Going on holiday with our dog Bennett is something we have only done once. He was very young (he’s 6 now) and we took him for a week on the Island of Portland. We managed to find a cute pet-friendly cottage, about 2 minutes from the beach. I’ll never forget those early mornings and evening strolls, sunrises and sunset, the sky bright pink and orange. It was so steep getting down to the beach that once he started to head down the hill the momentum and his little legs was hilarious, I can’t imagine what we must have looked like!
As this was our first time away together, I remember being a little daunted concerning what we needed to bring. He was still a puppy really and we’d only just got the hang of life at home with our first dog. It went brilliantly though and Bennett behaved perfectly. There are a few things we decided to bring with us, and a few things that we forgot. We did bring Bennett’s dog bed and a blanket that he used just so he felt at home in a strange place. Of course, we also brought dog food with us. We opted for the same grain free dog food that he ate at home. I always think it’s better not to change things like what a dog eats, especially when other things are different for them.
We opted for a grain free diet for our dog right from the beginning after doing some research. We wanted to give him as natural a diet as possible, keeping it as close to what his ancestors would have eaten. Going grain free I think also has health benefits as many pets can have allergies when they eat things like wheat and rice for example. Also this type of food is higher in protein.
We did forget to bring any toys, but it was a good excuse to buy a couple of new ones, including a ball, which was perfect for playing on the beach. Honestly, he had so much fun, he was really nervous at first having never seen the sea before, but soon he was running into the waves as the tide came in. He slept lots too – must have been all of that exercise – having those strange dog dreams where they are running and barking in their sleep. So, I think I can safely say he loved being away with us.
We don’t tend to have holidays in the UK now, so there’s not been much chance of taking Bennett away with us in more recent years. He loves a day trip to a National Trust property, anywhere where he can walk with us, especially if there is a body of water. Now when we go away abroad we mostly have to send him to the local dog hotel, or he’s looked after by a dog sitter. If we can though his favourite thing is to spend the week or fortnight at my Mum and Dads house. They totally spoil him and I know he completely loves his time there. They have the perfect garden where he can have his crazy half hour every day as well as trips to the seaside and to the local lake and canal.
We adore Bennett, he is a brilliant companion a real ‘people person’ dog. I’m sure when he next goes on holiday it will be around water!
This post is in conjunction with James Wellbeloved but all thoughts are my own.
Sharon Terry says
Benett is adorable! I used to walk Charlie (my Corgi pooch) in the nearby park when we were in Chippendale and he loved it. Though, when I moved into the city and started to live in an apartment, I had to leave him with my sister and she’s the one taking care of him now. I’m planning to visit them next week and I am looking forward to spending quality time with him and my family. Thanks for this amazing post, Amanda!
Amanda Cottingham says
Awh, hope you have a great time with Charlie and the family next week.