What started as an idea to create a dog -friendly social space, has now grown into a community of pet owners across the UK.
The pup-cafe was launched eight years ago by Marcus Ackford, Exeter, with an aim to create a space people could spend quality time with their family and dogs.
The pup-up cafe recently hosted an event in Sheffield on the 16th of May.
Ellie Wallace, the event manager at the pup- up cafe, said: “Our event went really well and we had a really good turnout of human and dogs. The feedback was great and everyone loved it.
“We’ve returned to Sheffield for quite a few years and there’s a reason why we keep coming back is because it keeps working and the demand is always there. So, it’s always been a popular one.”
Mr Ackford felt that there were limited spaces in the country for dog owners to socialise out of parks and traditional cafes, he wanted to fill that gap in the country.
He said: ”I think the more people kind of got used to dogs being members of your family rather than just a typical pet, the more people came out and actually wanted to come out with just them and their dog rather than like a whole social setting.”
Since the launch, the cafe has gained significant popularity all across the UK, with a massive demand for organising events for Dachshunds specifically.
In a society where people update everything about their personal lives on social media, Ms Wallace believes that a lot of people who visit the events, come for personal reasons.
She said the events are a time for the dogs to socialise with other animals, which allows the owners to relax: “A lot of people [say] ‘my dog is really anxious on a day-to-day walk, but actually coming here, he’s not anxious and he’s actually enjoying himself and having the time of his life.'”
The pup-up cafe team closely monitors all activities to ensure the safety of dogs while making sure that both the owners and dog have a relaxing time.
The organisation keeps the community updated about the upcoming events through their website and Facebook account.