Paws and perks: The top UK cities for dog-friendly jobs REVEALED
If your dream job comes with a four-legged office friend, head to Cardiff – the city has been crowned the UK’s most dog-friendly city for workers.
A new study by TrustedHousesitters looked into dog-friendly office jobs across major UK cities, compared with total jobs available, and found that while pet-friendly perks are on the rise.
Searches for ‘pawternity leave UK’ are up 50% over the last five years, while interest in ‘dog friendly office’ has surged 70%, according to Google Trends data.
Megan Mooney, Managing Partner at recruitment agency Vetted, has witnessed this shift first-hand: “Pet-related benefits are now mentioned in about 70% of our initial candidate interviews, and that number still surprises me. It was during COVID-19 that I saw this shift really ramp up. Suddenly, candidates expected pet benefits. If the perk wasn’t available, many backed out of offers entirely.”
The rankings: UK’s most dog-friendly cities for workers
Cardiff – 9 dog-friendly jobs per 1,000
Brighton – 7 dog-friendly jobs per 1,000
London – 3.85 dog-friendly jobs per 1,000
Bristol – 3.75 dog-friendly jobs per 1,000
Leeds – 3.33 dog-friendly jobs per 1,000
While dog-friendly workplaces are still a rarity across the UK, cities like Cardiff are setting the pace – with up to 1 in every 111 jobs now dog-friendly.
Brighton, London, and Bristol are flying the flag for the south, with Brighton in particular standing out with seven dog-friendly jobs per 1,000. Leeds gives the north a mention in the top 5, with the Yorkshire city offering 3.33 dog-friendly jobs per 1,000 – more than double that of nearby Manchester (1.5 per 1,000) or Sheffield (1 per 1,000).
The full top 10 also nods to Northern Ireland and Scotland, with Belfast ranking 7th (3 jobs per 1,000) and Edinburgh 8th (2.5 jobs per 1,000).
“The market responded quickly, and now pet-related perks are common and a real differentiator,” explains Mooney. “Three stand out the most: pet insurance, pet-friendly offices, and flexible hours that allow for vet visits or pet emergencies without stress. Companies that offer some combination of these benefits consistently attract better candidates and more top-tier talent overall.”
Angela Laws, Head of Community at TrustedHousesitters, adds: “More people than ever consider pets part of the family, and they expect their workplaces to reflect that. With many pets struggling with separation anxiety when left alone all day, pet-focused workplace benefits can be the perfect solution for pet parents. From pet-friendly offices to flexible schedules for pet care, companies that embrace pet-positive policies are setting themselves apart – and our data shows it’s already happening in cities across the UK.”
