What Makes A Truly Dog Friendly Holiday Cottage?
Dog-Friendly Cottages for Holidays With Your Dog
‘Dog-friendly’ or ‘Pet-Friendly’ are terms thrown around a lot in the holiday cottage world. But like most labels, different levels of “dog-friendliness” abound. In this blog, we’re going to explore how a holiday cottage owner will cater to your pet’s needs to justify its claim as a true dog-friendly holiday cottage properly. And we’ll also highlight the practical actions they might take to save you a lot of time, effort, and potentially money!
In an ideal world, there would be two categories’ Pets Accepted’ and ‘Pets Welcome’. At My Favourite Holiday Cottages, we urge people to differentiate between the two! But in the real world, they are used interchangeably, with one sounding more appealing than the other! The question is, what makes a self-catering cottage truly ‘Pet Friendly’?
In using the term ‘pets’, owners for the most part, actually mean ‘dogs’. However, pets also refer to a host of other household pets, such as cats, guinea pigs and even, in one case this year, a large boa constrictor. It’s always worth checking with the owner before assuming that your pet hamster or tortoise is welcome. However, we’ll talk about dogs in this article.
One (of the many) advantage of using a site like My Favourite Holiday Cottages is that, in addition to having a complete section for pet-friendly cottages in the UK, you can speak directly to a holiday cottage’s owner to check which facilities they can provide for your dog. If nothing else, this can save you a lot of packing space in the car. I should know - I once travelled to Kent and back with my knees wedged in a dog basket like some vertical itchy toboggan. Becoming truly pet friendly is something that a lot of owners are beginning to strive for. Here are some considerations you might find in a cottage that lives up to its name of welcoming pets.
How many dogs will a cottage welcome?
Talk to the owner! Remember that every dog owner describes their dogs as ‘well-behaved’, so don’t assume this description will cut the mustard when asking to bring more than the stated number (but hey, it’s worth a shot, right?)
Don’t lose me!
Does the cottage provide a Collar ID tag with the cottage name and phone number?
Check that your dog hasn’t lost its name tag, preferably with your mobile number, unless you want to wait until you get home before you sort out being reunited.
Some dog-friendly cottages may even provide a local name tag with the cottage details on it. Something as simple as this could be an absolute lifesaver if your dog gets lost in an unfamiliar area on holiday. Owners might even make a feature of it and let you keep one. But it’s probably best to leave it behind for the next pet-owning guests.
Underfloor heating?
It’s still seen as a luxury these days, but dogs LOVE it! There is little better for drying off muddy, damp paws effortlessly than having them pad around on warm kitchen tiles for a while.
Speaking of flooring, how much of the cottage is dog friendly? Nobody wants to leave ‘Lil Lillykins’ in the kitchen all day because the lounge has just installed a new white carpet! Make sure you ask before booking.
Most cottages will allow dogs all over the ground floor but not upstairs. A great pet-friendly cottage will help by providing a stair gate to stop Lassie from grabbing a quick nap upstairs in a pile of bath towels.
Throws, Towels, Beds and (poo) Bags!
We dog owners probably have twice as many throws, towels and rags lying around than an average household. Check and see if these will be provided! It is generally accepted that throws should be put over any furniture before the dog climbs. The same goes for towels by the door to clean muddy paws or scraps in the bathroom to spread all over the floor in case Bozo leaps out of the bath prematurely!
Dog bowls and beds? When packing for a holiday, the last thing you need is these big (and occasionally smelly) space hoggers in the car. Find out if the cottage provides them, how many they provide, and if they are big enough to fit your massive mutt!
POO! (bags). Are they provided in the welcome pack? It would be best if you took your own anyway in case of car emergencies, but it’s a good sign of a truly dog-friendly cottage.
Pets Welcome Packs
Another thing that you will be happy for in the welcome pack is doggie treats. Something really special to make your pet feel welcomed in a scary new world! But you should probably find out what they are before giving them to your dog in case it doesn’t upset their usual dietary regime. Nobody wants an explosive first night!
Is the Garden Suitable?
If you’re happy with the inside of the cottage, turn your eyes to the outside!
Is the garden secure? This is important if the cottage leads onto a road or is surrounded by a field full of gently grazing sheep and other livestock. Are there any ponds or lakes to fall in? Cliffs to fall off? Sheds to get stuck under? Fences to leap? But most importantly, is your fluffy friend going to have fun while you are indoors?
Walkies!
Dog-friendly cottage owners will recognise the need for a variety of walks: short ones from the doorstep for early morning or late evening walks; longer day-time walks that don't require pets to be loaded into the car boot. Ideally, there should be suggestions for all types of walks along with a list of pet-friendly places to visit where including beaches, parks and pubs. You don't want to book a summer holiday by the sea only to find that dogs are only permitted on the beach between October and March. At the same time, a perfectly located cottage, from a canine perspective, will have a choice of walks from the front door. No need to jump in the car for those early morning or evening walks.
Check with owners whether there will be any livestock in the fields– and remember to pack leads. Pets staying at Yetland Farm Cottages in North Devon have their own 7.5-acre dog walking field (with superb sea views thrown in for good measure).
Bridesmere is a Dartmoor Holiday Cottage with countless idyllic moorland and riverside walks on its doorstep
Muddy Paws
Having walked your dog, and especially in winter, the chances are they'll be muddy when you return to your holiday cottages.
Check out the photos of a property: Are the floors carpeted or are there some that are tiled, wooden or flagstoned?
These floors are much more easily cleaned than carpets and make life a lot stress stressful.
A lot of pet-friendly rentals will provide facilities for washing off muddy paws outside - an external tap or a hosepipe perhaps. It's another question to ask the owner. They really won't mind if it demonstrates that you are a responsible dog owner.
Of course, some truly dog-friendly cottages will go the extra pampered mile to provide state-of-the-art dog-washing facilities. After all, you never know until you arrive that the local village fete is holding a dog show for non-pedigree dogs.
Dog-Friendly Beaches
Every dog loves a good beach - even if that love stops short of the waves. However, not every beach will welcome a dog. Many may have seasonal restrictions if you're booking a coastal holiday cottage, Google dog-friendly beaches in the area beforehand so that you know just where you can let them run free on the sands.
Your Responsibilities
Just because a cottage welcomes pets, this doesn’t abdicate your responsibility as an owner. Being in frequent contact with owners ourselves, we also know what they expect from you as a responsible dog owner! So, for example, please try and keep your pooch from… well… pooping where it shouldn’t in the cottage; this, apart from being unsanitary, will also leave lovely yellow patches of dead grass and generally look unpleasant. Do make sure that you clear up the garden before you leave.
Don’t leave your dog alone in a strange cottage for hours at a time while you head for a ‘dogs-no‘-allowed’ beach ’or the day. If your cottage owner has gone out of their way to help you with your pets, then please help them maintain the cottage in its beautiful state for the next guests.
Don't forget that many country footpaths pass through fields with livestock. Make sure you take your dogs cannot slip their leads when sheep, cattle or ponies are loose in a field.
And Finally...The Small Print!
Cats may be welcome too!
Most cottages happy to welcome pets will have some terms and conditions that apply. Make sure you know what you and your dog can and cannot do before signing on the dotted line to ensure happy holidays.
Remember, if in doubt, just telephone or e-mail the cottage’s owner or manager. As well as earning you peace of mind before you book, it will help to persuade them that you really are the kind of responsible pet owner they are happy to welcome. Do your homework and enjoy memorable pet-friendly holidays.