Where to Go (and What to Pack) for Dog-Friendly Days Out!
With the school holidays here and the sun (hopefully) sticking around, everyone's after something to do that’s budget-friendly and doesn’t need a passport! A day out with the dog ticks a lot of boxes: it gets the kids off their screens for a few hours, tires everyone out, and means nobody has to feel guilty about leaving the furry family members out. The trouble is finding places that welcome dogs other than a nature walk, then packing properly so it doesn't end up with anyone getting soggy, sunburnt, or fed up (and we’re not just talking about the dog!).
What to pack for a day out with your dog
Packing for a dog isn’t any harder than packing for yourself, once you know what you need. Fresh water and a collapsible water bowl are non-negotiable: never count on the location having a working tap. Along with that, you’ll need poo bags and a towel for when they inevitably charge into a lake. Oh, and a spare lead wouldn’t hurt.
Lastly, consider snacks and chewy bits, because a day of running around in the sun burns through energy fast, and a favourite dog chew keeps spirits up when everyone starts flagging. If your pup is known to turn into a car-seat menace on the way home, a distraction to gnaw on can buy you a quieter journey. Our Antler Dog Chews are a good pick: they’re 100% natural, hand-cut, long-lasting, and above all, delicious.
Don't let the sun catch you out
If it’s an especially hot day, a little more planning may be needed. If it’s practical, we’d suggest sticking to early mornings or evenings. Keep off tarmac car parks and pavements at peak times, and give your dog frequent, proper water breaks in the shade. Our guide to keeping your dog cool has the full list of heatstroke signs along with cooling tips and tricks, to make sure your pup stays safe and sound.
Where can you take your dog for a day out?
Now for the dog-shaped elephant in the room: where should you actually go? It turns out there's a fair bit of dog friendly attractions on your doorstep if you know where to look.
National Trust properties, forests, and country parks
Nature is the obvious choice, but National Trust properties and local country parks tick a lot of boxes: open spaces to run around in, woodland trails, and usually play areas for the kids. Most National Trust sites welcome four-legged friends on the grounds (some of the houses themselves are off limits, understandably), and you can always use their dog-friendly places finder to check ahead, rather than being turned away at the gate. Keep well-behaved dogs on leads where signs ask for it, particularly near livestock or ground-nesting birds.
Steam railways and boat trips
If walking is a path too well-trodden to get anyone excited, a steam railway or boat trip ups the ante. Most heritage railways allow dogs in at least one carriage (check ahead though, because some cap numbers), and there's something uniquely wholesome about a dog watching the world go by from a train window, their nose glued to the glass. A short cruise equally makes for a nice change of pace, though not every dog is up for a waterborne ride.
Dog-friendly beaches
Summer will draw anyone to the coast, though where dogs are concerned, the options can get a little thin, especially in the hotter months, when beaches see more footfall. But plenty still do open some of their coast to the four-legged public, and directories like dogfriendly.co.uk list beaches by area with current restrictions.
A word of warning: be wary of sand. Dog paws might look calloused, but they are sensitive to heat. If you can’t hold the back of your hand on sand for more than five seconds, it’s too hot for your dog to tread on.
As for seawater, while a good splash is very tempting, be careful that they don’t swallow too much. It’s rough on their stomach, and no one wants half the Channel regurgitated in the car boot. Keep fresh water topped up and rinse the salt off their fur before you head home.
Tea rooms and gift shops
No day out is complete without a stop at a café for a bite to eat, and dogs seem to agree. Most National Trust and country park cafes welcome dogs in outdoor seating areas, and plenty allow them inside too, although outside of the lunchtime rush. A browse round the gift shop afterwards is always a good bit of fun too, for the humans at least (it can’t be all about the dogs!).
Beyond the usual suspects
If a straightforward walk isn't cutting it, there are always dog-specific events happening across the UK for those in the know. Festivals like DogFest take over country estates each summer with agility taster sessions and fun dog shows (think less “most purebred” and more “waggiest tail”). Smaller dog shows crop up at village fetes and county shows all the time, and they’re usually free to watch.
Stuck for ideas close to home, or exploring somewhere new? Directories like dogfriendly.co.uk cover pubs, cafes, and days out by area, and there are plenty of online roundups, like Stoneacre's list of dog-friendly days out, that come in handy for regional inspiration.
Keeping everyone happy
Dog-friendly doesn't mean you can start a free-for-all out of Marley and Me. Most venues that welcome dogs ask that they be put on leads in busier areas, and even if nobody is there to enforce that, it’s good manners! Give other visitors, especially children and other dogs, a bit of space, clean up any unpleasant messes, and look out for livestock and wildlife on countryside walks. In short, do your bit to keep nature undisturbed and the environment dog-friendly for the next family that comes along.
Ready for your next adventure
Most dogs get the same three walks round the block on repeat, so a proper day out, with somewhere new to sniff and something different to see, is worth the extra bit of effort. If you’re not sure how your dog handles busier places, always start small and build up. And of course, don’t forget to grab a bag of natural goodies to keep spirits (and tails!) up on the journey to and fro. Get them from our online store, or see if your local pet shop stocks us.
If you enjoy your day trip, why not step it up a notch and take your pup on holiday? We’ve got some great ideas for that in our other blog!