Dog wedding chauffeurs and doggy roasts: The rise of the puppy experience economy
People in the West Country share why owners are spending more on experiences with their dogs.
Dog wedding chauffeurs and doggy roasts: The rise of the puppy experience economy
Pubs are now selling dog roasts so they can sit and eat with their owners
They are often called our best friends or treated like family, so it makes sense that owners want to spoil their dogs with treats and bring them everywhere they go.
Yet over the last 10 years, that bond has grown into a thriving business, driven by the rise of the so-called "doggy experience economy".
From pubs and restaurants offering doggy roasts to cafes serving Puppuccinos and dog-friendly ice cream, looking after our four-legged companions has become a multi-billion-pound industry.
According to MoneySuperMarket, external, spending on pets and pet-related goods has climbed from £2.9bn in 1997 to £11.95bn in 2025.
But what has led owners to move from simply taking their dogs to the pub to wanting them to enjoy a chef-prepared meal while they are there? We spoke with pet owners, experts and businesses across the West of England to find out what they think.
University of the West of England senior lecturer in marketing Dr Stelina Kanaki said social media may be shaping people's behaviour.
"I think that social media has normalised premium pet care and services.
"A social media user compares themselves to other users and influencers.
"So, seeing, for example, someone's dog getting their professional photograph taken - this then becomes something the user feels they should do otherwise they get a fear of missing out, regardless of their financial situation," she said.
Helen Barber from Weston-super-Mare put the rise in spending down to social media.
But social media is not the only factor behind this change in consumer behaviour, as Kanaki explained.
"There is something called the experience economy. This is what we're living in nowadays," she said.
That means businesses have moved away from simply selling goods or services and towards creating memorable experiences for customers.
"So people are now buying an experience with their dogs," she added.
Businesses told us why they think dog owners are spending more money than ever on 'Puppaccinos' and doggy roasts
Helen Barber launched her dog wedding chauffeur business Together Furever Weddings in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, with her husband in 2022.
"There's a lot more acceptance now that people will want to be with their dog at their weddings," she said.
"Year-on-year we've seen the demand for our service and dog friendly venues increase. We've done just over 70 weddings this year already.
"There are now hundreds of chaperone services when there only used to be a handful."
She said the increase in spending on pets is also linked to social media.
"People see things online and realise it's an option to have their pets with them at their wedding or other family events," Barber added.
Helen Barber said there are now hundreds of wedding chaperone services for dogs when there only used to be a handful
Rachel Morgan, from The Amberley Inn in Stroud, serves doggy roasts which have become very popular.
She thinks the "shift in attitudes" began after the pandemic.
"People spent more time with their dogs. They offered a degree of comfort in really difficult time and from then their relationship with their dogs has changed," she said.
"They want to be spending more time with them and if they're able to take their dogs out with them in the day they're more likely to go out and dine in that restaurant that caters for them.
Morgan said their doggy roast includes meat vegetables and specially formulated doggy gravy.
"We're now organising a Christmas dog event called Santa Paws where we'll sell Puppuccinos, the dogs can go for a walk together and have a roast after when Santa will share presents," she added.
Dog walker Shelly Potter said the pandemic has produced more "dog lovers" who want to treat their pets "really well"
Wiltshire-based family-run dog walking service Potters Tails, run by Shelly Potter and Casey Gumm, believes social media has been the main influence behind wanting to do more things with and for their dogs.
"Social media shows people what's out there, like what we do, which means there's now a huge demand out there," Potter said.
"Some of our dogs were bought during Covid. There's so many more dog lovers now.
"People treat them very well. You get things like dog birthday parties now and dog cafes."