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?

They should
Probably mention a large dog - but the fact they have one isn't grounds for complaining per se....

The fact they haven't fenced it off adequately from the let is . The fact you couldn't use the facilities as advertised is .

if it's barking like mad at you, every time you go out I'd say that's grounds for complaint yes.

What a bunch of piss-takers. And honvenient that they don't have any reviews! I would report the dog to their LA (Council) and the missing features to the Advertising Standards Authority.

I think you should complain about the misleading facilities and the dog

They seem really entitled hosts that don't really want to share their space, to put own needs above guests. Also sounds really stressful environment to subject the poor dog to if nervous of men & many breeds are natural watchdogs and having frequent strangers milling about its territory it would cause it to be on high alert constantly. They could probably help situation with some training, a high privacy fence and planting so that people aren't coming too close by and taking dog out in car for quiet walks elsewhere.

Can’t find them on trip advisor or google!

@Justwantanicepeacfulholiday I think you can add too trip advisor?

I'd do that, totally wrong of them.

You did not have the advertised space. So misleading advert and at the very least you could spare someone else the situation you faced. I cannot see the dog being given priority as neglect or grounds to go to the Council.

Yes to the idea of a Trip Advisor review created by you.

Small claims court for some of the money back perhaps, though how you would value lack of a garden is not one I could easily calculate.

Who did you book the cottage through?

I'd have told them I wanted me money back and left ASAP !

How did you find them? Were there no reviews there?

Leave a bad review. There are too many amateurs, who haven't a clue how to run a holiday let, thinking they can make easy money out of tourists. They need to realise they can't get away with it.

Sorry just seen they're not on trip advisor.

Actually if you Google you will get instructions on how to add a place you want to review.

Any reputable rescue would not have rehomed a ‘tricky’ dog to such a set up.

Not fair on guests or the dog.

It sounds awful! Very unfair on you, and on the dog who sounds like it is going to be stressed with the comings and goings of strangers.

Honestly though, why would anyone book a holiday without reading any reviews?

Hi through the site you booked it on and leave an honest review
I'd have hated that and been really pissed off if I was expecting lots of space and tennis courts and got neither

That sounds awful, please warn other people.

Just create a tripadvisor review yourself OP.
Before I book anything I always check tripadvisor. I would want to know this information as would definitely influence my decision to go there.

Sounds like a complaint is required to trading standards for the misleading advertising.

We'd have turned around and gone home. DD is terrified of dogs and she'd have refused to leave the cottage. You need to complain.

That sounds awful - both in terms of not having access to all the facilities you were led to believe you were paying for and for having to put up with a barking dog every time you wanted to go anywhere. I love dogs - have one myself - but I don't allow him to bark like that, responsible dog owners don't. Sounds like they are happy to take your money under false pretences. Definitely leave a review.

Of course it's not acceptable. Even the die-hard dog fanatics have to realise that being told by the owner to stay out of the way from their man-hating dog isn't great.

You need to complain to whoever you booked the lodge through - Sykes, Cottages 4 You, Holiday Lettings, Airbnb.

Keep it factual. The advert said there were tennis courts and extensive grounds and you could not access those. You did not get what you paid for. The owners had an aggressive dog which they felt they had to warn you about.

This!

Any home check would have spotted the inadequate fencing and a set up with lots of strangers coming and going is clearly not appropriate for a reactive dog, never mind a reactive dog from a large and potentially dangerous breed! Sounds like a terribly stressful environment for the dog and very high risk if the dog ever does get out.

I agree!

I'd also be asking for some sort of compensation. You were paying them to stay in their accommodation and they treated you like you were a nuisance!

Completely unacceptable and I'm sorry you were let down like this.

If you booked through Airbnb, contact them asap and let them know the property was not as advertised and they will refund.

I'd be kicking up a massive fuss over this, so many unacceptable things in your post. I cannot stand people who let out properties, take the cash and then act like they're doing paying customers a massive favour by allowing them into their property.