Warburtons unveils pet bed as Brits to spend £382m on dogs this Xmas

Warburtons has launched a limited-edition Crum-PET Bed, priced from £20, designed to resemble the texture of a crumpet.

Britain’s dog owners are expected to spend £382m on their pets this Christmas, according to new research by the company, which reports that dogs now rank just behind immediate family in festive budgets.

The study found that owners in Greater London, Scotland and the North West plan to spend the most, with Londoners averaging £31.70. Glasgow follows at £30.30, ahead of Bath and Manchester on £27.70. Wrexham registered the lowest average spend at £13.10.

Spending patterns vary by demographic. Men plan to spend nearly £30 – 14% above the national average of £26.30 – while women expect to spend £23.60. Owners aged 25 to 34 reported the highest average at £29.60, almost double the £16 recorded among over 65s.

Gift-giving also differs by breed. Beagle owners are the most likely to buy a present, at 95%, followed by French Bulldogs on 92% and Golden Retrievers on 91%. Rottweilers rank lowest at 84%. Average spending is highest for Beagles at £34.80, with Rottweilers close behind at £34.40 despite receiving gifts less often.

The research suggests gifting extends throughout the year. Some 74% of owners buy a present for their dog’s birthday, while 29% do so at Halloween and 25% at Easter. More than half said their dog is the “boss” of the house, and 46% see their pet as akin to a child. 

Jonathan Warburton, chairman of Warburtons, said: “Us humans all know and love the pillowy softness of a Warburtons crumpet, and this Christmas, we believe our furry best friends deserve that same level of luxurious comfort.

“Our Crum-PET Bed is designed to perfectly emulate that familiar, cosy, softness of the real thing, offering a fun and unique spot for dogs. It’s the ideal way for owners to show their love, providing the perfect place for a post-walk nap, and perhaps even sparking dreams of a real crumpet.”