksack for rush-hour is very useful to get them out of harm's way. Remember, protect their paws on the underground escalators by picking them up! If you have a bigger dog, check ahead of time to see if the tube station has a lift.
In the summer it can get very hot. Always carry a water bottle - this bottle/bowl* hybrid design is great if you’re on-the-go as there’s no water waste. It simply sucks the water back into the bottle once your dog is finished and you don’t need to find somewhere to chuck the water remnants.
3 . Socialising in the city with a dog
A list of dog-friendly spots would be a whole other blog post, but some notable favourites include Vagabond Wines, Espresso Room, The Hoxton Hotel, Pop Brixton and Cafe Nero. If in doubt, traditional pubs and independent coffee shops are your dog-welcoming friends, but fancy bars and most chains tend not to be. However, there’s usually the option to dine alfresco.
If you’re out for a spot of shopping, some stores are surprisingly dog friendly: H&M, Zara, & Other Stories, John Lewis, Oliver Bonas, Apple store, Waterstones, Liberty and Anthropologie to name a few. Double check with the security guard – you may have to pick your dog up.
4 . Dog-care in the city
If you work long hours with the dog stuck at home, be kind to them and find a doggy daycare or a dog walker to break up their day.
Luckily my office was dog-friendly, but I was not used to living so far away from both work and play. The solution was a professional pet carer to help me out. She has been an absolute life-saver, picking my dog up from the office and taking her home if I had plans after work. I would absolutely recommend finding someone to care for your dog that you can rely on – friends are great, but you won’t want to burden them all of the time.
I hope these tips help you if you are new to having a dog in a city like London! What advice do you have for urban dog life?
Helen x
*as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases