By Alana Schetzer
Australians love their dogs. Quin, Madison, Holly and Sasha have long dominated the family backyard but now they are extending their pawprints.
Hundreds of hotels, restaurants, shops and even pubs are opening up to dogs as their role shifts purely from family pet to friend and even "furry child".
Kat Gaylard and her dog, Harvey Howard, enjoy a visit to a cafe in South Yarra. Credit: Jason South
Amusement parks, beaches, pubs and beauty salons are also being accredited as pooch-friendly.
South Yarra resident Kat Gaylard barely goes anywhere without her six-month-old Yorkshire terrier, Harvey Howard. The pair are regular fixtures at cafes and shops in South Yarra and Albert Park, where many shop owners open their doors to four-legged customers.
"He always comes to cafes with me and when he was little, I would bring him to work with me because he was a puppy and needed looking after," she said.
"He's pretty easy to take around because he's so little."
Ms Gaylard said she looks out for places she can take Harvey Howard, and if they don't let him in, she'll take her business elsewhere.
"It's such good company having him everywhere with me. If I couldn't go somewhere with him, I'll find somewhere that welcomes him."
Holidaying with Dogs is a website that connects dog owners with pet-friendly accommodation across Australia. Manager Renee Zezula said more people want to travel with their dogs rather than leave them behind in a boarding kennel.
"There is a lot more properties are becoming pet-friendly and they realise there's a need for it," she said. "People want to travel in Australia and they want to bring their whole family and often, their dogs are their children."
More than 2000 accommodation providers are listed on the website and more are being added weekly, she said.
One of the reasons for businesses opening up to our canine pals is simply their sheer numbers.
For the first time, more Australians live with dogs or cats than children – 50 per cent live with at least one dog or cat, compared to 35 per cent who live with a child aged under 16 years.
Roy Morgan research shows that dogs are the more popular choice – 38 per cent versus 23 per cent.
And as more people to go about their everyday lives with their dogs in tow, then it makes financial sense to open those places up to our four-legged friends.
The Great Northern Hotel in North Carlton hosts dozens of dogs daily, after it won a battle with the local council following just a single complaint four years ago.
Owner Alistair Carragher said the hotel encourages patrons to bring their dogs, big and small, along, and is frequently buying more dog water bowls to keep up with demand.
"We've always encouraged people to bring their dogs round," he said. "People really love it: it breaks down the ice and helps people to mingle. It gives the place a real family sort of environment."
The hotel has permission from Food Standards Australia New Zealand for its dog-friendly policy, which has become so popular the dogs have their own Instagram account.
There's also a bonus for the dogs, too: "The kitchen will often cook dog treats and hand them out."
Under state health regulations, pet dogs are allowed in outdoor eating areas.
The trend follows in the paw-steps of many European countries, where dogs are routinely integrated into society. You're as likely to see a dog in a cafe in France as a person and in the United Kingdom dogs can ride the tube.