Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To not understand how to do a holiday with an old sleepy dog

62 replies

Chewchewaboogiw · 07/05/2022 21:15

Up until now our holidays have consisted of walking in amazing british locations.. walking cliff paths etc
.. basically 8 miles a day, a pub at end . We go in camper van . We are not hotel / bb people.
During covid our much loved dog (13 yo) developed a knee problem that cant be fixed and is managed with pain killers from.vet. she is very sleepy and has 3 tiny wee walks a day and the rest of the time is happy to be with me in the house or garden. She isnt in pain and is happy.

We have just booked leave but we have realised that we cant do our normal holiday .. and are wondering is there any point going to a place with beaufitul coyntrtside if we cant really access it. She has a pram as cant walk far.
So my questions are
Has anyone else been on holiday with an old dog that cant walk far and is sleepy?
What do you actually do on holiday with an old dog? We wd normally pack food and walk all day. What sort of places are good? Presume little villages ... anyone know pretty places that may work in
Devon / cornwall/ dorset.. herefordshire/ shropshire.. and south wales .. cotswolds( we have plans to go to all , but can adjust to fewer places but wd appriciate info about all/ any so we can choose..

...please.. as i said we are normally in ruggered places but need to be in ,i assume pretty and quiet pottering places where she can rest in her dog pram( she is happy in pubs !) We cant leave her behind she would pine / cause stress at rhis age .thank you.

OP posts:

TakeMe2Insanity · 07/05/2022 21:19

Could you look up forest walks with accessible paths? We’ve done this when out walking with my mum 80 as she can’t do uneven paths. You still get aome stunning scenery but you’ll be able to push the dog pram. Hope that helps.

44PumpLane · 07/05/2022 21:27

I have no practical advice to offer you but I wanted to let you know that this post has thoroughly warmed my heart.

This is so lovely, you love your doggy so much!

Ooh although maybe I do have something practical....what breed is she? Would she cope in a doggy backpack so you could still go rugged walking while she gets carried on your back? There is that carrier that was designed by a corgi owner that is meant to be designed with dogs comfort in mind.

Original poster

Chewchewaboogiw · 07/05/2022 21:28

Thats a great idea.. thank you.
We dont have to walk( tho the forest sounds a great option.. wd also like any suggestions re stunning villages etc.. ie to get a visually pleasing place without the hikes so she xan be with us and we get to still see stuff .

OP posts:

CounsellorTroi · 07/05/2022 21:30

Even if you can’t take her for long walks she will enjoy the change of scene.

sonjadog · 07/05/2022 21:30

What I used to do with mine is short walks, followed by a long rest, and then another short walk later on in the afternoon. Apart from that there was lots of reading while the dog slept. It was only for a couple of holidays and I wasn't interested in going to long walks without him.

CatLadyDrinksGin · 07/05/2022 21:32

Consider a house/dog sitter. A relative has done this several times for elderly dogs and cats who are happier at home with a sitter with an itemised list of their daily routine.

Stomacharmeleon · 07/05/2022 21:35

We love burnbake lodges for this reason- lazy (in our case) doggo friendly and lots of lovely walks. Pubs dog friendly too :)

bellabasset · 07/05/2022 21:35

I live in Cornwall and you could book daycare. This might be an option for her a couple of days where she could laze and be collected in a cooler part of the day.

Original poster

Chewchewaboogiw · 07/05/2022 21:36

44PumpLane great idea ee backpack. We have tried one but as she also has artritus i would be worried that she cd get stiff etc if cant change position etc..
She is a bichon . In her day she was very agile , she has always been the happiest of souls . We has brougt us all great joy and we just want to care for hwr in her dotage( it can be hard sometimes when we need to vist relatives etc fot the day but we are lucky to have a fab local dog sitter who calls in on her.

We are worried we are be selfish driving distances actually as shw is not keen now.
Am glad it warmed yr heart ! Will look up yr recomendation .thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

Chewchewaboogiw · 07/05/2022 21:39

CatLadyDrinksGin
I did think about a sitter but on balance i feel she would miss us too much ..
My dad went on holiday and his old dog passed away ..it took him a long time to get over it .

OP posts:

countdowntonap · 07/05/2022 21:41

we take our old girl in her stroller to a quiet beach and take it in turns to paddle board or kayak in the bay.

Original poster

Chewchewaboogiw · 07/05/2022 21:43

Stomacharmeleon
The lodge place looks amazing!

OP posts:

dolphinsarentcommon · 07/05/2022 21:46

OP were in the same situation. We have booked a couple of seaside breaks in dog friendly seaside cottages and plan to potter on the beach, read a lot, hopefully make it to the pub.

We can't really do much more with the old girl, so just going to take it on the chin this year, and look after her like we would any other old lady of the family.

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 07/05/2022 21:46

I'd go for somewhere where there's lots of dog friendly towns/villages- maybe lake district? So you can potter around having short walks then spending time in cafes etc. We also found Norfolk really dog friendly and it's nice and flat - you could probably walk alongside the broads with a pram.

I don't think it's selfish at all - I think she'll love a change of scene and new smells. My DM used to dog sit our old dog but she'd always done that so she was used to going there.

WiddlinDiddlin · 07/05/2022 21:54

There are doggy slings so they're on the front of you rather than the back, could that be an option so she can come down for a trundle and then back up for a rest?

Otherwise, with a small breed like that, I tink id look at adapting one of the three wheel 'off road' type buggies (get a second hand one) made for kids, as theres two of you, it shouldn't be hard to lift it over stiles, even if she has to get out whilst you do that.

Original poster

Chewchewaboogiw · 07/05/2022 21:55

MrsDeaconClaybourne good idea re norfolk ! I am really needing flat options !! They are the opposite type of places which we would normally go to ,hence the reason am.looking for help as not familar with such places / options !

OP posts:

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/05/2022 21:56

What about a campsite in the Lakes/similar but with another couple or some friends. Then you and dh can each do walks separately with friends while some stay more local.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/05/2022 21:56

Chewchewaboogiw · 07/05/2022 21:55

Ooh what about a canal boat? Doggo can chill in their bed on the roof.

BloodyMaryMorning · 07/05/2022 22:02

Have you considered the New Forest as a potential holiday destination OP? There are plenty of sniffs to be had from the gravelled paths that are pram-friendly and also places to visit in and near the Forest - Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Lymington, Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Salisbury all spring to mind. It's also great for cycling - we have a doggy carriage that our girl rides around in, which is a great option for older pooches. The Camping in the Forest campsites are all lovely and most are dog friendly I believe.

If yours is a bit of a beach bum then Cornwall would be a great destination outside of the July & August when the dog ban is in place on most beaches. St Ives is a lovely place to base yourselves and then be able to day trip to surrounding towns & villages for strolls with the doggy stroller. I can highly recommend staying at Polmanter - it's dog friendly and, being outside of town, you'll get plenty of exercise pushing the pram back to the campsite from St Ives that you probably won't miss your usual 8 mile hikes!

Triceratopsrock · 07/05/2022 22:02

Have a look for a second hand off road kids buggy. I’m sure you could easily fit a harness to the straps. You could get a bit further off the beaten path with something like that.
Your dog is clearly very loved. Heart warming 💖

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 07/05/2022 22:13

We were surprised how much we liked North Norfolk- it was a bit of a last minute thing wondering if we'd be able to get away in covid times last summer! Wasn't expecting to find the landscape as striking as we did. DH is Scottish and we spend a lot of time there so thought we'd miss the hills too. But it was really lovely. Lots of the beaches were dog friendly too

Ginandslippers · 07/05/2022 22:22

We have a dog carrier like this, great for where you can't take a pram on steep paths or steps. Our old Shih Tzu tolerates it www.amazon.co.uk/Carrier-Hands-free-Breathable-Shoulder-Carrying/dp/B08NYBZX77/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?crid=RK0PSZHKT4MI&keywords=Dog+Carrier&qid=1651958410&s=pet-supplies&sprefix=dog+carrier+%2Caps%2C334&sr=1-9

LicoricePizza · 07/05/2022 22:24

Would second Norfolk. Lovely & flat. Aim for the North Norfolk Coast. Coastal path connects all the coastal villages & small towns which are so charming & if unknown to you would be a real treat. You could still stay in the camper then but lots of dog friendly accommodation if not. If your old girl is happy to snooze in her pram, you could notch up plenty miles exploring places like Cley, Blakeney, or walk from Holkham beach (glorious huge expanse of beach) to charming Wells-Next -the Sea - you would be spoilt for choice. If she gets stiff you could break it up too into smaller outings. Great pubs & food. It’s less dramatic as coast lines go but has a wild & remote beauty & charm of its own. Sadly we never got to share it with our beautiful black lab who we know would have loved it 🐾

DimplesToadfoot · 07/05/2022 22:30

I'd research walks that are children/pushchair friendly, a quick Google has pointed out parts of Hadrians wall etc that you could walk with pooch in a push chair. Which you could do some times, other times use a back pack or sling as others have said

on the downside I have a pet push chair myself and go to all sorts of places with it, but if I were doing walks with it over grass or on uneven terrain with an arthritic dog I'd have to get another with excellent suspension.

I hope you manage to sort something out, please come back and post postcards when you do :-)

Libertybear80 · 07/05/2022 22:41

We've got this dilemma too. Realised that our lovely old dog would not appreciate the holiday we've booked. Really not sure what to do now!

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread