The season for holidaying in the UK is upon us! If you’ve booked somewhere that welcomes dogs, your four-legged friend will be looking forward to a break as much as you! I’ve pulled together a handy little guide for taking your dog on holiday including some helpful tips on dog-friendly service stations, beach etiquette, and what to pack.
Some of it may be stating the obvious, but after making the 5+ hour-long journey to Devon and Cornwall with Bob our Chocolate Labrador it’s good to have a list. And as we start to plan our next UK break with Bob I thought this would be a great opportunity to share our preparations with you.
If you’re wondering should you take your dog on holiday with you. The answer is yes, absolutely! Bob has followed us across the Country on our weekend and week long breaks since he joined our family in 2020 and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Dogs need a holiday too. We love to plan our UK breaks around Bobster.
Travel Tips for taking your dog on holiday in the UK
1. The car journey – ensuring your dog is comfortable on such a long journey is key. Take their favourite blanket and toys for familiarity. Pack snacks, a travel water bowl, poo bags, collar & lead, and a car harness for safety. Be sure to include dog-friendly stops on the way, it makes all the difference knowing the station allows dogs and has the space for you all to stretch your legs. At the end of your journey, I would recommend a long dog walk to tire your four-legged friend out and to get used to the area.
2. Your accommodation – be sure to research, drop the landlord an email, and read reviews to fully understand how dog-friendly your accommodation actually is. Are there any restrictions on where the dog can roam and the size of the dog, is there a garden area, and how accessible is it? And how secure?
3. Choose a dog-friendly location – not just in terms of beaches to play on and all the wonderful coastal walks to take, but one with plenty of restaurants, cafés, and pubs that welcome dogs. When we travel with Bob we enjoy taking him with us on all of our adventures, and that includes the places that look good to eat at.
4. Don’t forget to pack – all of your dog’s essentials. Food and water bowls, bed, blanket, towels, spare collar and lead (for those wet dog days), food – Bob has raw food so we plan ahead and have a delivery sent to our accommodation. And don’t forget the dog treats and anything you need for dog walking or beach trips – poo bags, sunshade, stake, and a long cable for the garden or beach trips. And then there are the toys, we always pack a dog bone – as this keeps him happy for hours while unpacking.
5. Don’t forget to carry your dog’s paperwork with you – insurance and ID details to help you if something happens. Research the local area and identify veterinary practices. We always notify our vets when we are travelling.
And that’s our travel tips for taking your dog on holiday in the UK. Would you add any more tips to the list?
If you would like to read more about travelling in the UK with your dog, you can read this post about the best dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall or dog-friendly places to eat and drink in Devon.
I’m Kerri-Ann or KA as my friends call me, always found with a cup of coffee in one hand and my camera in the other. I have a huge passion for photography, fitness, fashion and family travel. I started this blog in 2014. It began as my creative outlet after becoming a mummy to our little boy George Archie. I started out blogging about parenting and over the years it has evolved into a blog that covers lifestyle, fashion, family and travel. Today TheKAEdit is ultimately a life and style blog. Thank you for reading x x
