The Bone Blog

With the arrival of the British summer weather (make sure you don’t blink and miss it!) we bring you some ideas on how to include your dogs in family activities during the holidays!

With country walks, dog friendly pubs a-plenty, numerous festivals – not forgetting miles of stunning coastline – there’s no need for your pet companions to be left at home!

Here are some of our top picks:

Doggie Days Out:

There’s a wealth of forestry land and open countryside to explore in the UK.

If walking is your thing, why not research your local trails? You might even like to do part of a trail of interest such as The Pennine or Cotswold Way, or even incorporate the whole route into an actual holiday!

Most routes can be broken up into parts and gradually completed, a great site for further information is: https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/

Or what about basing a walk around the location of a dog friendly, historic pub?  Britain has a huge amount of traditional Inns – some with beautiful sea or riverside locations. There’s lots of books available, suggesting walks of different lengths and difficulty.

A great website with information on over 5000 dog friendly pubs: http://www.doggiepubs.org.uk/

There’s a huge choice of family friendly Festivals around the country – some are renowned for being both dog and child friendly. Find out what’s near you here:

https://www.petspyjamas.com/blog/top-10-dog-friendly-festivals/

Taking your dog to the seaside is always a popular choice, but before packing a picnic and heading to the beach, do make sure it is dog friendly!!  In the UK, there are 350+ beaches where dogs are allowed and another 400+ which have dog restrictions. Reliable websites will allow you to check your local area. Here’s some links to help you on your way:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/pets/dog-friendly-beaches/

https://www.nearestbeach.co.uk/dog-friendly

County & Country Shows throughout the summer months are a great day out with local craft stalls, food & drink and often dog competitions and agility demonstrations. They are often free to attend, many of which are listed here: https://www.ukcountyshows.co.uk/

There are plenty of Manor and Country houses set in beautiful grounds where dogs are welcome on a lead such as Blenheim Palace near Oxford or Capel Manor Gardens in Middlesex – again looking online is your best bet for checking what is near to you and dog friendly.

Holidays for Hounds:

There’s a wealth of self-catering dog friendly accommodation, B&Bs and even boutique hotels that now accept furry guests. Center Parcs and Forest Holidays have dog friendly cabins and the majority of campsites will also allow at least one dog:

VRBO – Pet Friendly – Top 50 UK Pet Friendly Holiday Lettings

httpss://www.mrandmrssmith.com/pet-friendly-hotels

www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/ukcampsites/holiday-ideas/camping-with-dogs

Further Afield:

With the introduction of a revised Pet Passport scheme several years ago, it’s become increasingly popular to travel abroad with your dog, as quarantine is no longer necessary, but there are very strict steps you must follow prior to leaving and returning, to ensure you are allowed re-entry into the country.

It’s worth bearing in mind that not all animals have a suitable temperament to travel abroad.  Journeys can be stressful and can involve your dog being left on its own in your car if travelling by ferry, or going into the hold of an aeroplane if flying.

It’s also expensive to fly your dog back into the UK and only specific airports accept animal cargo.

If you are considering taking your pet overseas, please ensure you thoroughly research their potential travelling conditions beforehand and consult your vet for advice.

Further information can be found here:

httpss://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/overview

And finally, a very nice and charitable activity to do with your furry friend is to support your local Animal Shelter by attending their Open Days ….many have days with lots of doggy related activities during the warmer months, so it’s a great idea to check out their website for upcoming events 🙂

We hope you have found these ideas inspiring and, wherever you take your fur person this summer, we know they will enjoy being included!

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