What would you consider a 'dog friendly' cottage to be?

[AiNoCorrida]

I'm asking because we booked one and it absolutely wasn't and now they are refusing a refund.

We had to book a cottage very last minute as our renovation project wasn't finished on time. We booked with Sykes cottages, a cottage described as dog friendly which is billed as having a fenced off garden.

We arrived. First thing we see as we walk in is a cushion on the couch in the front room saying 'no dogs on here' and a big sign saying no dogs upstairs (with no doors cordoning off the downstairs). The whole cottage has cream carpets and white sofas. Then we go into the garden and there is a fence on one side (right). The bottom of the garden is completely open to a field (there may have been a few fence posts but no fence). The left of the garden has a solid bush across most of it bar the last 6 foot in the corner which opens onto a public footpath. The bush is one our dog could fit under with not much trying.

The Sykes person we phoned agreed with us and said we could have a refund but the owner has refused and said she stands by the fact that her cottage is dog friendly. I volunteered to pay the night we had to stay there (till we found something else) plus an extra night and the cleaning charge - they have insisted we pay the full 7 nights. I will now do a chargeback on my card but interested to hear what others think.

I would expect a secure garden to 6ft. Throws or blankets for sofas, gates/ doors for dog free areas.

Dog friendly to me means dogs allowed in the property and would have a fenced garden or fenced area within the garden.

This place doesn't sound dog friendly to me.

Hello, sounds amazing! Website link pleass!

We stayed in this cottage recently... with Sykes! The first one we've been to which was truly dog friendly.

Cefn Nannau - North Wales / Snowdonia

They had dog bowls and beds, poo bags, hose pipe, well fenced and completely enclosed garden, multiple baby gates etc. Our dog doesn't go upstairs or on furniture but don't remember that being a problem. There were extra throws for the sofas. And for the first time ever since having a dog, no restrictions at all about leaving dogs alone in the cottage.

Would definitely recommend.

Sykes rules and regulations say

"9.5 Pet rules: You must not allow pets on beds or on furniture within the Property. Pets must not be left alone in the Property (which include the garden and any outside areas) at any time."

Only 1 dog allowed in a 6 bedroom house isn't particularly dog friendly either imo.

But perfectly illustrates the point that dog friendly means different things to different people

We just went on a dog friendly Air Bnb holiday and it was fine, they never told us that dogs were not allowed on furniture or bed and also a cream carpet :-) but it was fine, we had lots of blankets and throws so he was fine on the floor but did come up in bed in the middle of the nigth! How on earth would I have stopped that, he is allowed on our bed at home. We had to bring our own bedding though so I am sure they never got wind of him sleeping on the bed for 6 hours, we got good reviews by the way😀

Yes - we weren't expecting to be able to leave our dog or allow her on any furniture but when we got to the cottage the owner's booklet had its own 'rules' in for dogs. Which - rightly or wrongly - we interpreted as over riding the more generic Sykes terms and conditions. Multiple other Sykes cottages we have stayed in, the owners manuals and emails have reiterated rules about no dogs to be left unattended etc. Which is what we had expected and would have followed.

We're looking to go away with our dog. When I'm looking at places I'm checking out whether the floor is light carpet or hard flooring, can I see a stair gate or at least stairs I could fit mine across. Pictures of the garden and fencing. What colour sofas etc etc. If I can't tell from the pictures I'm messaging the owner to ask! I couldn't be doing with the stress of dogs and cream carpets!! And I'll be taking huge throws for the sofa! Also the reviews can help. Someone put nice dog friendly cottage apart from the chickens in the garden!!

We always take our own duvet covers and throws to dog friendly places, even if we didn't allow our dog to sleep on the bed or sofa (we do ) we couldn't guarantee he wouldn't jump up occasionally!
You truly don't know who has been staying in a cottage or what their hygiene standards are so why dogs should be a worse problem I don't know!!!
If you don't like dogs you probably should stick to non dog accommodation.

I think dog friendly just means dogs are allowed to stay. In most properties we have stayed in they cannot be left unattended.

When taking our dogs on holiday I would like somewhere where the dogs are allowed on the sofas (with throws that we bring from home) and we would need the garden to be secure, but I would check this before booking to sure the property meets our needs.

If the description stated fenced off garden then you should receive a refund as this wasn't the case.

“I'd expect to crate my dog or shut them in a room with tiled floor when unsupervised.” You aren’t allowed to leave a dog unsupervised or in the accommodation alone when you aren’t there usually? Not sure how that would work….

Dog friendly accommodation which I’ve always booked, usually means that dogs are allowed everywhere apart from on beds/in bedrooms /on sofas. I wouldn’t expect to have my dog on furniture any way as he’s a humongous, hairy Lab.

I always take my dogs bed with me and leave it in the lounge or kitchen area.

Mostly they’ll say if the garden is enclosed or specify if it isn’t. We have stayed in one cottage with a garden with no gate that opened on to a 60mph road. I never let him out of my sight though so we kept him on the lead for toileting.

We’ve always been lucky as can leave my Lab anywhere and he just sleeps. Occasionally the owner (if around) has said we can leave him with them and they’ve taken him in their own house to sleep. (We do take him out but he’s old so he can’t stay with us all day.)

We always vacuum, wipe over and leave the property as found/better than we’ve found it.

I wouldn’t leave my dog in a utility room. No chance.

• I always ask the owner if the dog can be left alone and have never been told no. They’ve just asked for breed and age and that’s been that. Even had discounts on second stays with no charge for the dog and a free night. We leave the accommodation on time and spotless.

Dog friendly to me only means dogs are allowed.

I'd do further research to see if the garden is fenced, if they're allowed on the sofa or upstairs.

I'd avoid any cottage with such restrictions.

In any case I'd take his crate and bed and my own throws for sofas and my own duvet cover for the bed.

I wouldn't assume dog friendly meant the same thing everywhere - I'd read the description, reviews etc to get an idea of what was expected and if the cottage was just billed as 'dog friendly' with no other details, I'd be messaging to ask if there were any rules around the dog, I wouldn't just assume that it meant what I thought it meant because I may well have a completely different idea to the owner - not everyone allows their dog on furniture or upstairs so that might be completely normal to them.

You said that the cottage said it had a fully fenced garden and didn't, so yeah that's not right and I'd complain about that, but it depends on what the rest of the description/small print says really as to whether I think you should have a full refund, if it's as described and you didn't read/notice the description then it's on you, if it's just described as dog friendly and you've assumed what that means then I think a partial refund maybe because although I do feel they should be more specific in the description about what they expect, you probably should have asked exactly what that was if that information wasn't provided so you know before you book.

I just wanted to add a wee message to this thread to say thank you for adding this post. I own www.packholidays.co.uk and because of a lovely recommendation for my business on this thread, I've received a booking this morning from a very lovely lady. Thank you very much and I'm really delighted that I can help out with very dog welcoming accommodation. I do very much welcome dogs and they are absolutely welcome in every area of the cottages. I provide throws for furniture, beds, bowls, crates (if our guests like to crate dogs in the evening), dog towels, a small welcome pack just for dogs, and some cottages have warm water hoses for muddy paws. I also provide really detailed information on security of gardens, where to go locally that welcomes dogs (e.g. dog friendly pubs etc), and I am also really focussed on helping people who have timid or reactive or dogs with special needs (I have reactive friendly ratings to help guests decide if a cottage is right for their dogs needs). I also don't have dog limits (I welcome from 2 upwards) so people like me (I have 3, one who is a bit 'special' ;) ) who have multi dogs, can be assured I will put their dogs needs right up there at the top. I don't charge for dogs either - thats really important to me. Sorry for the longwinded post, but just wanted to express huge thanks to the OP and to the lovely recommendation . Many thanks all xx

We have stayed in plenty of accommodation that is labelled as dog friendly.
I would expect a garden that is safe although it should be VERY clear if it isn't fully secure. I'm happy to keep my dog on lead in a garden area or use a long line.

Expectations in the home are my gripe. We stayed in one where dogs were not allowed on furniture, or in any bedrooms. I would not class this as dog friendly. My dog will not sleep in a room he's never been in without us. I obviously let him in the bedrooms, and used a throw we had brought with us.
There were some throws in the cupboard but they absolutely fking stank of wet dog.
The host was pretty crap tbh, she had a reactive dog and I let her know that mine wouldn't want to bump in to him as he can also be nervous so please don't do the meet and greet with your own dog etc. I looked out of the window one day and her dog was walking through the garden that was part of the property we had rented.

To me, dog friendly permits dogs on furniture (within reason - use throws etc) and might ask that you clean up areas your dog has spent time in. Most charge a cleaning fee which should cover this.
Provide towels for after walks to encourage people to wipe their dogs off (sensible people would).

Also I've tried to book lots of places that are labelled as dog friendly, but there are photos of free roaming chickens, cats, sheep....

When I message and say "he will be kept on lead but just wanted to see if the animals will be kept away when guests are staying, as he won't be on lead in the cottage" (one place said chickens/cats may try and come in the cottage?! I don't want chickens in there) I've had replied such as "we only allow dogs that will be fine with free roaming chickens, cats that might try to come in to your accommodation, etc...". Ridiculous and shouldn't be accepting dogs, I'm sensible and ask but lots of people won't.

When I read the title I thought dog friendly just means dogs are allowed. Reading your OP though I do think you were not unreasonable to expect a fenced in garden as that's what was advertised.

DogwalkingDot your place sounds amazing!

I think I’d be arguing that the rules weren’t on the original listing so you booked under false pretences.

any “extra” rules beyond the reasonable should be declared- so to me that is that dogs aren’t welcome in all areas of the property and aren’t allowed upstairs.

I assume dog friendly just means they are allowed. I check the photos to make sure there’s no pale carpets. We take our own throws to cover furniture. And his bed. I would never assume secure garden - unless it specifically said that. And would still check for gaps in fences etc.

I always thought you weren’t allowed to leave dogs in properties but I never understood why. Apart from the owners thinking the dog may trash it? My lab would just sleep if we left him for a few hours shut in a kitchen with his bed but I don’t think we’re allowed? It’s a bit of a pain to have to take him out everywhere.

The places that are truly dog friendly with beds/treats etc sound amazing and I think would be far more relaxing to stay in. Agree there should be categories!

Though I see from your OP that they said the garden was fenced off so you should definitely get some refund as it’s not. That can affect your whole holiday if you were expecting to let the dog run around the garden. Now h has to be on lead the whole time

I thought that it meant the dog is allowed to stay as long as it’s clean and doesn’t go on the furniture. Very much like a dog friendly cafe.

Sorry but, why you don’t allow families who only have one dog?

And also, have you paid for advertising in mumsnet?

Hi, thanks for your point about numbers of dogs. I apologise for my poor wording. I happily welcome 1 dog and up. The majority of families who come to me tend to have 2 or more, so was just reflecting on that. My apologies this has come across as a restriction. Yes, I have already been in touch with Mumsnet (2 days ago) to ask about advertising, however, my response was a thank you to the OP and the recommendation given. Thank you very much for your feedback

If I were an owner dog friendly would mean secure garden easily clean flooring downstairs throws on the furniture throws on the bed and a wet room downstairs

But we used to have a spaniel who was a nightmare