THE majority of dog owners in Scotland would prioritise their dog’s needs over their partner’s when it comes to choosing where to live, according to a new study.
Barratt Developments Scotland commissioned One Pulse to survey 500 dog owners in the country ahead of National Dog Day (August 26), with it also finding that 70% would pass up the opportunity to own their dream home if it wasn’t right for their dog – with 9 in 10 saying that among the top criteria for choosing a home is it suiting their four-legged friend.
To help highlight the dog-friendly features of its homes, Barratt Developments Scotland has enlisted the help of ‘chief barkitect’ Teddy the Pomski, who joined his big brother Bear the Alaskan Malamute to tour the four-bedroom Balloch and Dean housetypes.
The inspection criteria included dog-friendly flooring, a secure garden, enough space to safely wag a tail, a feeding station, spacious living area, an outdoor tap and utility room to clean any muddy paws.
Estelle Sykes, sales director of Barratt Developments West Scotland, said, “We’re proud to recently have ‘fetched’ a five-star homebuilder rating from our customers for the fourteenth year in a row, but we wanted to go a step beyond and explore what five-star might mean from a dog’s perspective.
“A third of UK households now own a dog, so we know that a home that’s right for all the family is growing in importance. As well as including dog-friendly features within the home, our developments are specially designed to foster a sense of community, including green spaces and walks where dogs can socialise.
“We were very pleased to hear that following his inspection, Teddy awarded us Five Paws.”
Barratt has also shared some tips to help settle a pet in a new home, including packing their area last, not washing bedding before moving to retain a comforting scent and sticking to a routine.
