I havent been away from home for around eight years now for various reasons and think its about time i had a little break. Maybe a weekend somewhere in the UK. I will take one or maybe two of my doggies with me and I have a list of Pet Friendly places to stay. Its just the other stuff like, can you take doggies into public toilets? I dont think I would trust anyone to "hold" my dogs for me while I went inside, and what about eating. Would I have to pack something for us for lunches etc or can you take dogs into pubs etc.Sorry to sound so naive but have been out of touch for a while and things are a little different when you are on your own. You cant just leave your dogs with your partner/friend etc and its been so long since I did anything like this. Got butterflies just thinking about it.

My expierience of Public toilets ranges from the down right awfull to wonderfull. They have just opened some in Yeovil and I could get all three of my Berns plus me in comfortably. I think new ones double up on disabled/standard use and make them all big to accomodate both, some old ones are so small you nearly have to stand on the seat to close the door!! Pot luck on that one I think!! As for eating lots of pubs are dog friendly, maybe not inside the restaraunt area but you can usually eat in the bar with dogs, we have lots of times. Shopping can be difficult though as most food shops will not let dogs in!! They let horrible children in who touch everything!! and usually have snotty noses and dirty hands!! (Not all children...but too many) and with parents who couldn't care less! but refuse nice clean well behaved dogs!!  but no doubt you could take a lot with you and pop into a local shop for the extras leaving the dogs in the car for a few moments.
I say go for it, there is always a way round problems somehow and it would be a shame to miss out on a break worrying too much.
Good luck...enjoy your hols!
Aileen

> Shopping can be difficult though as most food shops will not let dogs in!! They let horrible children in who touch everything!! and usually have snotty noses and dirty hands!! (Not all children...but too many) and with parents who couldn't care less! but refuse nice clean well behaved dogs!!

Even as a dog owner i wouldnt want to see dogs in food shops. Thats just ugh :-(

Annie, I'm sure when looking for places to stay you can look to see whats in the locality and check where is 'dog friendly'. If the weather is nice you can always sit outside the pub for some dinner, but many pubs will allow a well behaved dos inside to sit quietly at the bar.

Im sure you will have a lovely time, sounds like you deserve it :-)

We take the dogs on holiday with us a lot and if the weather is good you can usually take the dogs into a beer garden to eat. There has always been at least two of us though so there is always someone to hold the dogs while the other shops, orders food or goes to toilet etc. If you are taking a car you can always pop the dog(s) in there while you get organised but otherwise it mght be a problem. I'm sure you will manage though, especially if you are going into the countryside rather than into a town. Enjoy!

>Even as a dog owner i wouldnt want to see dogs in food shops. Thats just ugh

Don't go to France then!

I do not have a problem with dogs in food shops, as long as they are well behaved, after all my girlies like nothing better than to sit in my kitchen watching me cook...and helping out with floor washing if there is a droppage!!! I havn't caught anything off them yet..but I have caught cold's, flue and possibly the odd tummy upset off other people!! I cannot abide people who let thier children touch food that is for others consumption!
France is great for doggy holidays you can take them anywhere with you.
Aileen

Feel more positive already. yes, of course, the pub garden thing or outside in good weather. I will probably be able to watch the weather forecast and then decide to go so will be able to do that. I am not sure about taking dogs into food shops either, although i agree with you about the kids!! Its the parents, isnt it. they seem scared that their kids wont like them anymore if they use discipline. (but thats a whole nuther topic lol)
I think squeezing me and two dogs into a loo cubicle will have me in hysterics as I laugh at the daftest things. People will be wondering what is going on. should be fun to watch their faces when I come out!!
Thats fine then, was worried I wouldnt be allowed to take them in. I do hate public toilets but I suppose needs must, as they say.
All four of the puppies from my girl's last litter went to live at the seaside (lucky pups) and I do have open invitations from them to visit. One is a b and b in Cornwall (Fowey) and another in the Isle of Man but they are a bit too far to travel from Manchester. Another is in Fleetwood and the fourth in Criccieth. Maybe staying somewhere near them would be good then we can visit our lovely puppies at the same time.
Thanks for your sensible advice.

We camp alot and find varying areas to be more accepting of the dog than others, peak district - we can going in pubs to eat with him (bar area only) and the shops, also exmoor area is great.

We have recently just had a week in Criccieth at a log cabin is was wonderful, very dog friendly. Prolblem I do find with that area (my folks live in Harlech) is they are not so forthcoming letting dogs in places.

Good luck

Oooh i used to live in criccieth, so so so gorgeous. I recommend going there, its so pretty. There is one section of the beach at this time of the year dog friendly but more beaches close by allow dogs year round. You can take your dog in at least one of the pubs and there are two with beer gardens. 

I've just had a thought (or is this ridiculous) but if you are on your own and worried about dog theft, could you not use a bike lock type device to secure the dogs while you go to the toilet etc?? Not sure if its possible as you would need a collar with a lock too so the potential theif cannot simply take the collar off?? Theres gotta be a way round it

Having a dragons den moment - i need to develop and patent this :-)

Have a look at self catering.  Although some of the established holiday cottages only take bookings for weekends during off peak season, you'll find plenty of owner-let places have availability at short notice.  Try doing a search on eBay - it's great if you aren't too bothered about where or when you go.

In that way you'll not need to have the dogs out with you ALL the time.  You'll have the opportunity for a look round first and you can leave the dogs in the house for a short time whilst you book somewhere for lunch etc.  We stayed in Scotland recently on the edge of a small town so had the best of both worlds.  Great beaches a short drive away, good country walks AND a small town centre for ice creams, coffee, and fish & chips!

Beware some of the more obvious tourist places in the summer, they are often heaving with the sort of non doggy people that exclaim "Oh, he/she's never done that before" ...whilst prising their dogs teeth off your dogs head!!

Have a lovely time :)

> Oh, he/she's never done that before" ...whilst prising their dogs teeth off your dogs head!!
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lol

It suddenly all seems so easy. Yes, the self catering thing. thats an idea too. Could always go and get a takeaway or something. Just had a thought too. Might be useful to someone else like me. It was only on the news today about how many single people there are going on holiday for various reasons. I bet if I did a bit of research there will probably be single doggy people holidays, if you know what i mean. See you have inspired me to use my brain a bit, for a change. lol. Thanks peeps. You are well good (as grandaughter would say)

If you look on the kennel club website, they have a scheme called 'open for dogs' It is kind of like a directory of all the shops, pubs, restaurants, hotels etc that are doggy friendly (only ones that have joined though, we are part of it :) ) If sure you will find a few places in the area you wish to visit that are part of the scheme.
Lol, I know what some of you mean about Children vs Dogs though. I wanted a sign outside our pub stating "Well behaved dogs welcome, please tether children outside. Drinking water provided" :)
Hope this helps! have a fantastic time x

Annie, honestly, go for it.

I was worried when I considered it for the first time, but do it loads now.   I hadn't been away since 1976 (yes, I'm ancient), and, finding myself alone and in the doldrums in 2003, did a bit of surfing to see what was out there, and emailed the Torquay Tourist Board.  I only had 4 dogs at that time, and they found me a person who preferred animals to children, in Marldon, out in the country, but easy access to Paignton.

I hired a bungalow for the week, and had the most wonderful relaxing break.  The owner had left a notice up giving info on the dog friendly places.  All the little hidden coves were great, we often had the place to ourselves, as people with pushchairs would have found a lot of the coves difficult to get to.

Hope Cove was wonderful, lovely dog friendly pub and the tastiest pork loin cooked in cider!!!!  :-)  I took 2 Bearded Collies with me, a terrier cross and a Toy Poodle.  The dogs never let me down once.  It was so successful I wondered why I hadn't done it years before.  I ended up getting myself a static on a small private site, and just go whenever I need a break. 

Enjoy yourself!  :-)  :-)  :-)

> Annie, honestly, go for it.
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Well done JeanSW. I make that 27 years without a holiday. Must have taken some guts. 4 dogs, wow! I really admire what you did and it sounded wonderful. Got more butterflies now. Will plan just a couple of days not too far away for a start and then, who knows!!! Got doggies booked in for sitting at the moment but will try to keep a weekend free soon. thanks again for all the input. Greatly appreciated.