AIBU Holiday let owners big dog

[Justwantanicepeacfulholiday]

Just got back from a week U.K. holiday with DH and young kids. We booked a lodge on a small site which had 3 other cottages/lodges. We stretched our budget - it wasn’t cheap - because there was a pool on site and the advert showed masses of enclosed gardens, tennis court, shared washing machine and a hell of a lot of outside space. Perfect for kids to run off steam.

However when we arrived 98% of the garden was fenced off, and we were left with a tiny outside space that was in the shade all day long. No access to tennis court. I could get over that. Misleading advertising but not the end of the world.

We were given a quick tour with a stern warning not to walk near when they walked their dog as he’s a rescue and “is just about ok with kids and women but really not ok with men” with long stare at DH (whois honestly one of the nicest and gentlest men you’d ever meet).

This dog was a bull mastiff, a breed prone to aggression if it feels it’s family is threatened. It spent most the going absolutely nuts every time we left the lodge and walked to the pool or car, barking like crazy and running up and down the fence like crazy. The dog had free reign over all the rest of the garden and was separated from us at all times but in places the fence was was only about 3 foot high. I’ve seen Labradors clear higher fences! Dog also sat outside our window on several occasions staring at us. We were all terrified but did our best to stay calm and not show fear. It was so unnerving.

AIBU to think this is a totally inappropriate dog to have on a holiday let site that is clearly going to attract young families?

Did you speak to the owners about your expectations?

I love dogs, have a couple myself and a holiday let.

I would not find this acceptable. In fact it's an accident if not a tragedy waiting to happen.

If you booked through an agency then make a complaint to them.

Completely inappropriate and I would be leaving reviews all over.

I would be complaining. And asking for a partial refund as you weren’t able to access all the advertised amenities. You could also write a factual review on trip advisor.

that is not something I’ve ever had to do. It seems pretty standard to expect to have use of space shown in advertising photos. Ditto to expect not to be scared by owners dog.

Please write a review to let others know. I’d have been terrified. It’s likely I’d have had to leave

unacceptable

But what I'm asking is did you tell them you found it unacceptable? Or just so that British thing of smiling and sucking it up and complaining after the event ?

I love dogs too, although we don’t have one at the moment. All big dog lovers, been on holiday let’s before where there was a friendly spaniel or similar and it’s never been an issue.

There was nothing in the booking info to warm of a dog on-site.

Completely inappropriate and an accident waiting to happen. Very stressful for you as guests, and also for the dog. I'd be asking for a partial refund as you couldn't use all facilities or use your space properly.

Dogs on property should be advertised IMO. I'm a dog behaviourist and I purposefully book airbnbs without other people's dogs on site (or if they have dogs I ask them to get them to leave us be)...I love dogs to pieces but during time off, I want to switch off and can't with dogs that aren't mine around me all the time. In this situation I'd have had to leave the accommodation.

No, the owner laid into DH one day because he put a load of washing on during the day in the shared machine (apparently her machine was broken and she wanted to do a wash). No signs saying not to wash at certain times. she also told my kids off for making noise in the pool and upsetting the dog.

so partly tried to avoid confrontation as she seemed highly strung and partly too British yes.

It's not the dog per se - it;s that you were given to believe you had access to a large garden, pool, tennis courts. If there were saying don;t use our land when we're walking the dog, that's fair enough.
Most cottages I've stayed at had small private gardens for the holiday cottage within a larger space, sometimes able to use larger space or garden, sometimes not - but that's always been made clear in the cottage information.

They sound bloody awful. I don't think they actually want guests there. I love dogs as well, but I think they should be keep away from guests at all times. As for laying into your DH for using the washing machine, that's very unreasonable. I'd definitely make a complaint to the booking agent, if not to the owners directly. They need to be made aware that they can't treat guests like this, etc.

Thin woman I disagree - it was the dog, barking, aggressive, possessive

no one wants to be confronted with that at anytime let alone on a holiday with small children!

also life is clearly stressful for that dog

they Seem selfish and self absorbed

I'd be right in to get as soon as she said about all the restrictions. Did the listing say something like 'large gardens and access to tennis court'? Then I would have said that that's what you expected. She could have kept her dog confined during the day.
I'd contact whomever you booked through and complain.

No it was totally the dog. I could have got over not having the space (we had access to the pool and that was the main attraction Of the site for us). I felt on edge whenever the fog was out and whenever we had to walk out of the cottage.

Sounds awful OP! Just totally inappropriate.

And I'd be pissed off about the garden being fenced off as well.

YANBU to complain. It doesn't sound like much of a holiday. The dog shouldn't be anywhere near visitors if it's not socialised. A friendly old spaniel is not a threat. This dog sounds like it could be.

Well the dog itself yku probably can't complain about- it did nothing. It didn't leap over the 3 fr fence , it barked - dogs bark .

But the fact you had no access to the facilities advertised, and the narky owner in the washing machine- probably grounds to say something.

The fact they had a dog - kept privately, kept away from the let by a fence ? Not much you can say to that really. Unless the dog wa dangerously out
Of control - which it doesn't sound like it was .

Utterly unacceptable. Please leave a public review so it saves other people going through this.

I would be pissed at this, you definitely should complain &/or do a detailed review.

I can’t find anywhere to leave a review for them!

Are they not on trip advisor?

or google?

Well the dog itself yku probably can't complain about- it did nothing. It didn't leap over the 3 fr fence , it barked - dogs bark .

It barked like "crazy, going nuts every time they left their lodge." err that's not -^^ " dogs bark".

And just as well it didn't leap over the 3ft fence. Don't suppose anyone felt at ease.

Seriously un relaxing for a holiday set up.

How awful.