By Mary McCarthy (elf name? Merry Mc!)

Research shows nine out of ten pet owners in Ireland consider their pooch one of the family.  

So we reckon it is definitely not barking mad to bring your hound along to visit Santa Paws. 

If the whole household is going down the grotto, and your mutt truly is one of the fam, then it’s only fair they get their day out too.

And this Sunday afternoon in the Dublin Docklands your dog can get their chance.

Between 2pm and 5pm there is a Christmas dogs indoor market upstairs at the BrewDog Outpost at Three Locks Square. 

Your pet can get papped with SANTA PAWS and you can browse some stalls selling great dog gear to keep doggie comfortable such as snoods, leads, harnesses and there is some good quality dog nosh for sale too.

Humans can order drinks and food from the bar and there are tables to sit down and relax.

The event organisers are Nikki O’Carroll and her partner Robbie Memery who run the popular Instagram account The Daily Cavalier, all about their adorable doggies  Coco and Juno.

Nikki told Christmas FM that even though the pre-booked tickets on Eventbrite are gone, people should definitely wander over with their pets

“ Half the tickets booked were free, and the other half cost 3 euro as they included the Santa Grotto, so we have no idea how many will show up and so people may have to wait a little while before they get in, or maybe not if it is quiet”, she told us. 

“They could have a bite or a drink waiting in the BrewDog restaurant downstairs, a very dog friendly venue which is why we picked this location, it is all about the dogs on Sunday”.

Nikki says there is sure to be a lovely, friendly vibe.  

“There is such a good community of doggy people on Instagram and when we ran an event in July it just went so well, so we wanted to do something for Christmas” , she said.

“.We are hoping to make it an annual thing. We are amazed at the interest”, she told us.

For those outside Dublin wanting to give their Fido a Christmassey day out, there are many dog friendly markets nationwide. 

A good website to check is www.pawsfriendly.com 

In Cork you and your hound can nip along to the dog friendly Marina Market this Sunday open from 8am to 8pm.

Start off with a gamble through the magical woods, race along to the stables and say woof woof to the Reindeers. 

You will see Santa’s Elves working away before you take a walkie over to his post office to send off that list of demands before you sniff out Santa. 

And in Co Meath, the Sage and Stone market at Duleek, is on from noon to four pm this Sunday (December 11th). 

There will be some cool doggy stands and Santa Paws will be sitting patiently in his grotto waiting to meet all the fantastic pups and their owners.

And the Winterval festive market in Waterford has always thrown the dogs a bone – a very dog friendly event.

For the next two weekends, until December 18th, you could book in with Santa Paws, who will be stationed from 10am to 6pm beside the GPO. 

Have a woof-derful weekend!