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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What on earth do you do on a hot UK holiday with a dog?

36 replies

Mellowyell292 · 08/08/2022 12:41

We're in a cottage for a week. This is our family 'dog holiday' where the mutt comes with us and we do lots of walking. It's too bloody hot for the dog and we can't leave him in the cottage (not allowed). This is more restrictive than a week of rain! I'm thinking we'll have to get up and out early all week and then spend the mid day back at the cottage to chill. Any other suggestions that I'm missing? We're near the coast but our dog wouldn't spend the day on the beach with us, he's a bit reactive, needs to be walking and engaged.

OP posts:
mumto2teenagers · 08/08/2022 12:43

Walk very early in the morning or late at night if it's not too hot for the dog.

Would he be too reactive to take to a dog friendly pub or cafe for lunch?

thereisonlyoneofme · 08/08/2022 12:44

I had the opposite problem last year it never stopped raining, and I mean bucketting down. I gave up and went home !

Antarcticant · 08/08/2022 12:45

Find a dog-friendly, preferably air-conditioned pub and take him inside with you for a long lunch. Also check other indoor attractions where it might be cool - I don't know where you are but a surprising number are dog friendly in Cornwall.

Original poster
Mellowyell292 · 08/08/2022 12:46

mumto2teenagers · 08/08/2022 12:43

Walk very early in the morning or late at night if it's not too hot for the dog.

Would he be too reactive to take to a dog friendly pub or cafe for lunch?

Yeh, definitely couldn't take him into a pub unfortunately. He's much much better than he was but he just wouldn't settle.

I think we'll have to tag team. DH can take the kids out and I'll stay with the dog and vice versa. We've never had this problem, weather is usually mediocre at best, perfect for exploring with the dog in tow. I feel awful complaining about nice weather!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mellowyell292 · 08/08/2022 12:48

Antarcticant · 08/08/2022 12:45

Find a dog-friendly, preferably air-conditioned pub and take him inside with you for a long lunch. Also check other indoor attractions where it might be cool - I don't know where you are but a surprising number are dog friendly in Cornwall.

He wouldn't like any of that unfortunately. He's a tricky bugger! Loves being out and about but not in door, people/child heavy places.

OP posts:
RatherBeRiding · 08/08/2022 12:49

I think your only option is to do what you have already suggested - up at first light and then spend the hot part of the day back at the cottage. During the last heatwave a lot of my horsey friends were up at 4am to ride! (Mine stayed unridden!!)

Original poster
Mellowyell292 · 08/08/2022 12:50

RatherBeRiding · 08/08/2022 12:49

I think your only option is to do what you have already suggested - up at first light and then spend the hot part of the day back at the cottage. During the last heatwave a lot of my horsey friends were up at 4am to ride! (Mine stayed unridden!!)

Yeh, we'll have to. Luckily we are all early risers .

OP posts:
Antigonads · 08/08/2022 12:52

Can you really not leave him in the cottage? Will anyone know?

RumJerrySailorRum · 08/08/2022 12:53

We lost our dog this year, but have faced this problem before when on our frequent caravan trips.

For us, it was slightly easier as he was older and didn't need such long walks and was also good in pubs. Also, no kids.

But, we'd go for an air conditioned car ride and find a shady river spot for him. He'd wallow in the water and we'd have a picnic and something to drink.

We'd then make sure he was still sopping wet before getting back in the car. It would then be a short walk to the nearest pub for him and the husband whilst I looked round the shops after we'd got rid of the car.

GuyFawkesDay · 08/08/2022 12:55

Use a travel crate? Walk dog v early then in the shadows room with a travel crate for a few hours? Then one of you head back to let him out

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 08/08/2022 12:58

Antigonads · 08/08/2022 12:52

Can you really not leave him in the cottage? Will anyone know?

Will he sleep if you're out? Does the owner live nearby?

Antarcticant · 08/08/2022 13:00

Oh, what a shame he wouldn't like the pub.

With our little fella, we used to set up a shady area for him outside our static sometimes and put him on his stake and line while we sat nearby in the sun with a couple of beers.

Spidey66 · 08/08/2022 13:06

We take our dog on holiday with us.

95% of the time we go to places where we can take the dog, or at least play 'dog tag'. A few weeks back we were in Northern Ireland, and we went to one of those folk villages, kind of like a museum of what a village is like. The dog was able to come and stay outside the buildings, so we took it in turns to look inside.

When we ate out, it was usually in pubs where we could take her. However on two occasions we went to restaurants, where we couldn't. We weren't supposed to, but actually did leave her in the house. However, our dog is happy enough to be left, she doesn't bark or chew furniture, and honestly noone would know.

But she does enjoy going to the beach-she doesnt swim but loves racing round the sand and digging holes. But now its school holidays there are less beaches available for dogs.

manlyago · 08/08/2022 13:09

Are there any shady river walks you could do?

Spidey66 · 08/08/2022 13:09

Sorry, the dog was only allowed in the village but outside the buildings.

DevilsVineBlues · 08/08/2022 13:15

As you've already said: I'd get up extra early to give hom a long walk in the cool. Then take it in turns with other adults to stop back with the dog while they go out with the kids for the day.

gogohmm · 08/08/2022 13:16

Swimming? My ddog likes to swim instead of walk on hot days, if there's added entertainment such as ducks even better. Rivers ideally as less likely to have algae

manlyago · 08/08/2022 13:17

@gogohmm ducks?

gogohmm · 08/08/2022 13:17

But train him to go to the pub, at least a shady pub garden - it's saved many a holiday for me

Dogappreciationsociety · 08/08/2022 13:20

Have a look at some national trust sites. Some are dog friendly but leads only. You should be able to find a shady spot to sit and watch while the kids wonder around. I think its fine to have dogs outside but as long as there is shade and plenty of water. We did this with our reactive dog and went to Kenilworth castle. There was very few dogs and lots of trees and shaded areas to sit under.

Dobbysgotthesocks · 08/08/2022 13:20

We had this a few weeks ago. Not because we weren't allowed to leave the dog but because she was too stressed.
We tagged teamed being with the dogs in the cottage. We took them out first thing before it got hot. Then came back for breakfast and one of us went off and had a potter around town/ for a walk/ swim / whatever we fancied. Came back had lunch and swapped over.
It wasn't perfect but actually it meant we both did what we wanted without getting fed up or frustrated with the other. We each has some alone time and the dogs were happy.

On the cooler days we did do early starts and go off for longer periods with the dogs but made sure we were back by the heat of the day.

Badger1970 · 08/08/2022 13:21

Are there any local forests? That usually stays a bit cooler and kids could ride bikes etc?

We went to Norfolk a few years ago in a heatwave and it was a nightmare... thankfully we were only a few miles from the beach so we did really early long walks and let the dogs swim, then came back to the barn conversion and stayed in again until 7pm or 8pm time.

It felt very very restrictive tbh.... and not much fun for any of us! Thankfully it broke mid week else we'd have come home again.

Rosehugger · 08/08/2022 13:23

I don't think it's that hot in the UK now that you have to take your dog out at the crack of dawn. Get up normal time, go for your walk, take dog. Don't overdo it, take water and snacks for him and make sure the ground isn't too hot.

Auntpodder · 08/08/2022 13:25

Is there somewhere (or online) where you could buy a cool coat? It makes a huge difference how mine feels about hot weather.

BarrelOfOtters2 · 08/08/2022 13:26

We drive to somewhere with a river and she just gets in it!