Are you going on vacation without your best friend? For the growing number of dog owners, this is unthinkable.
Holiday operators have seen a huge increase in the number of guests booking dog-friendly accommodation in recent months, and the trend is expected to accelerate this year.
Haven, which operates 38 holiday parks in the UK, saw pet-friendly holiday bookings rise by nearly 15% last year, from 74,000 to 85,000, and expects a bigger increase in 2024. Smaller operators reported similar increases.
Campsites and holiday parks are popular options for dog owners looking for long walks, new friends and a relaxed atmosphere; but plenty of bed and breakfasts and even luxury London hotels, from Lanesborough by Hyde Park to Shangri-La in the Shard, now welcome dogs too. . Around a third of UK properties listed on Booking.com are now listed as “pet friendly”, and some even allow cats and rabbits.
The holiday dog boom began as dog ownership increased during lockdown. In the first year of the pandemic, 3.2 million households got a pet and there are now around 12 million dogs in the UK. According to Dogs Trust, around 70% of dog owners take their dogs with them on holiday.
For me, this is a fad, a fashion. We embraced the idea that dogs should be allowed everywhere, regardless of the rest of the public.
Michelle Foulia, writer
What makes UK sacred dogs particularly popular is that since Brexit it has become expensive and complicated to take dogs to Europe. British pet passports were no longer valid after January 2021 and each trip now requires a certificate showing dogs have been microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, which can cost up to £300 per dog.
Martin Cox, vice-president of the British Holiday and Home Parks Association, said 40% of bookings at west Dorset holiday parks last year came from guests with dogs, with the figure rising to 31% in 2022. “More and more people are bringing their dogs,” he said. “We also have a four-acre dog exercise area and we’re thinking of doing dog agility areas so they can do some jumping. “There’s probably been an increase in the number of people owning dogs during the pandemic. One of the hidden things that Brexit has caused “It is now much more difficult to take your dog to Europe.”
Simon Palethorpe, Haven’s chief executive, said the company was investing in more dog-friendly accommodation after seeing the reported increase in dog ownership. “Our calculations were that there would be a lot of families rethinking their holidays,” he said. More than 100,000 dog reservations are expected in 2024.
Haven now accepts dogs at nearly all of its parks and lists dog-friendly beaches nearby. Many parks also have “bark areas” with obstacle courses. “Owners are generally more enthusiastic about it,” Palethorpe said. “They might be a little confused by the dog, but it’s pretty fun for families.”
Having fun on the beach with your pet and then curling up in front of a pub fire might sound like heaven, but not every place is dog-friendly.
That’s a good thing, says Michelle Foulia, a former animal welfare worker and children’s book author. Poppy’s Miracle, Based on the story of his own rescue dog. Despite his belief in dogs, Foulia believes that many owners fail to properly train their dogs; This causes distress in neurodivergent people like her and her daughter.
“For me, this is a fad, a fashion. “We embraced the idea that dogs should be allowed everywhere, regardless of the rest of the public,” he said. “I had to leave cafes and meetings with friends because of noisy dogs. It’s not that I’m anti-dog, it’s just that I want to go somewhere and sleep peacefully or relax in the garden, in a bar or cafe “I want to. But people’s dogs bark at each other, otherwise they would bark for food.”
He believes establishments should only allow dogs who have completed the Kennel Club’s Good Citizen dog training programme.
Good operators find a balance between dog and non-dog, says Vicky Saynor, who founded Bethnal&Bec luxury retreats in Hertfordshire with her husband Chris seven years ago.
“When we started becoming dog friendly, we quickly learned that there were a lot of people who would no longer stay with us,” she said.
“So when we built our third shelter, we made it dog-proof. “If it were available on weekdays, we could fill this place with people with dogs, but it is important that the places are dog-free.”
A surcharge for dogs applies to cover the cost of cleaning rooms for an extra hour after each stay. “Some people are annoyed by the fact that you have to pay to bring a dog, but we also provide towels, blankets, bowls and poop bags,” she said.
The Saynors didn’t give the dogs a second thought until they got their rescue pointer, Hendrix. “We were surprised at how limiting this was,” he said. “I travel frequently with my dog now for work and I get annoyed that I’m put in the worst room because I’m with Hendrix. Some of the big brands haven’t thought this through. They say you’re not allowed to leave your dog alone in your room – which I would never do – but your dog can’t go to the restaurant or bar. How do I do this?”
But finding accommodation has definitely become easier. “One of my greatest pleasures is exploring England with Hendrix. I had never done this before I had a dog.