Holidaying with Dogs

Our first rescue border collie found a ball he had lost several years before on a visit to Clumber Park he went straight to the point where it was

Our Airedale dog did exactly the same JV. He “lost” his favourite ball in sand dunes at Holkham Beach, we searched everywhere for it with no luck. Came away, bought him another ball, went back to beach a couple of weeks later, and he calmly emerged from dunes with his original ball😲 We couldn’t t believe our eyes. It wasn’t lost his face said, he had merely stored it for his next visit🤣 

Yes, that's why we never got another dog after we retired.

Our previous dog was a rescue dog, she was lovely and well behaved, wasn't a nuisance on site but I can't say she liked it or the travelling. I just wouldn't inflict that on another dog that I loved.

We have been confined over the years to what we can do and where we can go due to OHs work.

We had always planned to travel after retiring, a dog would compromise what we want to do and it wouldn't be fair on it.

Still plenty of time to get one after we stop travelling, as long as we are fit enough to care for it properly. 

The above post was in reply to ET, I had trouble posting it and it lost its quoted section. WiFi a bit patchy on this CL. 

As you replied to me HD, I won't as I haven't got a dog

I actually tried one or two myself, it's not too bad but for some reason I seem to be noticing lamp posts more?

For us, our dogs have always enhanced rather than limited our holidays in the UK. We don't do cities, theatre, art galleries,  stately homes etc on holiday - we go all over the country but it's with walking/hill climbing in mind, so the dogs are ideal companions. Even now we're no longer caravanning, many cottages and hotels welcome visitors with dogs often without any charges. 

But we also go on foreign holidays; we've been lucky in the past in that we could rely on Dad or a friend (often former pupils) to care for them. The young lady who has been looking after Lady (with Harry in past years) recently had to move away because her place of work closed. So last week, when we were in Iceland, we found a really good local kennels to look after them. 4 lots of exercise a day with a huge paddock with, wait for it. .... a paddling pool, trampoline and slide for them to play on! We just picked them up this morning - all bathed, groomed and looking as though they'd had a whale of a time.

Were they stressed?  Well if I could just wake the pair of them up from sleeping curled up next to me on the settee I'd ask them, but I think not!  🐕 🐕 

I think all dog owners know there are compromises needed when holidaying with dogs, whether that be shorter journeys, more frequent stops, different destinations or a change in activities. Anyone not prepared to make those compromises really shouldn’t take on the responsibility of a dog so you made the right decision, TG. 

The only experience I’ve had of a dog not being happy travelling or staying in the van was our last dog when he became old and unwell. The experience proved too stressful for him even though he’d previously been happy to be with us. Consequently, we gave up touring for the remaining months of his life. He deserved no less.

That’s called caring about Dogs👍🏻