Taking the Dog on Holiday Without Telling the Caravan Site… Am I Mad?!

[oceanmountain]

So I’m going away in a couple of weeks and had a dog sitter all sorted… and now they’ve just cancelled because of a family emergency.

I’ve tried everywhere and can’t find anyone else to take the dog on such short notice, and I really don’t want to cancel the trip and upset the kids. So I was thinking of just taking the dog with me and not telling the caravan site.

Has anyone ever done this? My dog’s tiny and doesn’t shed, so I honestly don’t know how they’d even notice.

My friend said I shouldn't do it but I cant see any other option?

I suspect this is a bit of confirmation bias, @2026namechange - you expect dog owners to be like this, so that is what you see. I think you notice the bad owners with the badly behaved dogs, because you are looking for them, but don’t notice the good ones because you aren’t looking out for them.

oceanmountain
If I get kicked out then so be it, although I have never paid attention to what anyone is doing in the van next to me. Why would I?!

The people in the caravan next door won't give a tuppenny fuck what you get up to so long as you are quiet about it and don't keep them awake, but since you have told the people running the place that you want a dog-friendly caravan because you unexpectedly need to bring your dog with you, and then asked for a refund because you can't find anywhere else to park your dog, they might just have a look in your car for a dog before handing over the key to the van. Or wander over and have a quick check after you have moved in. I hope, anyway.

And before you say "but I didn't say those things!" perhaps you didn't in so many words, but I think they might be bright enough to have worked out, from what you did say, what it was that you wanted: dog-friendly van or a refund. And you turning up when you failed to get either might just mean you had planned to smuggle the dog in regardless.

Why exactly is it that you have decided that rules don't apply to you?

If I knew where you were planning to stay I would ring them up and warn them that the woman who has been trying to change her booking for a fortnight's time says she is going to bring her dog to stay in their dog-free caravan, because I think you deserve to be punished for your horrible attitude.

Dammit, where is the Daily Mail when they are needed? Come on, front-page this!

signed, Utterly Exasperated Dog Owner

Has anyone else seen the dog friendly holiday ads on this thread 👀

Put a message asking about dog care on your local Facebook group?

Do you not believe in allergies?

There is a big difference between being near a dog walking around the caravan park or a shopping centre and sleeping in a caravan a dog has had free rein of. Do you understand how that is different and why they need to keep pet free vans?

With the number of dogs allowed now, they usually have a lot more dog friendly vans than pet free ones. So you have plenty available to you but didn’t book in time. Can you actually explain why you think it is ok for you to take your dog into one of the pet free vans which are usually very specifically booked by people with allergies?

Very selfish. Also bear in mind that the caravan might be be privately owned and just let out by the campsite (I know Haven do this on their sites), so it might not be a generic caravan. Think how the owner would feel. But you won't, will you?

@oceanmountain
It doesn't matter if the only reaction is a mild itch and the sneezes. Why should your wish that your children don't miss out on a holiday trump someone elses child to have a pleasant holiday? They may have to go home and miss out on their holiday due to an allergy they cannot explain because, after all, it can't be a dog allergy that has triggered them, they booked a DOG FREE caravan. You have to have one of the most selfish attitudes I have seen on MN and I've been here 18 years!

You're going to do it anyway, you don't care what anyone thinks, I'm alright Jack. Why bother posting.

Sounds like you are going to take the dog anyway. Obviously the rules don't apply to you. And by the way cleaners hate clean in up after people with dogs.

Why ask if you were going to take the dog anyway?

Probably bored and it's just a wind up

I go to a lot of trouble to only book dog free accommodation. I won't drop dead but I will sneeze and cough (allergic asthma) plus I can't stand the smell.
Most accommodations that allow dogs say they mustn't be allowed on beds or furniture but people think their dog doesn't count.
Dog people will say their dog doesn't shed or smell but I promise you they all smell and a quick hoover before you leave won't get rid.

Is this a joke? You’re kidding aren’t you? If it’s real we’ll be sure your caravan neighbours will tell the manager.

Which company is this with? We usually go on holiday with Parkdean and take our dogs, but agree with others YABU taking your dog to a non dog friendly caravan.

If it's a big company, you could request to change park or if not change dates.

Don't be ridiculous. There will be no people in your van with allergies just for the few days you are there - it's the people who come and use the caravan after for the following YEARS whose allergies will be triggered, and unless you are going to deconstruct the whole interior of the caravan, pressure wash every non-porous surface and deep-clean every porous surface, your "I will clean before I go" will be utterly inadequate and even the Site's normal between-holiday-makers clean won't be enough.

This would be a really shitty thing to do. Please don't.

The campsite may allow you to pitch a camping kennel (basically a small tent) next to the caravan, if you can be trusted not to allow the dog into the caravan at any point. TBH you don't sound like you can be trusted on that though.

😆

People are being polite. Your dog stinks, the caravan will stink of dog, especially if it rains. You will be nose blind to it

Make a comfortable bed in the back of the car for your dog . Taking your dog into a caravan without the owner's consent is a shitty thing to do.

In fairness, not all dogs stink and therefore not all dog friendly homes/places stink of dog.

I can smell my sister's dog when you go into her house but they rarely bathe the dog, who goes in a LOT of water and they're really bad at cleaning.

My dog on the other hand gets bathed almost daily at the moment because she loves a muddy puddle and comes home from a walk pitted, and I won't have the mud dragged round the house. We deep clean the carpets and floors at least once a week with proper solution designed to stop dog stink.

Depends on the owners. And the dog, to be honest. Boy dogs smell worse than girls overall I've found.

I know it's not right, but I'd probably be tempted to do it. Is there definitely no one who can have her/him? I totally understand not wanting to disappoint the kids..have u looked at borrowmydoggy.com? Or can you pay a local teenager to pop in gor feeding, cuddles and walks?? X

I know it's not right, but I'd probably be tempted to do it. Is there definitely no one who can have her/him? I totally understand not wanting to disappoint the kids..have u looked at borrowmydoggy.com? Or can you pay a local teenager to pop in gor feeding, cuddles and walks?? X

if we leave her for a hour or two on the evening.

Or three...or four?

Can you not leave the dog in the back of the car whilst you go out?

Only read OP's posts.

We don't have any allergies, but I always choose pet-free accommodation.
I don't like animal hairs and the smell of wet dog. If the weather stays as it is, your dog WILL smell of wet dog.
You are so disrespectful of the owners' rules. Shocking.

Are you ok? you sound a bit unhinged.... or bored. I cant make up my mind. Going to phone the site😂

No I haven't told the site that I wanted a dog accommodation.

I made a separate enquiry to book a dog friendly caravan at their site and they told me they were sold out for my dates. I said thank you and hung up. I used my work phone and didn't give any details about my existing booking, I didn't even give my name or booking reference.

To be honest, if anyone is unhinged it's you. With either your utter lack of consideration or because you're just rage baiting.

Either way you come across as deeply unpleasant