Plymouth dogs among happiest in UK
Our city has many dog-friendly facilities - making it the perfect place for your furry friend
Dogs living in Plymouth are said to be some of the happiest in the UK.
That's according to OnBuy Pet Supplies, who have measured the levels of happiness through six factors.
The six factors analyse the number of parks, pet-friendly accommodations, pet shops, dog grooming places and dog vs cat population. These factors are then added together to achieve an overall score for each city.
The top five cities with the happiest dogs are:
- Swansea (333)
- Plymouth (318)
- Manchester (318)
- Blackpool (304)
- Belfast (286)
Plymouth places joint second with Manchester. Pets who are partial to a monthly grooming will find a nice home in our city - whilst Manchester will accommodate dogs who have a toxic relationship with cats, as they have a lower population of felines.
At the other end of the scale are the cities with the fewest pet-friendly facilities:
- Oxford (39)
- Cambridge (45)
- Southend-On-Sea (69)
- Milton Keynes (71)
- Bradford (84)
These areas bagged themselves places at the bottom end of the table for having the lowest number of pet shops, dog groomers and parks.
If you're pooch is unhappy, Natalia Ashton - author of Perfect Cocker Spaniel Guide - has these tips:
"Choose activities that suit your dog's age to avoid overstimulation. Have at least one walk a day and allow your pooch to run and exercise depending on his age and physical abilities.
"Visit new places, especially if your dog is an adventurer and enjoys these activities. Let your pooch enjoy a safe chew or a stuffed toy - licking and chewing are really relaxing.
"Learn your dog's habits - not every dog likes to be touched by strangers, some would rather share their time with people than dogs, others would prefer to avoid certain pooches or places."