When “dog Friendly” Really Means “dogs Not Welcome Here”

It should really come as no surprise that, according to National Pet Month, dog ownership in the UK has risen to an all-time high with no less than 7.3 million households owning at least one pooch. It seems that much of the impetus behind this growth is coming from the increase in single households where the occupant cites companionship as the main reason for having a pet.

One of the side-effects of the boom in dog ownership is a long overdue improvement in leisure facilities available to owners. Proprietors of pubs, hotels and holiday cottages etc. can simply no longer afford to exclude such a large proportion of their potential patrons and are now bending over backwards to accommodate them with the ubiquitous “ dogs welcome “ tag.

The sad reality is, however, that too many establishments purporting to be dog friendly are in fact just going through the motions and simply paying lip service to pet owners in rather the same way that they comply with health & safety requirements and install wheelchair access.

In our experience, the only real guarantee that leisure accommodation is genuinely ‘Dog Friendly’ is dog ownership by the proprietors themselves. This really is as strong an indication as you are going to get that you and your pets are going to be naturally accepted on the premises.

Where dog owners do suffer an uncomfortable experience, it is not exactly the end of the world if it just occurs during a short stop in a pub or even an overnight bed and breakfast stay. However, it really gets upsetting if it is during a longer expensive break at a hotel or in holiday cottage accommodation. This is when a hostile attitude or poor facilities can lead to serious disappointment.

It’s hardly surprising therefore that a growing number of dog owners are confining their search for dog friendly holidays to places where animals are already a major fixture and the proprietors have grown up surrounded by dogs. We are, of course, talking about farms where life wouldn’t be quite the same without at least one dog barking in the farmyard or lying curled up in front of the range.

Devon is an ideal location to visit if you’re looking to take your beloved pet away with you. With so many acres of moorland and woodland, you can discover some great walks and really enjoy the countryside with your canine at your side.

By: Brendan Wilde

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When looking for the perfect dog friendly holidays ensure you choose a place where dogs are already part of the family.