How we score dog-friendly pubs

Methodology: pub-v1.0. A Paw Rating is an independent editorial assessment of the dog-friendly experience, from 0 to 5 paws. A researched listing without a completed firsthand assessment has no Paw Rating.

Published: 6 November 2026. Editorial responsibility: Fred McKie and Paula McKie. Read the editorial, visit, disclosure and correction policy.

The four criteria

What the scores mean

Each criterion is scored from 0 to 5 in half-point steps. The notes must substantiate the chosen score in the real visit context. Half steps describe an experience between adjacent anchors.

Calculation, caps and rounding

The weighted score is:

(0.40 × access) + (0.30 × comfort) + (0.20 × welcome) + (0.10 × facilities)

Two observed limitations can cap the result:

• No indoor dog access observed: maximum 2.5 paws.
• No practical indoor eating with the dog: maximum 3.5 paws.

Both observations must be recorded as genuine yes/no observations from the assessment. If both limitations apply, the lower 2.5 cap applies. Apply the relevant caps to the weighted score before rounding. There is no intermediate rounding.

The capped result is rounded half up to one decimal place. For example, a capped result of 2.85 becomes 2.9 paws. These are the same published rules used by the approved calculator.

Required evidence and missing inputs

All four criterion scores are required. Missing, invalid or off-step scores prevent calculation and publication; we do not substitute zero, redistribute missing weights or calculate a score from website research.

The assessment must also record indoor dog access observed, practical indoor eating with the dog, large-dog suitability and multiple-dog suitability. For the two suitability observations, the available outcomes are Suitable, Suitable with caveats, Not suitable and Not assessed. An honest “Not assessed” suitability result does not change the score and does not permit guessing any required score or indoor observation.

A completed assessment records its venue, actual assessor, visit date, supporting notes and public verdict. Where relevant and known, context such as dog count, largest dog size and venue busyness helps explain the experience. An old photograph or its timestamp does not establish a complete assessment.

Worked examples

These arithmetic examples are illustrative and do not describe or rate any venue.

• All four criterion scores are 5, with indoor access and practical indoor eating observed: 5.0 paws.
• All four scores are 5, but no indoor dog access is observed: 2.5 paws after the cap.
• All four scores are 5, but practical indoor eating with the dog is not available: 3.5 paws after the cap, assuming indoor access is observed.
• Scores of 2.5, 3, 3 and 3.5, with neither cap applying, produce 2.85 and publish as 2.9 paws.

What the rating does and does not cover

The score describes the assessed dog-friendly experience under these four criteria. Food, service for people, price, nearby walks and atmosphere can be discussed as useful context, but are not an undisclosed additional scoring category. A high score does not remove the need to read room restrictions, caveats or visit dates.

Our current directory includes researched, unassessed pubs. A visit photograph, a venue’s own rating, a sponsorship or a listing’s position in a directory is not a Paw Rating.

Methodology version history

Each published assessment remains linked to the methodology version used for it. A future rule change receives a new version and an explanation. We do not silently recalculate historical publications under new rules. A new assessment or a material correction follows the editorial process and retains its history.

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