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?

you have argued against everyone who said no. Why did you start the post if you were just going to argue and not accept that most people would say don't take the dog.

I'm allergic to dog's and I don't need a dog in the room to react to what it leaves behind. You are being totally selfish to ignore that others behind you may have allergies and could react to what your dog has left behind. Yep you can clean but that won't remove everything...

And this is why i don’t take my severely allergic brittle asthmatic dd to caravan parks. Selfish idiots putting her at risk. My gosh op I really hope you’re just rage bating and are not really this horrible.

Please don't.
The caravan is designated dog free. Standard clean up isn't enough to make it ready for someone alergic.

Would you be happy if you booked non-smoker caravan and someone smoked there, arguing that there will be standard cleaning?

I suppose the analogy doesn't seem clear for you, but just believe us it works.

I'm very much a dog lover. I have two chihuahua's who come with me everywhere (as long as they're allowed!).

That being said - it's really inconsiderate to bring a dog into a non-dog friendly accommodation. A lot of people will book these campers specifically because they have allergies. Some people can get quite unwell with prolonged exposure - it's not really the dog fur/hair people are allergic to, but the dead skin they shed, as well as their saliva.

A colleague of mine is dangerously allergic to dogs. You are being incredibly unreasonable. If the van you've booked says no dogs it means no dogs. You cleaning after yourselves will not be to allergen standards.

It would be a selfish, stupid and entitled thing to do.

Truly selfish.

Just put the dog into kennels. There has to be a first time for all dogs.

At this time of year, especially if it is cloudy, a dog probably wouldn't get heat stroke, but it could easily get too cold, so it still wouldn't be alright to leave a dog in a car for longish periods. Also, I think the caravan site would say no, because they wouldn't trust - probably quite rightly - the dogs owners to not ever take it into the caravan.

Wow the super self entitled dog owners are out in force on here today.

In practice I bet your silent, non shedding dog is neither. But anyway, as multiple people have pointed out, people are often allergic to dander and saliva which I assume your dog has! Allergies are not trivial - many are life threatening.

You're unlikely to get away with it. Someone around you will see or hear the dog and complain and then you'll be tossed out. Which is what you will deserve. Plus you'll probably be billed a hefty fine for polluting the caravan.

Caravan sites are used to the cf who try to do this and they do monitor to make sure it doesn't happen. They don't want someone to die in one of their caravans because the previous guest didn't give a shit - or at least they don't want to be sued but either way, they will be vigilant.

Could you disguise it as a baby

#NotAllDogOwners, but fuck me dog owners can be some of the most entitled pricks. Fuck anyone with an allergy who books in after you, right OP? They should just be less allergic.

As an ex caravan cleaner, we know when someone has had a pet staying. We have such a rushed, short time cleaning as it is, that the cleaners could tell their supervisor who may pass it on to the site manager (or whoever). That leaves you with the risk of getting a charge.

But more importantly, I wouldn't want to ruin the next person's holiday. You have no idea who it is or why they're needing the break.
So I'd say, don't make the cleaners job more hard (and it is hard, low pay, I didn't even get a break when I did it as there was always so much needing done, body was wrecked each evening from repeatedly scrubbing/hoovering/mopping/stripping&making beds/ cleaning ovens, toilets...) and don't be selfish to the next guests. We didn't wear a uniform so you wouldn't really know if anyone on site was a worker or a guest.

Fwiw, I know plenty of people sneak pets in. You think we don't notice it, but we do. The entitlement is unreal.

Completely unreasonable. I have allergies and you would utterly ruin my holiday if I stayed there after you. I’d be livid if I’d booked a dog free van and you’d had a dog in it.

You do realise that by calling the holiday place to try to change the booking means you've flagged the fact you want to bring a dog but have been told you can't swap accommodation? I hope they do carry out a spot check on you, for being so selfish.

I haven't read the whole thread so apologies as someone has probably already posted this thread which is currently running, OP is struggling to find holiday accommodation as so much is "pet friendly" and she has an allergy. It seems that OP and others with allergies are taking a risk even with pet free accommodation if people are prepared to just do what they like anyway.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5484986-do-you-think-there-will-ever-come-a-time-when-business-need-to-take-account-of-the-needs-of-those-of-us-allergic-to-dogs

I just want to thank the dog owner posters on this thread who understand how serious it can be to be exposed to dog hair dander etc with allergies. Few people are defending this Op and tbh I’m surprised, thought she’d get more support.

Went on holiday with dogs years ago. Pain in the bum. They can't go on the beach, cant go to national trust properties, can't do this, can't do that. It limited the things we could enjoy.
My dog goes to kennels. He absolutely loves it, drags me into the kennels. He has a fabulous time and I get video updates. He has recently added spa treatments to his stays there. He comes home contented, with a glossy coat and smells beautifully. I know he is safe and secure and in good hands.
I would never have a dog sitter or pet minder. I've heard too many horror stories. There are too many soppy 'dog lovers' who don't know what they are doing. He is in professional hands at the kennels.
It is expensive but what cost is peace of mind? Of course, his vaccinations are up to date, as required by all good kennels. Has the tiny, non allergenic toy dog had all their vaccinations and vet treatments? Like all good owners do.
I am considering taking him on holiday sometime. It will be to a dog friendly cottage. It will be his holiday. Dog friendly cottages have fenced areas and local walks especially for dogs. They don't mind mud and mess.
So, there's your two choices: Send the dog to kennels, small dogs are often cheaper, or, cancel the caravan and look for a dog friendly cottage - or caravan elsewhere.

I would not want to stay in a caravan where there has been a dog if I booked one that said "no dogs allowed", it's the stench and hygiene that bothers me. My nephew and dad on the other hand are very allergic to dogs, it would trigger their asthma, even if you think you've cleaned up. Pet-free should mean just that, don't be an idiot.

Harsh but true, I'm afraid. It's like non-smokers can spot (smell) a smoker from a mile away.

I hope you get caught and kicked out with no refund. Because you’re going to do it anyway because you’re the selfish type of pet owner.

No dogs means no dogs for a reason people want pet free and for a reason.

Also some of the vans that places like haven use owner vans for rentals not all are owned by say haven. The owner of that caravan could be allergic to dogs and it’s the dander not the fur although I’ve found a random stray dog hair in the oven of a pet free van before 🤨

Also it’s things like fleas yes you’ll say your dog doesn’t have any but they might and then you leave fleas in the van for people who don’t have dogs to get bitten by your lovely fleas because your dog is far more important that anyone else.

Also dogs smell. People will know.

Ive had dogs I’ve had dogs in caravans pet friendly ones. I now book no dogs as I have no dogs and don’t want to be hit with the waft of dog. I don’t want fleas biting my ankles because there is no suitable pet to attack. I don’t want to find the odd stray fur somewhere and I sure as shit don’t want to sleep in a bed someone’s let their ikkle fur baby sleep in.

ok so plenty of people here have told you not to risk taking your dog. There are reason why they have non-friendly caravans.
Since you're trying to justify your decision to take the dog...just take it.
Nobody here cares.

You have your answer don't you?

Also even pet friendly vans your not meant to leave the dog alone 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Climbing all over the sofa maybe the dining table. Oops a little pee on the foot stall. Maybe a bit of arse dragging or cushion humping 🤢

Interesting, I didn't see this thread but I have been wondering since the dog ownership growth since covid why businesses think they can ignore dog allergies.

I mean, does Waterstones really need to be a dog exercise area to sell books?

But here it's not the business, it's the owner who thinks they can break the terms of business of the caravan park.

Nah you can't do that. I love my dogs, they are extremely well-behaved and neither of them moult - I absolutely wouldn't take them to stay anywhere unless pre-agreed. As others have said, it's not fair on the cleaners, it's not fair on any subsequent guests that have allergies, and you'd just spend the whole holiday focused on concealing the dog. What if it pokes his head up at a window when we're out? What if it barks? What if it tiddles...? What if a member of staff sees us walking it and links it the non-doggy caravan...? It would ruin my holiday, the mental stress of pretending we don't have a dog.