What is it with Norfolk holiday cottages and dogs?!

[EleanorRugby]

I'm currently researching where to go for our 2015 summer holiday and I have been looking at Norfolk. So many of the places I've looked at have made a big thing about being dog friendly, all the reviews of accommodation I've looked at have praised the facilities for their four legged friends and barely mentioned anything about the benefits for humans! Many of the properties are advertised with pictures of dogs (usually labradors!) having a great time on their holiday!

Don't get me wrong I love dogs. I don't currently have one as a pet but I'm sure if I did I would want to make sure any accommodation I booked was suitable for it. I just haven't noticed such an emphasis on doggy comfort before when researching other areas of the UK. Is Norfolk particularly renowned within the canine world for being dog friendly?

[niqnet1]

We have two cocker spaniel's and go every year as we find it to be such a doggie friendly holiday spot. We've tried other places but never as dog friendly. If you want to avoid cafes, shops and cottages which allow dogs. Don't go to Norfolk. Alternatively if you don't mind, think sowerbys has some nice dog free cottages. I saw a nice one in Burnham Market the other day.

[JGwen]

Lots of dog owners don't want to put their dogs in kennels when they go on holiday and its harder for them to go on holiday abroad, so they have become an important group within tourism marketing.

I have a holiday let in Wales near one of the major forests. Our area is specifically advertised as being dog friendly by the county council because its a place where dog owners can take their dogs for long walks off the lead all year round. That brings in tourists to the area in the quieter months, November to March.

[TheHoundsBitch]

Oh dear, my mutt might get a few sideways glances then She's a big, brindle beastie! We've just booked a cottage in Burnham Market for spring. Hopefully the Lab we're going with and my country boots will make up for it! DS is fairly mop-haired too, although we own no Boden...

[Showy]

Suffolk's an utter hole full of mutts and criminals.

Only joking. Suffolk's lovely too but I'm contractually obliged as a resident of Norfolk, to bring about its downfall through defamation and slander.

North Norfolk used to be marketed as a cheap, family friendly, slightly kiss me quick holiday with good, clean camping facilities and nice fish and chips. Now it is marketed as yurt/glamping central for mop-haired children dressed in Boden, your faithful black lab and gastro pubs a go go. Truth is, it hasn't changed in essence. They just sell it differently.

[KatieKaye]

Allowing dogs into your rental property is not an ignored discrimination issue, oranges. Because those with allergies have a choice not to hire a cottage that allows pets. Just as those who rent out a cottage can chose to allow people to bring their pets or indeed use the cottage themselves with their own pets.

And what about assistance dogs - guide dogs, hearing dogs for the deaf etc? Aren't they allowed to go on holiday with the dog that makes a huge difference to their quality of life? banning them would be actual discrimination

Many holiday cottages are unsuitable for specific individuals, and cannot be converted so that, for example, a person who uses a wheelchair can access the whole of the property.

That's why you can search for properties that are on one level, those that allow pets etc and chose the one that is most suitable for you.

[mistlethrush]

Clearly I'm doing the right thing going to suffolk with my lurcher mutt then!

[Showy]

I live in Norfolk. We often joke that holiday makers are only let in if they have a joules gilet, hunter wellies and a black lab. We go to Holkham, the Burnhams, Brancaster, Wells etc for a walk regularly and we play spot the dog who has no obvious breed. There aren't any. Admittedly, there are things like cockapoos which aren't a breed but expensive, bred dogs are the order of the day.

[mistlethrush]

No, I agree that it would be useful for allergy sufferers to be able to have a 'no pets' filter.

However, that was exactly the same search - the only box changed was the 'one pet' option... The 47 pet friendly cottages are a subset of the 2,191 cottages available that week, which does suggest that there are lots of cottages that don't accept pets but you've just got to filter out the ones that do allow pets, and the system doesn't allow you to do that.

[Bunbaker]

mistlethrush There isn't a "no pets" filter on English Country Cottages, so the no pet result doesn't necessarily mean that people haven't taken pets to those 2,191 cottages. It just means that you don't want to take a pet.

I agree that there should be a "no pet" filter on self catering websites.

[Orangeanddemons]

As, I've said my experience is the opposite. I find it very hard to find places. Most website don't even have a filter for the pet option

[Orangeanddemons]

I often think about alerting these tourists boards which encourage dogs, to the fact that they are discriminating against 30% of the population. It's an ignored disability issues. Imagine saying that 75% of holiday keys weren't suitable for wheelchair users..

[mistlethrush]

Well, I've just searched 'English Country Cottages' for a week in September starting on the 13th. First with one pet (47 cottages) and then with no pet - 2,191 cottages. Which makes me think that it really is easier to find cottages with no pet rather than with a pet.

[Orangeanddemons]

Ditto Iggly. The proteins which cause allergies are very sticky, and hang onto surfaces for ever. So hence the streaming nose and eyes, even though the cottage was probably clean

[Sirzy]

I have the same problem Orange as ds can't stay in accomdation which accepts dogs. I think it is getting harder and harder to find somewhere pet free.

[Iggly]

I hate self catering which allows pets. Even though it is clean, unless they've got an expensive decent vacuum, then it isn't really. The last time we stayed in a pet friendly place I couldn't sleep for my nose and eyes were streaming when I lay down.

crosses Norfolk off list

[Orangeanddemons]

And about 30% of the population have an animal allergy

[Orangeanddemons]

I've found the opposite actually. It's quite hard to find non-dog cottages. I would say 75% of them allow pets

[mistlethrush]

There are many more cottages that are dog free than cottages that are dog friendly, so that really shouldn't be a problem. Not sure that's there's a filter for 'no pets allowed' though - which might make it more difficult for you to filter them out in the search

[Orangeanddemons]

I'm severely allergic to dogs. I can't stay in dog friendly accomodation, it makes me too ill. I wish there were more places that didn't let dogs in

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Both myself and other friends with holiday cottages find that people with dogs in general leave properties better than people without dogs. Plus they pay extra to bring dogs, win, win. So yes they are clientele we are looking to attract.

[EleanorRugby]

Have just booked a week in August at Winterton-on-Sea, now praying for good weather in August! Have been to Dorset on holiday for the last two years which was fab, but looking forward to something different this year. I haven't been on holiday to Norfolk since I was little, but have fond memories of seaside holidays there.

[ihatethecold]

The beach cafe at east runton is dog friendly.
I know the lady who owns it.
She is happy for you to take your dog inside whilst you have a cuppa and a snack.
I love Norfolk beaches.

[Bunbaker]

I think we were at the end of the dog free bit as we saw loads of dogs. I can see why there is a need to segregate though, but as the beaches in North Norfolk are so huge there is room for everybody.

[tkband3]

We stay on the North Norfolk coast every year and there are a huge number of dogs there - almost all labradors. We often felt quite left out with our little Yorkie .

(Babyroobs one end of Wells beach is dog-friendly, but the other end is dog free - it's fairly clear which is which ).