Springtime breaks for dogs… and their owners… with Canine Cottages

A hand-picked collection of over 2,000 UK properties dedicated to dogs and their owners

With Crufts fast approaching (7 – 10 March) and the Easter school holidays just a matter of weeks away, now is the time to book a spring break with your dog…

Canine Cottages (www.caninecottages.co.uk) features holiday properties in some of the UK’s most beautiful locations and is the go-to brand for pup-parents wanting to take their beloved hound on holiday. Sleeping between two and 42 people, and up to five dogs, each property has been hand-picked with four-legged friends in mind. You can narrow your search to focus on places to stay which are family-friendly, near a beach or a pub, with an enclosed garden, hot tub, tennis court, indoor swimming pool, open fire or spa facilities, and so much more.

Tempted to treat your canine companion? Here’s some inspiration for a springtime escape:

Sussex: Eclectic cabin overlooking Royal Military Canal, Close to Camber Sands…

Cabin by the River (sleeps two) is where modern rustic meets beach house, with an eye-catching mix of contemporary and retro furnishings. Overlooking the Royal Military Canal, you’re just minutes from Rye, and close to Camber Sands. The owner’s friendly dogs are on site and happily welcome you to their home. A week’s stay costs from £309 pp (£617 total). ​One dog welcome (£20 supplement for the week).

Brecon Beacons: Open-plan luxe living with spa, sauna, pony trekking and datcha…

Black Hill Barn (sleeps four) is a beautifully-restored converted barn, set on an organic farm high in the spectacular Black Mountains. There is an abundance of activities including walking, cycling, pony trekking and fishing. As an optional extra, there’s a sauna and relaxation spa on site, and afternoon tea can be taken in the new Adriaan’s Datcha (reflecting the idea of a Russian Datcha) which houses a library and a wood-burning stove. A week’s stay costs from £185 pp (£737 total). One dog welcome (£20 supplement for the week).

Scotland: Earth Ship with hot tub and loch island access…

Earth Ship (sleeps seven) is a unique, single-storey eco-property on a working beef and sheep farm in Perth and Kinross. From its elevated position, the countryside views across Loch Leven are magnificent. Take a boat trip over to the tiny island on the Loch, home to the historic Loch Leven Castle where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in 1567. Enjoy cosy nights in, spent between the private hot tub and the wood burner, at the Earth Ship. Guests are welcome to help collect the chickens’ eggs and, in the spring, feed the lambs, too. A week’s stay costs from £136 pp (£950 total). Two dogs are welcome (£20 supplement each for the week).

Cotswolds: country abode with an indoor heated pool, all-weather tennis and an AGA…

Pond Close Farm (sleeps 12) is a stylish country house, set within 12 acres, just ten miles from Bath. The bespoke kitchen/diner has a refectory style table and an AGA; it’s the perfect place for friends or family to gather whilst a meal is being prepared. There is a heated indoor pool, a football pitch, a detached indoor games room (with table football, a full-sized pool table and a pair of spin bikes) and a barn with full-size table tennis. The tennis courts are all-weather, and there’s two acres of woodland to roam. A week’s stay costs from £264 pp (£3,166 total). Two dogs are welcome (£20 supplement each for the week).

Canine Cottages’ website also features a useful Guides page, researched by dog-devotees, highlighting the most scenic dog walks and dog-friendly beaches in certain areas of the UK, as well as a Canine Checklist, top tips on Travelling With Dogs and dog-friendly attractions in ‘Ulti-Mutt Days Out’, plus much more.

Canine Cottages is devoted not only to your dog-accompanied downtime but also to your pet’s physical wellbeing. The company has created a unique poop-o-graphic: a quick-reference chart to help you to determine your dog’s current state of wellness and detect when something isn’t quite right – be it a slightly imbalanced diet or an issue with an internal organ. Forewarned is forearmed: whilst perhaps not the most appealing of tasks, paying attention to your dog’s poop is one of the best indications early on that there may be a problem.

The poop-o-graphic chart features the 4Cs of dog poop: Colour, Consistency, Content and Coating. Specific poop types include the Raw Food Poop, the Rainbow Poop, the Raspberry Jam Poop, the Two-Phase Poop and the Spaghetti Poop. You get the picture: it’s fairly revolting – but requisite information for the responsible dog owner.

To book a Canine Cottages property for you and your pooch, call 01237 459821 or visit www.caninecottages.co.uk.

And why not register your dog for Canine Cottages’ Canine Critic campaign for the chance to be sent – with your furry friend – on trips across the UK? You’ll experience the finest dog-friendly holidays for free – on the condition you both report back. In 2018, Poppy the Cockapoo was the winner and she visited the Norfolk Coast, the Peak District and Cornwall, and attended DogFest West.

Press: For further information on Canine Cottages, including high-res images, or to discuss a commissioned press trip or interview opportunity, please contact Karen Carpenter or Mischa Mack at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or k.carpenter@travelpr.co.uk or m.mack@travelpr.co.uk.