Hair of the dog? Pub stocks up on beer especially for pooches

A landlord has taken dog-friendly pubs to a new level by stocking a Belgian beer exclusively brewed for man's best friend.

Craig Armstrong who runs The Hopwater Cellar in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, started selling Snuffle Dog beer last week and says it is already proven a hit with four-legged punters.

Human beer is harmful to pets, but Snuffle Dog's range is zero per cent and comes in chicken and beef flavours.

Mr Armstrong said: "Dogs love beer and if you give one some bitter or ale they will lap up every drop.

"But it's really bad for dogs to drink alcohol. They love chocolate but you shouldn't give them that either.

"The flavours are chicken and beef and we have had a lot of happy dogs come in to try it.

"I haven't tasted it myself but one customer told me it was similar to gravy."

Mr Armstrong, 52, who quit his job as a computer technician to set up the bar, first spotted Snuffle Dog Beer while visiting a brewery in Nottingham.

It is stocked in pet superstores such as Pets At Home but only a handful of UK pubs are believed to be selling it at their boozers.

He said: "We have always been a dog-friendly pub and now they can have a beer with their owners."

Regular customer James Bosworth, 45, who comes in with his dachshund Billie, said: "He absolutely laps it all up, he pretty much downs it before I'm half way down my pint.

"I'm glad he's not on the proper stuff though as I would be carrying him home otherwise."

Snuffle is brewed in Antwerp in Belgium and is sold in 25cl bottles for £2.50.

While bigger dogs can drink a bottle in one sitting, smaller ones should only consume half.

A Snuffle spokesman said: "We men drink beer with our buddies. Now you can do all that with that other best friend of yours', your dog."