It has somewhere to leave your husband and your kids – now IKEA has a designated space to ditch your four-legged friend too.

The Swedish retail giant has unveiled doggy parking bays outside stores in Cologne, Germany, complete with artificial grass, water bowls and a secure post to hitch a leash to.

The initiative – designed to stop people leaving their dogs in hot cars where they can quickly overheat and die – has been a hit with customers, with many taking to social media to praise the company.