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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

holiday ideas with dog

19 replies

321Go · 19/02/2015 23:49

We have a vocal and v active 8 month old rescue spaniel and would love to go away with him at Easter.
Wales or the lake district appeal. Our pre-dog holidays would be camping (not at Easter) or youth hostels.
I'm trying to get my head around how this could work.
Camping-dog sleep in the car. I'm worried he might wake other campers though.
Youth hostel?
What other places have you stayed? The more specific the better! We are 2 kids and me + dog.
Does using a kennel nearby purely for overnight and collecting him each morning sound crazy?
Thanks!

OP posts:
LokiBuddyBoo1 · 20/02/2015 01:51

Hi can't you have dog in the tent with you but locked in a dog crate at night that's what my sister does.
She has one of those big 4 person tents with separate rooms and has the dogs locked inside their crate at night with the crate next to where she sleeps.

CMOTDibbler · 20/02/2015 09:22

We have a travel crate for ddog which goes in the porch of the tent.

We have stayed in a hotel with ddog as well, which was fun as he couldn't decide which of the beds in the family room to sleep on!

averylongtimeago · 20/02/2015 10:21

We used to camp with our dogs - they slept in the inner tent with us on their our bed.
They love going away in the caravan, most caravan site take well behaved dogs. There are also holiday cottages and static caravans which take dogs.

Although, CMOT, please don't let you dog sleep on the beds in self catering/other holiday accommodation, it's one of the main reasons owners give for banning dogs [plus un-picked up poo and chewing furniture!]

averylongtimeago · 20/02/2015 10:22

Our dogs also have passports and are regulars on Brittany Ferries!

Original poster
321Go · 24/02/2015 22:44

Hi
Thanks for the replies. I've been mulling them over and searching the web for ideas but still not got anywhere and struggling to get my head around how it would work!!
We got our dog aged about 6 months, he hated the crate (and managed to escape from it, locked) so we gave up with it and he sleeps in a basket.
He also barks, a lot, at any passing unusual noises so not sure how that would work out with camping. It is certainly what I want to be able to do with him eventually.
Not sure whether to just bite the bullet and figure it out as we go along or what really!
At least at Easter, camping fields wouldn't be very full of tents........
The tent is certainly big enough to house him too, but he could easily escape if not in a crate.
France would be great too, but again, once he settles down (and he gets car sick on country roads so probably wouldn't do well on a ferry at the moment!)
Still looking at camping pods / statics but struggling to find ones that will take dogs.
Any specific suggestions?
Thanks!

OP posts:
tazzle22 · 24/02/2015 22:52

we took out two dogs to a rented cottage in devon several years on the trot as we loved it so much... wonderful setting deep in a secluded valley with lovely walks yet only short drive from beaches.

Try googling dog friendly cottage rental if you are holidaying in another area perhaps.

excitedmamma · 24/02/2015 22:55

There are groups on FB full of properties that take dogs.... some unlimited.... search for dog friendly accommodation and join.... some really nice ones!!!

meandjulio · 24/02/2015 22:58

I would rent a cottage - I found having a dog and camping an absolute pain in the butt, our dog was fine at night but definitely not during the day (similar rescue dog). Don't forget to check whether local beaches allow dogs at the time you are going, if heading for the coast. Eurotunnel was fine if you fancy France but the beaches thing gets a bit harder and you have to go to the vets a few days before coming back to hand over 100 euros get some expert treatment Hmm If you can trust your dog, some fast talking will sometimes get a hotel or non-keen cottage owner to let them stay, but then you are constantly worrying about the dog misbehaving so I wouldn't.

No more dogs for me, ever!!

VivaLeBeaver · 24/02/2015 23:03

Buy a caravan. Grin

Other place I know is a lovely dog friendly b&b in the Yorkshire Dales near Leyburn.

here

I can recommend this place, great location, the owners are lovely. I've known them dog sit for the day if you wanted to go somewhere that dogs couldn't go but that may have been a one off, not sure.

VivaLeBeaver · 24/02/2015 23:06

a lot of these are pet friendly

VivaLeBeaver · 24/02/2015 23:09

heard very good things about this place

natureplantar101 · 25/02/2015 01:00

Sykes cottages are amazing for the price looking at a 7 day stay in Whitby for £795 with the dog and for 5 people amazing Smile

Madamacadamia · 25/02/2015 01:29

meandjulio - what did your dog get up to during the day? I'm also thinking about taking my dog to campsites, with a campervan. He is a rescue dog, and barks at anyone coming near the house.

meandjulio · 25/02/2015 06:49

Days at the campsite: Early morning long walk with me, very short complaining walk with ds, after lunch walk with all of us, evening walk with me. Otherwise on a lead attached to a stake allowing him in and out of tent - shady pitch a must. Someone always needed to be at the tent as he barked at all dogs going past (but not people) and I didn't trust the stake thing to hold him if he really went for it. All walks avoiding the nearest beach which was no dogs. Days out: all went to the place together, one of us took him for a walk while the others went to whatever it was, or in car for a short while. TBH it was hard work and with a dog like yours I frankly wouldn't risk it.

Our dog really enjoyed home based dog care - I didn't like the idea of kennels especially for a rescue dog but he went to a home-based carer for one holiday we'd booked before we had a dog. Very expensive but very good.

meandjulio · 25/02/2015 06:50

Ah sorry - camper van quite different from tent, though again you would need to have a shady pitch IMO.

Lovelydiscusfish · 25/02/2015 06:56

I found camping with my spaniel a nightmare, as dogs had to be tethered when on the campsite, which she hated. Obviously we were out walking during the day, but even so...
Cottages by far best - there are loads of dog friendly ones. And in France too! I found France very dog friendly, and it's easy enough to get a pet passport and take your dog on the ferry. You just need to factor in a vet trip before you bring them back home.

TheFantasticMrsFox · 27/02/2015 01:55

We camp with ours (though we are three this year which will be interesting :o) They normally sleep in a cage or on their camping chairs (!) We do have a sewn in groundsheet though so nowhere for them to wiggle out of.

If I was you I would camp overnight somewhere first. Pick a smaller site with no marked pitches so you can hide yourselves away in a corner. Plenty of long walks, and ours settle down after the first couple of hours excitement is over. And if it's horrendous you can nip home again.

France is easily doable, and in general the French are much more welcoming to dogs. We always use EuroTunnel now as the dogs stay with us in the car. The passports are easy and Calais is set up to make the return journey as easy as possible.

This year we are all going on a canal boat, which I am very excited about :) No idea how it will actually pan out, but the theoretical side sounds good ATM :o

SinclairSpectrum · 27/02/2015 10:55

We are looking at a website called canapyandstars which do dog friendly yurts etc for something different.

honeyroar · 28/02/2015 00:05

We bought a caravan. They love it. We found taking their own beds helped settle them. Despite us living in the middle of nowhere, they seem to enjoy being tied up outside the caravan watching all the people and other dogs.

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