Dog friendly campsite reqirements
News
Revealed: Top priorities for pet-friendly holiday
With the popularity of dogs in the UK, the rise of dog-friendly breaks, where your canine companion comes along, is no surprise. However, this comes with additional requirements as to what a campsite needs to offer. A recent poll of more than 2,600 dog owners has revealed the top priorities for pet owners when booking a dog-friendly getaway.
Nathaniel Cureton Content Editor
Nathaniel Cureton Content Editor
The survey was carried out by both DogFriendly and WCF (West Cumberland Farmers), a campsite group operating Premier Park, Drummohr Camping and Glamping Site, as well as, Herding Hill Farm, and Longnor Wood Holiday Park. The intention of the poll was to discover what makes a destination dog-friendly, rather than a location that is just tolerant of dogs.
Jo Ritzema, Executive Chair of WCF, said:
“The survey gives a real insight into what makes a true dog-friendly destination, and just how important it is to provide the right facilities and information for dog owners.”
The results stated that 76% of dog owners always travel with their pets. 85% of contributors said they were happy to travel for more than two hours to a suitable dog-friendly location. Other questions on the poll revealed the most important factors dog owners look for on a campsite before booking.
They are the following:
- Access to nearby dog walks
- Enclosed spaces for dogs to rest and play
- Dog-friendly pubs and restaurants nearby
- Sufficient dog waste bins
Jo continued:
“While all our sites are already dog-friendly with facilities such as allowing dogs to stay for free on all our tent and touring pitches, secure dog lead hooks on our pitches, hot water dog washes, dog walks, welcome packs and fenced areas, the results of the survey will help us ensure that we are giving dog owners exactly what they need for a great holiday with their pet.”
The pet owners polled were also asked about the annoyances they look for on a site, that may put them off booking a campsite.
The main challenges for dog owners:
- Excessive charges for dogs
- Limited accommodation options
- Unclear rules for what your dog can and can’t do
What do the results tell us?
The results emphasise the idea that campsites need to accommodate dogs in a way that they are not just tolerated, through dog-specific facilities. To attract holidaymakers with dogs, campsites need to provide the impression that dogs are welcome too, and that the dogs are not being accommodated for the minimal effort as a way to attract the custom of the owners.
While campsites can have influence in their community, they are also reliant on their local businesses to provide some of the facilities that will make them attractive to dog owners. They are reliant on local pub landlords and restaurant owners to make their facilities dog friendly, and their local council/land owners to provide access to nearby dog walks close by.
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