Spaniel Maisie ready for her seaside break at Gwelmor
For many dog owners, a family holiday without their beloved pet is not even an option.
Thankfully many holiday-home owners have wised up to this in recent years resulting in a surge of dog-friendly accommodation in stunning locations across the UK.
Excuse the pun, but a bit of digging is required as there’s a vast difference between being 'dog-friendly' and those that just 'welcome' dogs.
Our holiday cottage, Gwelmor, has been named the South West's Dog Friendly Business of the Year 2021/2022 for it's dog-friendly facilities, so we’ve put together our Top 10 list of what to look out for when booking your family getaway for four legs and all!
Research
Do your research. There’s a big between ‘dog-friendly’ accommodation so call the owner/agent direct and find out what their dog policy is. How many dogs are allowed? Which rooms are out of bounds? And remember, if you allow your pet on the sofa at home they’re not going to suddenly stop when they’re on holiday, so check what the rules are regarding furniture
Dog supplies
What essentials are provided? A good dog-friendly holiday venue should equip you with dog food and water bowls, dog food serving forks, old towels to help rub down muddy and sandy paws, poop bags and even treats or balls. Check also if there are blankets or throws to help cover and protect furniture if needed
Free-range pups
Most properties allow dogs free-range of the ground floor but not upstairs. Ask if there’s a door or stair gate to help prevent our four-legged friends sneaking off for a snooze under the cosy white duvet
Hazards
Consider the safety of your dog, and others. Does the property have an enclosed garden and/or gates to prevent escapes? If you’re planning on exploring, find out what potential hazards are about such as cliff tops, farm animals and busy roads. If in doubt, keep them on a lead
Cosy comforts
It may seem an indulgence, does it have under-floor heating? Dogs love to curl up on a warm floor, and it’s also a great way of drying off damp paws!
Sandy shores
If you’re heading to the coast, check your which beaches are dog friendly as the rules change depending on the time of year. Tourist information offices are great places for finding maps of dog-friendly beaches, but there should be a map available in your holiday home
Eating out
Before you go, it is worth doing some research into which nearby restaurants and cafes allow dogs. You don’t want to spend hours trekking from pub to restaurant to find one that does
Emergency
Get to know where the nearest vet is in case of an emergency. While no one wants to think about things that could go wrong on holiday, sadly accidents do happen. Search online for the nearest dog to your holiday home and leave the address (or even better a map) in your car
Happy travels
When travelling long distances remember to keep your pet safe and secure in the vehicle so they don’t distract you or injure themselves if you need to brake sharply. When you arrive at your destination, take your pet out for a long walk so they can become familiar with their new surroundings. After a long car journey, it’ll be good for the whole family to get a breath of fresh air!
The obvious
It may seem obvious (but we wouldn’t be responsible owners if we didn’t mention it) NEVER leave a dog in a car on a warm day and if you see a dog in distress while on holiday, dial 999
Gwelmor Dog Friendly Holiday Cottage
Just four minutes’ walk from the beach at Widemouth Bay, north Cornwall, Gwelmor is a luxurious, self-catering holiday cottage which sleeps six (plus travel cot).
Our property warmly welcomes three dogs and has a host of provisions to make your dog's stay as relaxing as yours.
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