cottage rental with dogs - nightmare!

nerak_y

Hey folks,

I decided to book a last minute cottage for a week to take my girls and my dad along with our 2 dogs away someplace in Scotland, it will be the anniversary of my mums passing and thought it'd be nice to keep dad busy and in company.

My issue has come up following booking one yesterday, which i loved! I was charged £15 per pet, for which i am happy enough with. Once my email confirmation came through it said the dogs were never to be left unsupervised in the property. They have allowed me to cancel on the basis i would not have booked if this had been made clear, which was very accomodating of them.

Now obviously i can totally understand that the owners have to ensure their properties be looked after etc, but at the same time how can a family do anything. We couldn't even go out for dinner together unless they allowed dogs in (highly unlikely). It is not like we would be away everyday all day and leaving the dogs, but will want to do some touristy stuff the dogs can't participate in.

I'm at a loss on what to do now to be honest, i have emailed another owner advertising on ebay, again loving the house as you can watch dolphins from it! So will see if they follow the same rule as all the other cottage websites.

What do you dog owners do? Leaving them with friends is not an option i am afraid. xx

chris_n_tj

I am afraid most places will be the same. We got used to eating outside, and where we went TJ came with us.

I guess if your dogs are crated you could leave them fir a short time, but being in a strange place might upset them enough for them to make a racket.

There's plenty of places that accept well behaved dogs, have put a few links for you to check out. If you look hard enough you will find some great places. xxx

http://www.petsallowed.co.uk/dog-friendly-pubs.php

http://www.thewoofbook.co.uk/DaysOut.aspx

http://www.dogpeople.co.uk/

Oliver14

As Chris said most places stipulate that dogs can't be left you'll be pushed to find somewhere that doesn't. I normally find a local good kennels and see if I can arrange for them to look after the dogs for the odd day I wish to be dog free.

Also my dogs are perfectly fine in our car. I do occasionally leave them in there while we eat somewhere. Before anyone leaps on me I only ever do this in the evening or cold wet days. Never on sunny or slightly warm days (as cars can heat up very quickly)

cazziebo

We take our OES to Scottish cottages and it hasn't yet been a problem. If there is outside eating then that's perfect (and weather dependent), but many bars do allow dogs in. Usually we would have lunch or picnic out and then dinner or bbq at the cottage.

I suppose he could stay in the car for an hour or so if we were eating out. I can't think of ever having done that - Ardnamurchan and the West Highlands are particularly dog friendly. We always make sure that we get a cottage with an enclosed garden.

I do remember two of us having our lunch outside in torrential rain sheltered by a golf umbrella - dog under the table!

I think I'd worry too much to leave him unattended in a strange cottage.

Fire_Fox

Many people use a dog sitter or kennels.

KateLiana27

Get a local dog sitter.

BJV

My Old lab has gone now but we always used to use a local kennels. It was no more than a couple of pounds a day and she was safe and well looked after.

I might be worth checking your local ones out. I can understand the cottage owners and sorry to say but not all dog owners are responsible and they will want to look after their cottage for dog lovers and non dog lovers alike.

P.s Loving the idea of the dolphins!

starrystarry

We've taken our dog on cottage holidays in Scotland several times. And we've left him unattended in the property at times. I know my dog will behave himself, he just goes to sleep in his bed if we go out without him. We never leave him for long and we would close off most of the rooms so he's confined to one area.

The T&Cs do state that we should but I'm prepared to take the risk. I know that if he decides to trash the place I'd have to pay for the damage. Some of you will think I'm wrong to do this, but I know the risk is very small.

We use Welcome Cottages. They allow dogs at a lot of their properties and they don't charge any extra. In fact, they sometimes have a special offer where you get a discount if you're taking a dog.

zaksmum

Most rental places will stipulate this. When we take our dogs I know they won't be deliberately destructive but the younger one might try to tunnel out through a wall or something, so I wouldn't leave him alone anyway as he'd be scared in a strange place.

It's just a case of taking them everywhere with you. Where the dogs aren't allowed, you don't go.

And as Oliver said, they can be left in the car in the evening if you want to eat out. My dogs love being in the car and will happily settle down for a kip. Obviously though they can't be left in the car in the daytime or when it's warm...not too much of a concern with the British weather!

nerak_y

Ah thank you all for the most helpful replies!

I will peruse the links this afternoon Chris n TJ thanks :-)

Like Starrystarry, i know our dogs wouldn't chew or destroy the surroundings, but again i completely understand why owners keep this stipulation. Just makes a family holiday a bit 'awkward', but it isn't like we would be out all day or anything. I am gonna enquire about local dog sitters kennels actually. I didn't think of that, although the jack russell is a bit crabbit!
The lovely lady at Unique Cottages has been looking for other properties for me and is going to call the owners on the two found at this short notice. Even if we don't find anyplace, i must say they have been so helpful and friendly so would highly recommend!

Thank you people, most helpful of you all

xx

Mrs_Boo_Boo

My parents have a holiday cottage and always welcome dogs. In over 20 years they have not had any trouble. In fact I'm sure they have had more business as a result. I'm not sure what the wording of the agency they use says,but I'm sure people leave their dogs there when they go out. They have a stair gate which people sometimes use to contain them and have an enclosed patio area. If the agency rang them to confirm I know they would be in agreement to allow people to leave their pets.
I remember years ago a woman brought her cat once. Can't really enforce taking that anywhere!