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Holidaying with your dog
If you’re planning to get away from it all, it’s natural that you want to take your family or best friends with you so of course you may want to take your dog with you, too! After all, they enjoy new experiences and a change of routine as much as we do! But is it just a case of throwing your dog’s things into a bag and hitting the road?
Saga Magazine offers some sage
advice: “think carefully when deciding
where to go on holiday as city breaks
are not ideal for dogs, and many
popular seaside resorts can get
incredibly crowded over the summer
months, when dogs are often banned
from the beaches”. If you are travelling
overseas, your dog will need a valid
passport.
But if you want to spend time on the UK coast, check out possible restrictions for four-legged visitors on
If you prefer the countryside, good dog-walking guides can be found on www.ramblers.org.uk and www.walkiees.co.uk. However, at all times it is vital that you keep your dog under control, especially near farm animals and wildlife.
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You could go camping (if your campsite allows dogs) or caravanning but there are plenty of UK hotels offering dog-friendly rooms. “Never book a hotel online without calling them first to find out their pet policy,” advises Saga Magazine. “Some may only allow small breeds, others will charge an additional fee.” Many will issue you with guidelines or restrict which rooms they allow dog guests into.
However, as many people do like to travel with their dogs many hotels realise this and accommodate them particularly in parts of the country with access to excellent walks.
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Some sensible advice is to take your own dog bedding with you (also comforting for your dog) and note if you’re allowed to leave your dog alone in your bedroom or take it into the breakfast room.
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Perhaps you would rather stay in a holiday cottage so you can enjoy home comforts; most cottage rental websites can advise on which of their cottages allow dogs and how many (two is often the maximum but many stipulate just one). When self-catering, check each property for its specific dog information – dogs may not be permitted upstairs, and gardens may not be dog-proof. Some even specify a large or small dog. Find out before you pay a deposit.
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Now you are safely settled into your holiday accommodation, naturally you may wish to eat out. Doing this when you have a dog with you can be tricky, especially when it’s raining or cold and there’s no covered seating outside. Many restaurants have a strict no dog policy, but not all do. If it’s too hot, you cannot leave your dog in the car or indeed it may not be happy being left.
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Plan ahead and look at www.dogfriendlybritain.co.uk for cafes, restaurants and bars. Or visit www.doggiepubs.org.uk to find pubs where both you and your best friend will be welcomed.
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A couple of quick tips for holidaying
with your dog from Saga Magazine:
firstly make sure your dog’s ID has your
mobile on it, and not the landline at home.
Secondly, try to stick to normal eating times
and routine so your dog feels settled and
always make sure you have plenty of poo bags!
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