WHEN it comes to dogs, the South West seems to be "barking mad" for man’s best friend, with more than three quarters of dog owners in the region visiting multiple pubs as opposed to only their "regular", and more than two thirds opting for an evening with their dog rather than without.

Research by DogBuddy.com ; Europe’s leading online dog-sitting and home dog boarding community, also revealed Martin Clunes (11 per cent), famous in the hit series "Doc Martin" for disliking a petulant dog and Paul O’Grady (29 per cent) as its favourite dog-owning celebrities.

The results from the survey of more than 2,500 dog owners across the UK also revealed that as a nation, we are almost unanimous that our partners must get along with our dogs, with only two per cent claiming that the relationship between spouse and spaniel isn’t important.

Dog walks simply aren’t the same without a stop at the pub, which is why DogBuddy is announcing the launch of its Dog-friendly Pub Awards, to recognise pubs that go that little bit further for our furry friends.

It is evident that the South West cherishes its four-legged friends, so DogBuddy is encouraging pubs across the region to embrace "paw power" and welcome four legs as well as two.

Not only will these "pawsome" awards show some well-deserved appreciation of existing dog-friendly establishments, but also aim to promote dog-friendly values across all pubs in the country, inspiring dog owners to discover and visit their local pubs.

"We’re delighted to be announcing the launch of our Dog-Friendly Pub Awards, to celebrate the pubs that recognise that our dogs enjoy getting out to their local pub just as much as we do. We value dog welfare and care above all, and these awards will help us to further promote happy lifestyles for both pets and their owners,” says Richard Setterwall, CEO and Founder of DogBuddy.

Voting opened on Friday, August 26, National Dog Day, and the closing date for the competition is October 31.

If your dog-friendly pub isn’t listed, nominations are open for pubs across the UK at: dogbuddypub.com/add-a-pub .

DogBuddy was founded in 2013 and has now grown to be Europe’s leading online dog sitting community, with more than 300,000 dog lovers already registered.

Alan Quick