Home and garden retailer Wilko announced they’re now letting dogs in more than 200 of their stores - much to the delight of pet owners.
From February 7, owners could shop with their dogs in 248 UK stores, meaning they could pick out their own treats, toys and accessories.
So I took 12-week-old German shepherd cross Staffordshire bull terrier puppy, Belle, to Wilko to see what got her tail wagging.
The trip to Wilko was Belle’s first big car trip, and with no toilet accidents in the car, Mel - Belle’s owner - and I were convinced she might have a little tinkle in the aisle.
We did try and get her to do her business in the car park, to no avail - however, she didn’t pee on the shop floor, despite us being in there for around 20 minutes. That said, if you’re planning on taking your dog to the store, do try and get them to toilet before you shop, because I’m not sure who would be more embarrassed if they stooped in the shop.
On our arrival, we grabbed a basket and headed straight for the pet aisle - with a member of staff warmly greeting us and the little puppy on her first big adventure.
Wilko stocks everything from pet food and treats, to bedding and toys, as well as cleaning supplies, essentials and even presents.
Belle was really interested in all the new sights and smells, tugging at the lead to get a closer look at the meaty treats.
One thing I noticed was that the prices were really affordable, and when you have a brand new puppy, every little helps - because they soon get expensive.
First up we grabbed some compostable poo bags, which are fully biodegradable. These were just £1.50 for four rolls of 15 poo bags - so 60 in total.
Another pet essential is, of course, food - and Forthglade is one of my favourite brands that I use for my own dogs.
A tray of their wet meat cost £1.40, and as we use it to top kibble, it lasts for a few days in the fridge.
Belle opted for the chicken one, with butternut squash and vegetables, which she’ll share with her older brother, Winston.
Wilko online has a bundle deal where you can get nine trays of food and six bags of Forthglade treats for just £18.60 , saving shoppers £3.
A really fun way to feed dogs wet food, or other treats like xylitol-free peanut butter, is via a LickiMat.
This brain training tool can be used to entertain and mentally stimulate dogs, while the locking action also reduces stress, anxiety and boredom.
Wilko had a whole selection of LickiMats in different colours, suitable for any breed, so we got Belle a pink one for £5, which is the cheapest I’ve ever seen these.
We were spoiled for choice when it came to treats, with rows upon rows of different brands and flavours.
As puppies tend to have a lot of energy, I grabbed a pack of the Scrumbles calming nibbles for £2 , which were on offer with a saving of 50p.
The all natural, vegan treats are suitable for puppies over three months old, making them perfect for Belle, who can be a real live wire at home!
The treats are baked with lemon balm and chamomile, making them a great bedtime biscuit for dogs.
Also intriguing were the range of Barking Bakery treats, which looked just like cupcakes.
But Belle took an interest in the rattling sound of the Barking Bakery popcorn tub, packed with cheese flavoured ‘pupcorn’ for £3.
As Belle will be teething soon, we’ve been looking at different toys that will help her when she inevitably attempts to gnaw the corner of the sofa.
This ‘super tough’ figure of eight rope was only £1.50 , and looks rather sturdy, coming in a cute pink, orange and purple colourway.
She’s sure to have lots of fun chewing and playing tug-o-war with this inexpensive toy.
And last but not least, we took a look at the selection of grooming products and found this gorgeous-smelling spritz from Animology.
The ‘puppy fresh’ deoderising spray was £3.75, and aims to reduce odour and keep puppy coats smelling fresh and clean between baths.
After checking out, more staff swooned over little Belle before we headed back to the car, where the adventure had clearly tired her out and she went straight to sleep.
She was the only dog in the store during our visit, but she was warmly welcomed and received lots of attention from customers who passed us.
The rollout of dog friendly Wilko branches extends to over two thirds of the home and garden retailer’s stores following a successful pilot at two locations.
The participating stores are primarily those with their own on-street entrance and exit rather than those that are, for example, located in shopping centres, which may not allow any animal guests, or where the entrance isn’t pet friendly.
Signage at store entrances will make it clear if pets are welcome, although customers can also check with the store team if they are at all unsure. Service dogs are, of course, welcome at all stores nationwide.
To find your nearest Wilko store, please click here.
