Taking your dog on holiday with you
Many people want to take their dogs on holiday with them and Independent Cottages has over 650 dog friendly holiday cottages throughout the UK to choose from.
Taking your dog away on holiday can help to reduce any anguish and costs associated with putting your loved one in a kennel and it often makes for a very enjoyable holiday, for both yourself and your dog, if planned well.
Obviously it depends on the type of holiday you are planning. If you are intending to do lots of sightseeing and visit attractions, then it may be inhibiting to take your dog away with you as many attractions (e.g. museums, stately homes etc) may not welcome dogs. Generally, holiday cottage owners will not allow you to leave your dog in the cottage unattended and it is also not recommended that dogs are left in cars. However, there are plenty of enjoyable things to do on holiday with your four legged friend.
The wonderfully diverse landscape in the UK provides fantastic walking opportunities and the climate generally lends itself well to this type of holiday. There are also plenty of dog friendly beaches, pubs, attractions and even restaurants who welcome well behaved dogs.
To help you get the most out of your holiday with your dog, here are a few tips:
- When you are in the process of booking a ‘dog friendly’ holiday cottage, make sure you notify the owner of your intention to bring your dog and if you have more than one dog, confirm the exact number. Also make sure that you discuss any ‘pet rules’ that the owner has put in place to ensure that the cottage is suitable for both you and your dog/s needs prior to booking.
- Many owners have ‘pet rules’ that you should be aware of and will need to agree too, prior to booking and staying in the cottage. These rules are put in place to protect your dog, yourself, the holiday cottage and future guests.
- Do your research about the surrounding area – find out what pubs, beaches, attractions etc welcome dogs – this will help you to get the most out of your holiday. Also find out about walking opportunities in the local vicinity along with any restrictions due to livestock, wildlife etc. It is also worth noting the telephone numbers for local vets and veterinary hospitals for while you are away.
- Be sure that all your dog’s basic necessities are packed for the journey, the stay and your adventures whilst on holiday. The more comfortable your dog is, the more quickly he/she will settle and relax in the new environment so take along favourite toys, treats, blankets etc – after all, it is also your dogs holiday!
- Make sure your dog is used to travelling prior to going away and ensure comfortable facilities are provided for the journey, along with many breaks along the way.
- Always make sure you clear up after your dog wherever you are – with more places becoming dog friendly, it is really important that we all do our bit for responsible dog ownership.
- Never leave a dog unattended in a holiday cottage. Not only will you often be breaking rules, put in place by the owner, but however well behaved and well trained your dog may be, you can never be 100% sure how he/she will behave in new surroundings.
Taking your dog away with you can be incredibly rewarding and enjoyable and with a little thought and planning, both you and your dog should have a relaxing, enjoyable holiday.
We hate leaving our dog behind on holiday. Thankfully when we go abroad we have found a nice person to have him in a home environment and take him on nice walks, but at £20/day it’s not cheap!!!
As our dog is part of our familiy we’d also like him to come on holidays with us, especially as he loves swimming and beaches. We’ve found some lovely places in the UK that take dogs on your website.
I wonder if you can advise if they allows dogs of all sizes as ours is a big dog? Do the owners place any special rules or requirements on having dogs stay? For, example about leaving them along in the holiday property? We wouldn’t want to leave him that much, but as you say on your article, some attractions don’t allow dogs.
I agree with David, dogs become a part of the family and it seems cruel to leave him with family or in a kennel when we are going on a walking holiday which he would love. We have found some great places that allow dogs (usually if they allow dogs there is no size restiction on the dog), some even offerring dog-sitting services should you wish to go out yet don’t want to leave your dog alone all day (ideal for visiting those non-dog friendly attractions). I have been very impressed with the cleanliness of all the properties we have stayed in – although all of them have listed cottages as ‘dog-friendly’ (meaning they only allow dogs in some of thier properties, some being kept dog free for those with allergies etc..) they have all been spotless.
We have recently returned from a week in the Lake District with our dog. We booked a ‘dog friendly’ holiday cottage on the outskirts of Coniston and enjoyed a fantastic week away. The Lake District is an excellent place to visit with your dog – you can walk all day amongst spectacular scenery and then collapse in front of the fire, at one of the many dog friendly pubs. We also found shops, tourist attractions, cafes etc incredibly welcoming to dogs, making our holiday experience varied, enjoyable and relaxed. It is also worth noting that there are sheep roaming freely along many of the walks, so many areas require dogs to be kept on lead.