Dog Friendly

We know from personal experience how difficult it can be to  find accommodation that allows dogs so we set out to make it as easy as possible for you.

Up to two well-behaved dogs are very welcome in our two riverside lodges.

Travelling With Your Dog

Before You Leave Home :

• Be organised – don’t leave home in a panic or your dog will pick up on your anxiety. Stay calm – all this new territory thing may be a bit challenging for your dog so don’t up the stakes before you’ve even left home!
• Remember to pick up a favourite toy or rug – something that your dog can have that is his when he arrives at the lodge.
• Don’t forget to pack a dog towel – when your dog comes in wet and dirty from one of those lovely local walks you won’t have to think about whether to use one of our fluffy bath towels then will you The new microfibre towels are not expensive and do a great job at drying dogs very quickly.
• Think about packing a doggy first aid pack.
• Pack LOADS of poo bags – you can NEVER have enough poo bags!
• Make sure that your dog has an ID tag with your mobile number on it.
• Make sure you have a recent photograph of your dog with you, and any details of microchipping in case he goes missing.
• Look up the address of a local vet and write it down somewhere where you can access it quickly in an emergency (Oakhill Veterinary Centre on Lake Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 2EQ Telephone: 01539 488555 Fax: 01539 442859 – there – saved you the bother ). Make sure you know how to find the vet’s premises.
• Remember to bring any health records (including vaccination history) that a vet might need with you. These may also help if you have to find emergency kennel accommodation for any reason.
• If the weather is likely to be icy, trim your dog’s nails and the hair around his feet to stop bits of frozen ice from accumulating in his fur.
• Make sure your dog has been fed and watered well in advance of the journey – vets recommend food about 2-3 hours before a long car journey. Don’t leave it until the last minute.
• Remember to pack a bowl and some water somewhere accessible in your car – our motorways are prone to traffic jams and on a hot day your dog will thank you for bringing that drink.
• Leave time to take him for a walk before you go. That last cocked leg might make all the difference comfort-wise, and he’ll be calmer on the journey if he’s a little tired

Whilst You Are Travelling:

• If you are fed up during the journey, then so is your dog. Give yourselves a break every couple of hours.
• If you stop somewhere never leave your dog alone in the car – It’s not fair to leave him somewhere he doesn’t know and the heat that builds up in a car in the summer can kill within minutes.

When You Arrive:

• Take him for a walk whilst (if possible) the other guests go into the lodge first. They need to make the lodge their own before you introduce the dog. He will be calmer about his new surroundings this way.
• Make sure you enter the lodge BEFORE he does – you are the pack leader and he needs to know that!
• Make sure that he has his familiar toy that you packed to settle down with.
• Keep an eye on his chewing! The lodge has lots of tempting bits of wooden furniture. Remember that they can be expensive to replace if your dog decides to use them as teeth sharpeners! If you think your dog might be tempted to chew our furniture, you might want to consider renting a dog crate or bringing your own.

If He Has “An Accident”:

• Some dogs wee when they arrive in a new place, either through anxiety or to establish ownership.
• If this happens you should clean the area immediately using soda water or a gentle equivalent and spray the area with an odour neutraliser designed for pets.
• “Febreze” works well.  This will discourage your dog from performing there again.
• More information about how to clean up dog wee can be found here. It’s a fascinating subject.

Doggy Tourism

At the time of writing:

• Both of the local pubs, The Mortal Man and The Queen’s Head, let dogs inside. Both are normally thoughtful enough to provide a bowl of water outside so you don’t feel too bad about satisying your own thirst at the bar
• The steamers on the Windermere, Coniston and Ullswater all allow dogs.
• Some boat hire companies including Shepherds of Windermere let you take dogs on board.
• The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway and The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway  both allow dogs.
• Muncaster Castle allows dogs in the grounds but not in the house.
• Unfortunately (as it would otherwise make a lovely walk) Holehird Gardens does NOT allow dogs in the grounds.

Doggy Retail

Our favourite pet shop in the Lakes – Paws by the Lake , is at Waterhead, Ambleside. It combines both a pet shop and gift shop for pet lovers.

There is a well stocked pet shop in Windermere – Lakeland Pet Supplies at 28 Main Rd, Windermere, LA23 1DY, (015394 44458)

Booths Supermarket in Windermere stocks a variety of canine accessories.

There is also a huge Pets at Home in the South Lakeland Retail Park in Kendal

Doggy Emergencies

Accidents do happen so it’s good to know that there is a vet  nearby (about 3.5  miles – 10 minutes drive) at the Oakhill Veterinary Centre on Lake Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 2EQ Telephone: 01539 488555 Fax: 01539 442859. We do have to be careful recommending services like this, and you must make your own decisions here, we have had a very positive experience of their care, and we do know others who would agree.

Please Note :

Dogs must NOT be left alone in the lodge at any time. This is a park rule as well as one of our own and you may be required to leave if you do not comply.

Dogs are not allowed in the bedrooms or on the sofas or any other soft furniture.

Please bring with you sufficient towels to dry and clean your pet and rugs to protect carpets etc. Any damage or stains must be paid for in full.  For clarity, our tea towels are for drying the washing up, not for cleaning your dog

The decking and balcony outside the lodge has a secure (bolted) gate and a dog tie up cable is provided.

All dogs staying on the park must be kept on a lead at all times except when in the brilliant dog field near the play park (another park rule). In this extensive field (pictured above) you can look at the amazing scenery while you watch your dog rooting around the array of interesting smells, and maybe taking a splash in the stream that runs along it.

Please be considerate to other guests and owners by making sure that you tidy up after your dog.

Please ensure that your dog has been properly treated for fleas/worms before you arrive!

The Lake District is a wonderful place to bring your dog and there are a host of local walks that can be done right from the lodge door. Details of these can be found at our sister site – Windermere Lodge

Looking After Your Dog On The Fells

(Advice From The Lake District National Park Authority Site)

Heat stroke

If your dog is panting excessively and is having difficulty breathing:

• Keep the dog calm, move it into the shade, a cool room or building or near a fan or breeze
• Cool all of your dog with water, paying particular attention to the head
• Let your dog drink small amounts of cool water frequently. Call a vet.

Ticks

Ticks are potentially very harmful parasites which can spread harmful diseases. You should check for ticks every day; they look like a dark, smooth pea. They must not be squeezed or pulled off – ask your vet how to remove them safely.

Insect stings

If a sting is left in your dog, scrape it away with a fingernail or credit card. Do not squeeze or grasp the sting. Cool the area with a wet cloth to help reduce pain or swelling. If in doubt, contact your vet.

Adder bites

Keep your dog still and calm. If possible, don’t allow it to walk; carry it instead. Leave the bite wound alone and contact a vet immediately.

Crossing Fields with dogs

Please take a look at this advice – it could save yours, and your dog’s, life one day! Walking World – Advice for Crossing Fields With Dogs

Keeping your dog on a lead during lambing

Yes, I know your dog is well controlled – but have you thought what might happen if a farmer sees it off the lead during lambing?

This is from the BBC web site in early 2006

Dogs without leads could be shot

Dog owners in the Lake District are being warned their pets are in danger of being shot if they flout a new law requiring they be kept on a lead.

This is the first lambing season since the Countryside and Rights of Way legislation came into force.

It requires dogs to be kept on 2m leads on designated land between 1 March and 31 July so they do not scare livestock.

Lake District bosses warned that landowners are allowed to shoot dogs caught bothering their sheep.

The Lake District National Park Authority’s ranger manager, Sara Clarke, said: “This very sensitive and important time. We ask that proper control is used and dogs are kept on leads when on access land and near livestock.

‘More irresponsible’

“Lambing is now well underway and will go right through to the end of June on the high fells.

Ambleside farmer Peter Thompson said the majority of dog owners kept their pets under control on access land.

He said: “About 70% of people act responsibly and have control over their pets, for which we are very grateful, but the other 30 per cent are behaving ever more irresponsibly.

“There have already been a number of serious sheep worrying cases this year, resulting in dogs being shot.”

Another article on this subject was published in the Westmorland Gazette in January 2010 and makes no mention of restricting the right to shoot dogs to the lambing period!

Doggy Apologies

We are unable to take bookings for the following breeds of dog: American Pit Bull, Japanese Tosa, Dogue Argentina, Fila Brasileiro or any other dog deemed dangerous by the Dangerous Dogs Act. Well actually we aren’t really apologising as we can’t really see why anyone in their right mind would want to bring any of these to a family holiday park anyway!

Now you do realise that if your dog could use a keyboard he’d have booked by now don’t you?

Ready to book yourself? Click here!