THE search is on to find the most dog friendly places in Hampshire.

The Kennel Club has launched its Be Dog Friendly Awards 2014 and is looking for the most canine welcoming venues across the south east.

It says that many dog owners struggle to find shops, pubs, restaurants, hotels and even beaches that welcome four-legged friends and wants the awards to reward and encourage businesses.

There will be ten awards in categories for hotel or hostel, pub or bar, day out, high street, beach, cafe or restaurant, camping or caravanning, town or city, great outdoors and large organisation.

The competition runs until October 10 with the winners announced at the Discover Dogs Show in London on November 8-9.

Anyone who nominates or votes will be entered into a free prize draw to win a £1,000 voucher towards a dog-friendly holiday or runner-up prizes of tickets to Crufts and Discover Dogs.

Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko said: “Our research has shown that four out of five businesses with a dog-friendly policy say it has helped them attract more customers.

“Taking dogs out and about, particularly as puppies, gets them used to being around people and dogs and leads to a dog friendly nation.”

For more information log on to bedogfriendlyawards.co.uk.