How to actually enjoy a dog-friendly summer holiday

There is a version of a dog-friendly summer holiday that actually works. And there is a version that involves a two-hour drive to a beach with a dog ban. The difference is almost entirely planning.

Book accommodation that welcomes dogs, not just allows them

Check the detail. Some dog-friendly properties have a one-dog limit, a size restriction, or a supplement that appears only at checkout. Find out whether the garden is enclosed. Canine Cottages and Helpful Holidays both list properties with filters for enclosed gardens and multiple dogs.

Plan the day around the heat

Walk in the morning before 9am and again in the evening after 6pm. Use the middle of the day for shaded activity: a dog-friendly pub, a garden, or quiet time at your accommodation.

Car travel

A car becomes dangerous for a dog within minutes on a warm day, even with windows cracked. If you stop anywhere during the journey, take your dog with you. A rear window sun shade reduces interior temperature while driving.

Finding dog-friendly pubs and restaurants

The Dog Friendly Pubs website and CAMRA's Good Beer Guide app both include dog-friendly filters. When in doubt, call ahead. A pub that genuinely welcomes dogs will say so immediately.

What to pack

The things most frequently forgotten: food measured into daily portions and sealed in containers; a collapsible bowl for water on the road; two towels specifically for the dog; your dog's usual bedding or a familiar blanket; a spare lead; poop bags in every bag you take out; and a basic first aid kit containing tweezers (for grass seeds), antiseptic wipes, a conforming bandage, and the number of a local vet near your destination.

Finding a vet while away

Identify a local vet near your destination before you leave. The RCVS vet finder at rcvs.org.uk lists every UK-registered practice by location. Find the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic as well as a day practice. Save the address and phone number offline before you travel.

If your dog takes regular medication, contact your home vet at least a week before departure. Sort it before you leave.