Leading animal welfare charity, Battersea, has created a guide to how to have a dog-friendly holiday this summer.

Battersea’s Canine Behaviour and Training Manager, Janine Pemberthy, advises: “It’s not surprising that people are looking to take a break and enjoy what the UK has to offer with their dog as their loyal travel companion. Here at Battersea we want to help dog owners and their pets enjoy their holiday together in the safest way possible whether you’re heading to Woofferton in Shropshire or Labrador Bay in Devon.”

Canine Cottages, a proud partner of Battersea, has seen a significant increase in dog-friendly holidays booked this year, with bookings including dogs up 68% for the summer holidays when compared to 2019, and up 85% in total across 2021. This follows a survey[1] earlier this year that found 3.2 million households in the UK have got a dog since the start of the pandemic.

Shannon Keary, PR & Communications Manager at Canine Cottages, commented: “It’s fantastic that so many are looking to travel with their four-legged friends in tow - our dogs are going to be just as excited as we are to get out and explore this year; they are, after all, just as much a part of the family as any other member!

“Hopefully this advice will help everyone to get the most out of their adventures and prove reassuring to those travelling with their pups, possibly for the first time, this summer!”

Battersea’s top tips:

• Plan ahead. Make sure you find out where the local vets will be at your destination in case of emergencies.
• Ensure your dog is microchipped and your details are up to date before you travel.
• Plan your journey. If travelling by car, make sure you take a route that has enough stops so not only can the humans take a break, but dogs can stretch their legs too and have regular water and toilet breaks.
• Never leave your dog alone in the car, no matter how quick you think you might be away for. Cars can get extremely warm, very quickly, and can have fatal consequences for your dog.
• If travelling by public transport and your dog is an inexperienced traveller, try out shorter journeys in the lead up to the holiday so that your dog gets used to the sights and sounds. 
• Pack well. Make sure you pack all the essentials for all eventualities – and any spares – just in case. A blanket or bed that is familiar to them, enough food to last the whole trip away, their favourite toys, any medication they might have (and enough of it), long-lasting chews and treats are also a good idea. Don’t forget to pack a towel if your dog is impartial to a bit of swimming!
• It’s a good idea to make sure flea and worming treatments are all up to date before you set off.
• Once arrived at your destination, remember to follow all the rules of the local area concerning dogs - it is there for everyone’s safety.
• Most importantly, have a good time!

Case study: Eevie’s first holiday

Eevie is a seven month old Shih Tzu who experienced her first holiday this summer.

Like many dog owners, Kim likes to be able to share her holiday with her dogs. Kim explains: “Seeing our dogs enjoy a change of scenery is part of the fun. Eevie was able to have her first positive encounters with various other animals safely. She found it all very exciting but took it all in her stride very quickly. Her favourite thing was splashing around in the streams and climbing up fallen logs which was great for using up that excess puppy energy! At the end of every day, Eevie and her big brother, Labrador Benson, settled down in front of the fire with us.”

Kim on booking a pet-friendly holiday: “It’s becoming a lot easier finding pet friendly holiday lets, restaurants and shops in most popular British tourist areas. We had fairly specific needs as we were looking for an enclosed garden for young Eevie, and a place on one level for Benson, who’s an old boy. It did narrow our choices down but after a few hours of research we were able to find the ideal place for us all. Booking was fairly straight forward from then on, we just had to wait for the holiday to come around!”

To find out more about pet-friendly accommodation, please visit https://www.caninecottages.co.uk/, or for more information on pet safety, please visit www.battersea.org.uk