We are known as a nation of animal lovers, though it is only fairly recently that the idea of taking our dogs on holiday with us has really taken off.  The increase in numbers of people booking dog friendly holiday cottages has increased, as has the number of enquiries about pet friendly holiday cottages online.

Part of the reason for this is that the owners of holiday cottages in the UK have twigged that one way they can compete with foreign holiday bookings is to offer a pet-friendly service.  Dog owners in particular are often unwilling to take their dogs abroad if their dog does not travel well.  Being able to take their dogs on holiday with them within the UK is something that many dog owners welcome and are willing to pay for.

Dog friendly holiday cottages in places of natural beauty such as the Lake District, the Highlands, or the Norfolk Broads, or along any of the British coastline, are the perfect place to book a stay to enjoy the countryside with your pooch. 

Often, the alternative to taking your dog on holiday is to book them into a boarding kennel, or to ask a neighbour to call in to feed your dog while you’re away.  Some boarding kennels offer an excellent service, where they allow you to visit with your dog as many times as you need, and allow the dog to stay for increasing durations so that they are used to the idea of staying there (and that you will return), in much the same way as children are introduced to nursery or school.  But even so, many dogs find boarding kennels a distressing experience, particularly if they are kept in close quarters with other, unfamiliar dogs.

Asking a neighbour to feed your dog might be convenient for you and your neighbour but it is far from satisfactory for your dog, who may feel afraid, lonely and bored without you there as its family.  Dogs left on their own can cause a nuisance to your other neighbours through barking and howling, and often the RSPCA is called by concerned members of the public who have noticed that a dog seems to have been left alone.

Taking your dog on holiday is a great way to spend time together as a whole family, and you are sure to find some really lovely parts of the UK to explore.  But do your research before you book to make sure that there are plenty of places nearby to visit where your dog will be welcome too – there’s little point in booking a dog friendly holiday cottage if your dog ends up having to spend most of its time tethered outside the places you want to visit.  

If you are planning on taking your dog with you when you go on holiday this year, you will need to make sure that you are fully prepared.  Packing and organising luggage, tickets, bookings and so on for you and your human family can be trying enough; add to that the need to ensure that your dog is healthy and vaccinated and that they have everything they need for the journey and holiday and you’ll have a long ‘to do’ list!

So get organised nice and early and plan for all eventualities and you’ll be fine.  There are many dog friendly cottages and pet friendly cottages in the UK that offer accommodation that will welcome your pet(s) and that option reduces the amount of planning you’ll need to do, compared to planning a holiday abroad with your pet. 

Here is a list of things to help you to prepare for your holiday with your dog, wherever you are headed:

•  Take your dog to the vet to make sure all its vaccinations and treatments for worms and fleas are up to date.   If you are travelling abroad, you will need to get all your paperwork sorted out for your pet passport (see next point below), so ask your vet how early you need to visit before your holiday starts.  Whether you’re travelling abroad or not, you’ll need to visit your vet a few days before you leave, for the most up-to-date treatment for worms and fleas.  Most places – even dog friendly cottages in the UK – will ask for proof of this (if they don’t, you should be worried about what your dog might pick up whilst they’re there).
•  If you are travelling abroad, your pet must be micro-chipped and vaccinated at least 21 days before travel.  If you are going somewhere where there is a high incidence of rabies, you will also need to have a Blood Titer test done soon after vaccination – ask your vet for details.
  
• If your dog tends to get travel sick, ask your vet for help in managing that before you travel.  If your dog gets really distressed by travelling then think hard about whether to take it at all – if you really must (say, if your dog would be more distressed by being cared for in a kennel) then ask your vet for advice on how to keep your dog calm.  Medication might be necessary.
  
• Find out before you travel about where the local vet is, and take a note of their address and telephone number.  
  
• Make sure you have appropriate restraints for travelling with your pet, either to keep them safe in your car or for transporting them on public transport (e.g. a pet carrier with proper ventilation and waterproof base).
  
• If transporting your pet in a carrier, write your name and address and phone number on the case.
• Remember to take:
  

- all your documents from your vet proving your pet’s health;
- Sheets and towels for lining the places where your dog might sleep, to keep shedding to a minimum;
- Your pet’s own bedding, for comfort and familiarity;
- Food and fresh water for the journey and for your stay. Dog friendly cottages often stock dog food but don’t assume that it will. A change to your dog’s normal diet might make it unwell anyway so take your own food.
- Food and water dishes;
- Dog toys and chews;
- Grooming tools;
- Bags to pick up your dog’s waste;
- Disinfectant and cleaning supplies;
- Any prescribed medication for your dog. 

Once you’ve got organised, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your holiday as a family.

The summer is finally here!  If you haven’t already booked to go away this year, have you considered booking somewhere that will allow you to take your pet with you?  Even if you have already booked a holiday, is it somewhere that would also welcome your pet?

Taking our pets with us on holiday is a growing trend and one that seems set to increase as the price of boarding accommodation for pets rises.  Fortunately the number of pet friendly cottages is also increasing in number as people offering accommodation realise that there is a market for holidays catering for people and their pets.

Dog friendly cottages abound in the UK countryside, and this is arguably the best place to take your dog on holiday: all that free space for your dog to run around!  There are also plenty of dog friendly cottages close to the coast, so you can take your best friend for some fantastic walks along some of Britain’s best beaches.

There are other pet friendly hotels that welcome a wider range of pets such as cats and birds, but always check with the owners whether your particular pet would be able to stay.  Also check the rules before you book – many pet friendly cottages or dog friendly cottages state that pets must stay downstairs or keep off the furniture, for example, and if you feel that your pet would find that difficult then book somewhere else.

Most pet friendly cottages require proof that your pet is in good health and has been properly vaccinated (you can get this proof easily enough from your vet).  If they don’t ask to see this, think about how many other pets may have stayed there before you and what your pet might bring home with them (e.g. fleas, infection, worms) as a result. 

If you are taking your pet on holiday with you and are travelling by car, make sure that you take regular breaks for them to get some exercise and water.  If your pet suffers from travel sickness, ask your vet for advice well in advance of your travels.  And of course, never leave your pet in a car as they can suffer heat exhaustion and die within a very short space of time.

If you don’t want to take your pet on holiday or feel that you can’t because they don’t travel well, then finding suitable boarding accommodation that will care for your pet properly is the next best alternative.  Animal charities like the RSPCA receive lots of calls every year from concerned neighbours about pets that have been left at home alone: leaving bowls of food and water out for your pet is not good enough.  Water bowls can be knocked over; pets can eat all their food supplies in a couple of days; pets can become very distressed, confused and lonely at being left by their owners.  Even if you have someone who will call in and feed them every day, animals can feel very unhappy at being alone for most of their day.

So consider taking your pet on holiday with you this year.

If you own a holiday cottage, particularly if you are located somewhere that people like to base themselves for walking holidays or to enjoy the countryside, you might want to consider marketing your business as dog- or pet-friendly.  Dog friendly holiday cottages are those which specifically appeal to dog owners wishing to take their dogs with them on holidays and tend to be located in the countryside.  Pet friendly holiday cottages welcome most types of pet (some do not allow birds) and can be located anywhere.

During these hard economic times, increasing your number of potential customers is a must, and advertising your holiday accommodation as being pet-friendly or dog-friendly will add to the number of people who might be interested in staying there.   It is true, though, that people with allergies might avoid booking pet friendly holiday cottages in case their stay is made uncomfortable by fur or hair residue in the air.  But the number of pet owners will outweigh the number of pet-allergy sufferers wanting to book holiday cottages anyway.

If a pet owner enjoys their stay and feels truly welcomed, they will return and they will also tell plenty of other people about their stay, whether online or whilst out walking their dogs or talking with other pet-owners at the vet.  

You can also take advantage of some free online advertising on pet websites for being pet-friendly.

If you decide to make your holiday cottage pet- or dog-friendly, there are some things that you need to consider.  First and foremost, you need to make sure that your accommodation is genuinely pet-friendly and not merely tolerant of pets or dogs.  Pet owners will instantly know the difference and a poor experience can reduce your bookings as word gets round (particularly through online review sites). 

You need a proper pet policy in place that sets out what you would expect from owners and pets staying in your accommodation (it is not unreasonable to set boundaries); you also need to make sure that your accommodation is located suitably to meet the needs of your guests but also not to inconvenience neighbours.  For instance, if your holiday cottage adjoins a neighbouring property, your neighbours may not be thrilled if a visiting cat uses their garden as a toilet, or if a visiting dog keeps them awake all night barking because it is in a strange place.  Nor will your guests be thrilled if there is nowhere immediately close where they can take their dogs to use the toilet (having a designated doggy toilet is a good idea; mark off an area with a fence but make it clear that your guests would still be expected to pick up after their pet). 

Make all of your rules and guidelines as well as advice and helpful hints available in your pet policy, which should be available for your guests to read before they arrive (put it on your website, or send it to them if they prefer).  It should state what type of pets you would or would not welcome, including size or breed and make clear any additional charges that might apply if damage is incurred to your property. Your price should include any cost relating to thoroughly cleaning a room after each use, but your pet policy should warn that if there is any soiling left behind you would charge a fee to clean it up. 

Be upfront with your guests about rules and expectations, but go the extra mile in making them and their pets feel comfortable when they arrive and they will return.