Dog Friendly Holidays Planning Tips

Planning a Holiday Your Dog Will Actually Enjoy

Taking your dog on holiday is one of the most rewarding decisions you can make as a pet owner — but it requires a different kind of planning than a solo trip. From finding genuinely dog-welcoming accommodation to managing long car journeys, the details matter enormously. Done well, a dog-friendly holiday strengthens your bond and gives your dog rich new experiences. Done poorly, it leaves everyone stressed and exhausted.

The good news is that dog-friendly travel has expanded dramatically. According to the Dogs Trust 2023 annual report, approximately 13 million households in the UK own a dog, and surveys suggest over 40% of those owners now take their dogs on at least one holiday per year. The infrastructure to support them — pet-friendly hotels, dog-welcoming beaches, trail networks with water stations — has grown to match that demand.

Choosing the Right Destination

Not every beautiful place is a good fit for a dog. Before booking anything, research the specific rules at your destination. Many National Parks in the UK, including the Lake District and Dartmoor, allow dogs on most trails but require leads in certain areas during ground-nesting bird season, typically March through July. Dartmoor National Park Authority publishes seasonal dog access maps on their website, which are worth downloading before you go.

Coastal destinations deserve particular attention. Some of the most popular beaches in Cornwall and Devon operate seasonal dog bans between May and September on the main swimming beaches, while quieter coves nearby remain open year-round. Websites like Dog Friendly Britain and the Kennel Club's own travel section list beach access rules by county, updated annually.

Matching the Destination to Your Dog's Fitness Level

A 10-year-old Labrador with mild arthritis and a 2-year-old Border Collie have very different holiday needs. High-altitude hikes in the Scottish Highlands might be perfect for one and genuinely harmful for the other. The British Veterinary Association recommends that owners consult their vet before any trip involving sustained exercise over 5 miles per day, particularly for brachycephalic breeds like French Bulldogs and Pugs, who overheat more easily and struggle with humidity.

Sarah Thornton, a dog owner from Bristol who regularly holidays in Pembrokeshire with her two Spaniels, puts it plainly: "We learned the hard way on our first trip. We booked a cottage near a stunning coastal path but didn't account for the fact that one of our dogs had just turned 9. By day two she was limping. Now we plan routes in advance and build in rest days."

Urban Versus Rural Holidays

City breaks with dogs are increasingly viable. Amsterdam, for example, is widely regarded as one of Europe's most dog-friendly cities, with dogs permitted in most cafés and on public transport. Closer to home, Edinburgh's Old Town has dozens of pubs and restaurants with outdoor seating that welcome dogs, and the city's proximity to Arthur's Seat and the Pentland Hills means off-lead exercise is never far away.

Rural holidays offer more freedom but come with their own challenges: livestock, wildlife, and limited access to emergency veterinary care. Always locate the nearest 24-hour veterinary clinic before you arrive at a rural destination. In remote parts of Wales or the Scottish Highlands, the nearest emergency vet may be over an hour's drive away.

Accommodation: Reading Between the Lines

The phrase "dogs welcome" on a booking site can mean almost anything. Some properties genuinely embrace dogs — dog beds, towels, treat jars, enclosed gardens. Others tolerate them reluctantly, charge steep cleaning fees, and restrict them to one room. Reading reviews specifically mentioning dogs is the most reliable filter.

Sykes Cottages and Canine Cottages are two UK-based platforms that specialise in genuinely dog-friendly self-catering properties. Canine Cottages in particular allows you to filter by features like enclosed gardens, ground-floor bedrooms, and proximity to dog-friendly beaches. Their 2024 data showed that properties with enclosed gardens received 35% more bookings from dog owners than those without.

"We always look for a property with a secure garden first, then worry about everything else. It means we can have a glass of wine in the evening without worrying about the dog bolting into a country lane." — James and Priya Okafor, regular dog-holiday travellers, interviewed for the Kennel Club's 2023 member newsletter.

When staying in hotels rather than self-catering, chains like Kimpton Hotels (internationally) and many independent UK hotels in the Cotswolds and Yorkshire Dales have formalised dog-welcome policies that include dog beds, food bowls, and sometimes even a dog menu. Always call ahead to confirm the specific policy rather than relying solely on the website listing.

What to Ask Before You Book

• Is there a size or breed restriction? Some properties exclude dogs over 25kg or specific breeds.
• How many dogs are permitted? Many properties cap at two.
• Is there an additional cleaning fee, and how much is it?
• Are dogs allowed on furniture or in bedrooms?
• Is the garden fully enclosed, and how high are the fences?
• Is there somewhere to rinse muddy dogs before entering?

Travelling Safely: Car Journeys and Beyond

Under the UK Highway Code Rule 57, dogs must be suitably restrained in vehicles so they cannot distract the driver or cause injury in a sudden stop. Unrestrained dogs in a car travelling at 30mph can become a projectile with a force equivalent to 20 times their body weight. The options for safe restraint include crash-tested harnesses, secured crates, and dog guards combined with boot barriers.

The Sleepypod Clickit Sport harness and the Ruffwear Load Up harness are among the few products that have passed independent crash testing by the Centre for Pet Safety in the United States. Most harnesses sold as "car safe" have not been independently crash-tested, so it is worth checking before purchasing.

For journeys over two hours, plan stops every 90 minutes to two hours. Dogs should not be left in parked cars in temperatures above 20°C — the RSPCA notes that on a 22°C day, the interior of a car can reach 47°C within an hour. If you need to stop for a meal, choose services or restaurants with outdoor seating rather than leaving your dog in the vehicle.

For travel by train, most UK rail operators allow dogs free of charge, though they must be kept on a lead and cannot occupy seats. Eurostar does not permit dogs (with the exception of assistance dogs), so if you are travelling to mainland Europe, the ferry or the Channel Tunnel by car are the practical options for pet owners.

Health, Paperwork, and Packing

Domestic UK travel requires no specific documentation for your dog beyond up-to-date microchipping, which has been a legal requirement in England since 2016. However, travelling to Europe post-Brexit requires an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian no more than 10 days before travel, along with proof of rabies vaccination. The AHC has replaced the old EU Pet Passport for UK-issued documents.

The PDSA's 2023 PAW Report found that 1 in 4 dogs in the UK is not up to date with their vaccinations. Before any holiday, confirm your dog's vaccination status covers the destinations you are visiting. Kennel cough (Bordetella) vaccination is particularly relevant if your dog will be mixing with other dogs at dog-friendly pubs, beaches, or parks.

Item	Purpose	Notes
Collapsible water bowl	Hydration on walks	Ruffwear Bivy Bowl is lightweight and durable
First aid kit	Minor injuries	Include tick remover, wound spray, bandages
Dog's own bedding	Familiar scent reduces anxiety	Even a single blanket helps in new environments
Poo bags (large supply)	Responsible waste disposal	Bring more than you think you need
Microchip and vaccination records	Required for overseas travel; useful domestically	Keep digital copies on your phone
Flea and tick treatment	Prevention in rural and woodland areas	Apply before travel; consult your vet for product choice
Long line (5–10 metres)	Controlled freedom in areas where off-lead is restricted	Useful on beaches with partial restrictions

Managing Your Dog's Wellbeing on Holiday

Dogs thrive on routine, and holidays disrupt almost every element of it — feeding times, sleep location, exercise patterns, and social environment. Some dogs adapt instantly and love the novelty. Others show signs of stress: excessive panting, reduced appetite, destructive behaviour, or clinginess. Recognising these signs early allows you to adjust the pace of the holiday rather than pushing through a packed itinerary.

Dogs Trust recommends maintaining feeding times as consistently as possible even when travelling, and bringing enough of your dog's regular food for the entire trip rather than switching brands mid-holiday. Sudden dietary changes combined with travel stress are a common cause of digestive upset in dogs on holiday.

Emma Clarke, a veterinary nurse from Manchester who holidays annually in the Yorkshire Dales with her rescue Greyhound, describes her approach: "Greyhounds can be quite anxious in new environments. We always arrive at the cottage in the afternoon so he has time to sniff every corner before it gets dark. That first evening we do nothing — no pub, no walk, just settling in. By day two he's completely relaxed."

1. Arrive with enough time for your dog to explore the new space before nightfall.
2. Keep the first day's activity level lower than usual to allow adjustment.
3. Bring a worn item of your clothing if your dog is prone to separation anxiety.
4. Identify a quiet space in the accommodation where your dog can retreat if overwhelmed.
5. Stick to your dog's normal feeding schedule as closely as possible.

For dogs with diagnosed anxiety, speak to your vet before the trip. Options range from behavioural preparation techniques to short-term medication for particularly stressful travel days. The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) maintains a register of accredited behaviourists who can help prepare anxious dogs for travel in the weeks before a holiday.

The most successful dog holidays share a common thread: the owner planned around the dog's needs first, and built the human itinerary around what remained. That shift in perspective — from "can I bring my dog?" to "what does my dog need to enjoy this?" — is what separates a genuinely good holiday from a stressful one for everyone involved.