Holiday with friends and their dog

[MumSparkle24]

Hey, we are planning a UK holiday this year with some close friends, I have just found out they intend to bring their dog which in principal I don't have a problem with but am worried this will then limit what we can do whilst we are away? Will we have to get back to the cottage early, can you leave the dog in the cottage? can we only visit dog friendly places? etc. Should I speak to her, will I offend her, how do I say it in the right way?

The weather could be a factor with a dog in tow, they can't be left in a warm car, while you go off doing things.

Depends on what kind of things you want to do and if you intend on doing everything together all week? Surely you don't have to be joined at the hip? If there's anything you want to do that they can't bring the dog along to then just say you're doing that and will see them afterwards 🤷‍♀️ it's intense spending that much time with anyone anyway so gives a good excuse to take a break and get some time to yourselves. Or if it's not going to work for you, say sorry but you don't want a holiday that's going to be restricted by their dog and hadn't realised they had intended to bring it along. There isn't really a subtle way of saying it.

This. It is very rude of your friends not to have discussed the matter with you and asked whether you were happy for them to bring their dog.

Most places won’t let you leave a dog in a holiday cottage.

We do plenty of dog friendly holidays and always still lots of activities to do. Long walks, beach walks, national trust gardens, exploring local towns and villages.

I suppose it really depends what sort of holiday you’d agreed to initially anyway. If you’d agreed to a spa type holiday then having the dogs definitely changes things, if it was an outdoors holiday anyway then probably won’t change much.

Yes, this. I'd explore the possibility of separate accommodation and meeting up in the evening, as that wouldn't restrict your holiday. Or, if that's not possible, I'd cancel going. They decided without telling you, after all.

Lots of dog restrictions on beaches, if that would affect you?

It could limit where your friend can go and do. Not you though! Do dog friendly stuff for some of the activities then do your own thing and stuff the dog can't participate in on other days and meet up/ check in for dinner etc.

It may limit what THEY can do but shouldn't have any bearing on your activities.

Their dog, their problem/ responsibility / handbrake.

I have taken my dogs on holiday lots, both my current dogs and my previous ones. To be honest they are better behaved (and smelling) than most children (or adults!) and better company too 😂
Its the only reason i would holiday in the UK. Why else would you really, weathers usually awful 😭
If i am paying for a holiday and wish to take them, then i will. If that means someone chooses not to come then thats absolutely fine it is their choice.
If you are paying for something like a holiday, it should be something you want/enjoy. Uk holidays are the same if not more than abroad these days so it should be something you enjoy Just say to her! I wouldnt be offended, id just go the holiday i want and let my friend go theirs. That way everyones happy!

Most (if not all) holiday cottages say that dogs shouldn't be left alone in the property. There are also rules about where dogs can go in the house - usually not upstairs nor on furniture. I would check the rules for where you will be staying and discuss with your friends if they can follow these ‐ maybe leave the dog in their car if you go out for a meal. I wouldn't want to be incurring costs for damages due to their dog, or extra cleaning, if they don't follow the rules.

Enjoy your friends and the dog. Dogs are wonderful creatures.

I think you need to discuss your ideal itinerary before even agreeing on a holiday with anyone. I went on a cottage holiday with friends and I was shocked when I realised none of the others wanted to leave the cottage at all. 'We've paid for the cottage so want to enjoy it'. I didn't think to ask in advance as I didn't think anyone did that on UK breaks. On this same holiday, the cushions absolutely reeked of dog too, though nobody bought a dog. All of the guest book was people talking about where was dog friendly. I stayed in a UK hotel last weekend and couldn't believe it when we had barking dogs in the room either side of us. It's the third hotel in the last 2 years I have encountered barking dogs in, there seems to have been a sudden change and dogs are allowed everywhere. So you might find it isn't an issue to find dog friendly places.

Can't the dog be left in the cottage if s/he's crated?

Is the house dog-friendly?

If not, she is breaking the rules.
If it is dog-friendly, it will probably smell of dogs.

Are you going in the summer? My memory of UK summers in the last few years involved unexpected heatwaves which had all the dog owners not taking their dogs outside except very early in the morning and very late in the evening. If the house says "Dogs must not be left alone in the house" and you end up not being able to take the dog out due to a heatwave, it could be really restricting. I'd be discussing the possibility of having separate accommodation if they really must bring the dog (and making plans on the assumption that we would not necessarily be doing everything together in the daytime).

I stayed in a UK hotel last weekend and couldn't believe it when we had barking dogs in the room either side of us. It's the third hotel in the last 2 years I have encountered barking dogs in, there seems to have been a sudden change and dogs are allowed everywhere. So you might find it isn't an issue to find dog friendly places.

I always check if it’s dog friendly or not. It’s very easy to do actually if you look on websites like booking dot com, or even the individual hotel websites. To be fair there’s plenty of dog friendly accommodation (which I avoid) and also dog free accommodation. What I think is more difficult is finding out if a cafe or restaurant is dog friendly which annoys me.

One thought is who made the booking? Would you be liable for a pet deposit paying for damage of things go wrong etc.

Cottages that the dogs are in the majority I've found...I'm looking for a pet free cottage
But they often stare the dog can't be left in the cottage the alone ...so it will be with you all the time

I'd cancel. I can't think of anything worse than staying in a place that stinks of dog, let alone the risk of having other barking dogs there too. Sounds like a nightmare

Depends where you go, some areas are more dog friendly than others. Most places won't allow the dog to be left home alone due to barking and scratching the door trying to get out. Ours isn't a barker, but on holiday he became stressed by the noise of foot traffic he barked alot. Some places we visited we couldn't take him into the pubs/restaurants. We'd find beer gardens and have food outside. Going to the beach was surprising as some won't allow dogs at all, some do but you have to go to a designated section. Having a dog does limit what you can do, and where you can go.best holiday we had since the dog, was when he went into kennels. Because we were free to please ourselves, without checking for dog friendly places.

I take my dog, I don't find it limiting, but my ddog is well behaved and loves a holiday, he particularly loves revolving doors in hotels you can exercise him by letting him go around and around to the amusement of the staff who found it hilarious. I've never gone home early after a night out because the dog comes, most rural places are used to holiday makers with dogs as it's their core market

I’d be surprised if the terms and conditions let you leave the dog alone in the cottage.

🤣🤣🤣🤣
I'd love to see that too
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^^This.
Their dog, their responsibility, their problem.

Agreed! We also have a dog and only go to dog friendly places. And taking a dog on holiday is also limiting where you can go and what you can do. But WE don’t mind that , it’s our choice to have a dog and make allowances. Would never expect friends without dog/s to holiday around the needs of our dog- unless agreed at outset ! I would cancel this trip OP.