The Dog-friendly Pub Awards are in full swing! We’re only a few weeks away from discovering which pubs have won enough votes For the second year in a row we’re sniffing out the UK’s best pubs for dogs to visit with their owners (or dog sitters!). We had so much fun that we’re doing it all over again. So get voting! You have until 29th October to cast your vote and make sure your pub is in with a chance
And who are the lucky group of people who get to judge such a pet-tastic Awards? We’re glad you asked. Please put your paws together for Sarah Wright. She’s not just a dog lover – she’s a dog expert! Heading up the team at the nation’s favourite and best selling dog magazine as Editor and Chief, it’s fair to say Sarah has her finger on the pulse of dog owners. Let’s find out what makes her tick, shall we?
DogBuddy: If you could match your personality to a dog breed, what would you pick?
Sarah Wright: Probably a terrier. I have a six-year-old Norfolk Terrier called Albert and we have some similar characteristics — we’re both affectionate, independent, and, occasionally, stubborn!
DB: Having seen the calibre the finalists in the Dog-friendly Pub Awards last year, what are you looking for this year for a dog-friendly pub to really stand out as a potential national champion?
SW: It was so hard making the final choice last year because all the contenders were genuinely dog-friendly. I guess what gives a pub the edge for me is if it really pushes the boat out for its canine customers. Last year’s National Winner provides homemade treats for it’s doggy visitors, for example. Plus it’s when a pub organises special events, such as dog charity fundraisers, such as sponsored walks, that’s a real stand-out dog-friendly feature.
DB: As a professional “sniffer” of dog stories, what’s the most memorable/heartwarming/funny doggy story you’ve ever heard?
SW: Stories about the bond that forms between people and dogs can be incredibly moving. The most decorated dog in history was Sergeant Stubby. His story is legendary – a stray from nowhere, who was adopted by a young American soldier, and who survived the trenches of the Western Front during the First World War. He was an inspiration — warning the soldiers of gas attacks, sitting in no-man’s-land with wounded soldiers as they awaited the arrival of stretcher bearers, and even apprehending a German spy in the US trenches. Stubby was the first American dog to take an army rank when he was awarded his sergeant’s stripes. When he died in 1926, the whole nation mourned; he even had a lengthy obituary in the New York Times.
DB: If you could design your perfect relaxing weekend pub visit, what would it look like?
SW: Ideally it would be one of those crisp, clear autumn days and we’d enjoy a good walk with our dog, either in the woods or along the beach; we’d progress to the nearby pub and a cosy snug with a roaring fire, where we’d enjoy a drink and some lunch, our dog at our feet, before heading back towards home, tired but refreshed.
DB: Can you help settle this one for us – gin martini, shaken or stirred?
SW: Definitely shaken!
That’s it from Sarah – for now! She’ll be back to help pick our National Winner in a few weeks. In the meantime – know a pub that deserve a place on the shortlist? Get voting, sharing and nominating!