Dog Life

A UK staycation with your dog: planning and packing list

Cottage checks, beach rules, the car journey, a full packing list and how to settle a dog somewhere new.

By 5 min read
French bulldog licking a frozen lick tray on a picnic blanket

A staycation with your dog is one of the great British pleasures: a cosy cottage, a muddy coastal path, a pub with a water bowl by the door and a dog asleep by the fire by eight o'clock. It is also, if you forget the poo bags or book a cottage with a garden fence a terrier could walk through, a very long weekend. A bit of planning makes all the difference, and this guide covers it from booking to the drive home, with a full packing list in the middle.

What should I check before booking a dog-friendly cottage?

"Dog-friendly" means different things to different owners. Some places welcome dogs everywhere; others mean one small dog, downstairs only, never on the sofa. Ask before you book, not when you arrive.

  • How many dogs, and what size? Some cottages limit numbers or sizes.
  • Where can the dog go? Upstairs, on furniture, in bedrooms?
  • Is the garden fully enclosed? Ask how high the fence is and whether there are gaps or gates onto a road.
  • Can the dog be left alone? Many places do not allow it, which affects your plans for that nice dinner out.
  • Is there a freezer? Worth knowing if you plan to bring frozen toys.
  • What is nearby? Footpaths straight from the door, dog-friendly pubs and cafés, and the nearest vet.

Can I take my dog to the beach?

Often, yes, but not every beach and not all year. Many UK beaches have seasonal dog restrictions, usually covering the busier months, and some have dog-free zones next to areas where dogs are welcome. Rules vary from beach to beach, so check the signs at the entrance and the local council's website before you go.

Freezbone tip

Take fresh water and a bowl to the beach. Dogs who gulp seawater while playing can end up with an upset stomach, and a long session on hot sand is hard on paws. Rinse the salt and sand off afterwards, especially between the toes.

On cliff paths, keep your dog close or on a lead near edges, and on any walk with sheep, cows or horses about, keep them on a lead. Countryside walks bring their own hazards depending on the season; our guide to autumn walk hazards like conkers and acorns is worth a read before an October break.

How do I make the car journey easier?

  • Keep your dog secure. A crate, a dog guard or a car harness keeps them safe and stops them climbing into the front.
  • Stop regularly. Break the journey for a leg stretch, a wee and a drink of water, on a lead at every stop.
  • Feed lightly before you go. A big breakfast and a winding road are not a good mix.
  • Never leave your dog in a parked car on a warm day. Cars heat up quickly, even with the windows open. Our guide to summer mistakes dog owners make covers hot cars in more detail.
  • Practise first. If your dog rarely travels, a few short drives in the weeks before help.

How do I settle my dog on the first evening in a new place?

New smells, new noises and a strange bed can unsettle even a laid-back dog. Make the first evening as familiar and calm as you can.

When you arrive

  • Walk the garden boundary before you let your dog off the lead
  • Let them sniff round the house calmly, on a lead if they are excitable
  • Put away anything breakable at tail height

That first evening

  • Set up their own bed and blanket in a quiet corner
  • Keep to their usual meal and walk times
  • Give them a frozen toy while you unpack, so the new place starts with something good

That frozen toy is the secret weapon. A long licking session helps a dog switch off after a day in the car, and it keeps them busy while you work out how the cottage oven works. Fill two or three before you leave and travel them in a cool bag with ice packs. Even if they soften on the way, they will refreeze in the cottage freezer overnight. Our batch-freezing guide shows how to fill a week's worth in one go.

“Clifford our big white dog loves his freeze one super tough version. He has not chewed it up yet and looks forward to it on the freeze bone rotation. We also camp and travel in a class B camper van and with it being a van there isn’t very much room to carry all of his toys and treats so this will be perfect.”
Brenda H., verified buyer

Your dog staycation packing list

Pack the dog's bag first. It is the one you will most regret forgetting.

Essentials

  • Lead, collar with an ID tag and your mobile number
  • Harness, if you use one
  • Enough food for the whole trip, plus a spare day
  • Food and water bowls
  • Bottle of water for the car and walks
  • Poo bags, more than you think
  • Any medication, with instructions

Comforts from home

  • Their own bed or blanket, unwashed so it smells of home
  • A favourite toy
  • Two or three filled frozen toys in a cool bag
  • Treats for rewarding calm behaviour
  • A crate, if they sleep in one at home

Mud and weather

  • Old towels, at least two
  • A dog coat for wet or cold days
  • An old sheet or throw for the cottage sofa, if dogs are allowed on it
  • A long line for safe off-lead time in unfamiliar places

Easy to forget

  • The name and number of a vet near where you are staying
  • Up-to-date microchip details
  • A tick remover, for countryside breaks
  • Kitchen roll and pet-safe cleaning spray for accidents

What if my dog is unsettled on holiday?

Some dogs take a day or two to adjust. Pacing, panting, whining, following you from room to room or going off their food for a meal are all common at first.

  • Stick to their normal routine as closely as you can.
  • Give them plenty of exercise, but do not overdo the first day's walk.
  • Offer calm activities: a frozen toy, a gentle sniff round the garden, a chew in their bed.
  • Stay with them for the first evening rather than heading straight out.
  • Keep greetings low-key and let them come to you for reassurance.
  • Call a local vet if your dog stops eating for more than a day, has repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, seems to be in pain, or eats something they should not have
  • Look up the nearest practice and its out-of-hours arrangements before you travel, so you are not searching for it in a panic

Enjoy the trip

With the right cottage, a well-packed bag and a frozen toy for that first evening, a UK staycation is a proper treat for both of you. Expect sandy paws, muddy towels and one very tired, very happy dog in the back of the car on the way home.

Frequently asked questions

  • Often, but many UK beaches have seasonal dog restrictions, usually during the busier months, and some have dog-free zones. Rules vary by beach, so check the signs at the entrance and the local council's website before you go.

  • Ask how many dogs are allowed and what size, which rooms and furniture they can use, whether the garden is fully enclosed, whether dogs can be left alone and whether there is a freezer.

  • Check the garden boundary first, set up their own bed in a quiet corner, keep to their usual routine and give them a frozen toy while you unpack. Stay with them on the first evening.

  • Stop regularly for a leg stretch, a wee and a drink of water, keeping your dog on a lead at every stop. Never leave them alone in a parked car on a warm day.

  • Lead, collar with an ID tag, food for the whole trip plus a spare day, bowls, water, poo bags, any medication, their bed, towels, a coat and two or three frozen toys in a cool bag.

  • Only if the owner allows it, and many do not. If they do, build up gradually: a short absence first, with a frozen toy to keep your dog busy, rather than a long evening out on night one.

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Written by Freezbone Team

We design freezable, refillable chew toys and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it. Freezbone LTD ships across the UK.

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