You will forget something. Everyone does. Last time we forgot the poo bags and spent the first morning of a Lake District break fashioning alternatives from a Tesco carrier bag and sheer determination. The time before that, it was the dog's medication. That was worse.
This list exists because the generic ones are useless. "Don't forget your dog's lead." Thanks. Groundbreaking. Here's what you actually need to think about before loading the car.
Before You Leave the House
This is the stuff that matters more than anything you pack. Get this wrong and the packing is irrelevant.
Check your dog's microchip details are current. If your dog slips their collar in an unfamiliar place, the microchip is what gets them back. Log into the database (it's usually one of the free ones like Petlog or IdentiChip) and make sure your phone number and address are right. Takes two minutes. Most people haven't updated theirs since they got the dog.
Photograph your dog. A recent, clear photo on your phone. Not the artsy one from Instagram where they're backlit on a hill. A boring, well-lit photo that shows their markings, colour, and size. If they go missing, this is what you'll be showing people and posting on local Facebook groups.
Look up the nearest vet. Not when you arrive. Now. Find the closest practice to your accommodation and save the number. Then find the nearest emergency or out-of-hours vet, because dogs have a talent for eating things they shouldn't at 11pm on a Saturday. Write both numbers down somewhere that isn't just your phone (phones die, especially when you need them).
Confirm the accommodation's pet policy. Not just "dogs allowed" but the specifics. How many dogs? Size limits? Are they allowed upstairs, on the furniture, left alone? Some places charge a pet fee. Some provide bowls, towels, and treats. Knowing in advance saves an awkward conversation at check-in. The BowWow Score covers most of this if you're booking through us.
The Car
The journey is half the battle, particularly with a dog who thinks the M5 is a personal insult.
Your dog needs to be restrained in the car. That's not a suggestion, it's the Highway Code (Rule 57). A loose dog in an emergency stop becomes a projectile. Options: a boot guard with a crate or bed behind it, a harness that clips into the seatbelt, or a secured carrier for smaller dogs. Whatever you use, test it before the trip. Your dog discovering they hate the travel crate three hours into a motorway journey is not the time.
Chuck a water bowl and a full bottle in the car before you set off. Stop every couple of hours for a proper break. Not a "stand in a service station car park while the dog sniffs a lamp post" break. A real one, with a short walk and a drink. Your dog doesn't understand why they've been in a moving box for three hours. Be patient with them.
If your dog gets car sick (and many do), talk to your vet before you travel. There are medications that help. Ginger biscuits are an old remedy that some owners swear by. Whether it's the ginger or the placebo effect on the owner, who knows, but they're cheap and your dog will eat them regardless.
The Obvious Stuff (That People Still Forget)
- Lead and collar with ID tag. The tag needs your mobile number on it. Not your home address, which is useless when you're 200 miles away. Some people get a temporary tag with the holiday address. Overkill? Maybe. But it's three quid on Amazon and you can order it a week before you go.
- Enough food for the whole trip, plus two extra days. Don't assume you'll find their brand in a rural Spar. We use one of those clip-lid cereal containers from Ikea, but a big freezer bag does the job. Changing food mid-holiday is a recipe for a digestive incident that nobody, least of all the cottage owner, will enjoy.
- Medication. If your dog takes anything regularly, this goes in the bag before anything else. Not at the bottom. Not "I'll grab it on the way out." Literally the first thing you pack.
- Poo bags. Pack twice as many as you think you'll need, then throw in another roll. Rural villages don't always have dispensers and you will run out at the worst possible moment.
- Their bed or a blanket from home. Familiar smell in a strange place. It genuinely helps them settle. Our two won't sleep the first night without their own blanket, and they're not particularly anxious dogs.
- Treats. For reward, for distraction, for bribery when they refuse to get back in the car on day three.
- Food and water bowls. Some cottages provide them. Most don't. Collapsible silicone ones pack flat and weigh nothing.
The Stuff Nobody Mentions
A towel specifically for the dog. Not one of the cottage's towels. Your own, dedicated, ratty dog towel. You will need it after every walk. Mud, sand, seawater, fox poo, unidentifiable pond substances. The towel earns its place in the boot.
Kitchen roll and an enzyme cleaner. New environment, new smells, new carpets they haven't been told the rules about. Dogs mark. Puppies forget their training. Older dogs have smaller margins. An enzyme cleaner breaks down the smell properly (regular cleaning products don't, and the dog will return to the same spot).
A long line. If you're going somewhere with livestock or you're not sure about your dog's recall in a new place, a 10-metre training line gives them freedom without the risk. Cheaper than the vet bill if they chase a sheep. And sheep-worrying is a criminal offence in the UK, not just bad manners.
Tick remover. Particularly for the Lake District, Scottish Highlands, Devon, and anywhere with bracken or long grass. We've pulled three off the dogs after a single walk through bracken in the Highlands, and that was May. A tick hook costs about two pounds. Worth practising the twist-and-pull technique before you're doing it on a wriggling dog in fading light.
Your dog's insurance documents. Or at least the policy number and the insurer's phone number. If you need an emergency vet, you'll want this to hand.
A torch. Evening walks in the countryside happen in actual darkness, not city darkness. Your dog doesn't care. You might.
If You're Going to the Beach
Beaches add their own requirements. Bring fresh water (your dog will drink seawater, regret it, and blame you). Bring a rinse bottle for afterwards. Check seasonal dog restrictions before you go, because turning up at a banned beach in August is a wasted journey.
If you're heading to Cornwall, our beach guide has the year-round and seasonal beaches mapped out. Devon too.
Cats and Other Pets
Most of this applies to dogs because, honestly, most pet holidays involve dogs. But if you're travelling with a cat, the checklist is shorter and the challenge is different. Cats need a secure carrier (non-negotiable), a portable litter tray, their regular food, and a room they can be confined to initially so they're not overwhelmed by the whole cottage at once. Familiar-smelling bedding matters even more for cats than dogs.
Rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs: bring their enclosure, their regular food, and accept that your holiday accommodation options are extremely limited. Most pet-friendly places mean dog-friendly.
The Checklist
Copy this. Stick it on the fridge a week before you go. Cross things off as you pack them.
Pre-trip admin
- Microchip details up to date
- Recent photo on phone
- Nearest vet + emergency vet numbers saved
- Accommodation pet policy confirmed
- Insurance documents / policy number
In the car
- Travel crate, boot guard, or seatbelt harness
- Water bowl + water bottle
- Car sickness medication (if needed)
For the dog
- Lead and collar with current ID tag
- Food (full trip + 2 extra days)
- Medication
- Poo bags (lots)
- Bed or home blanket
- Treats
- Food and water bowls
- Dog towel
- Kitchen roll + enzyme cleaner
- Long line / training lead
- Tick remover
- Torch
- Favourite toy
If going to the beach
- Fresh water + rinse bottle
- Check seasonal restrictions
FAQ
Do I need a pet passport for a UK holiday?
Not for a UK holiday, no. Pet passports (now replaced by Animal Health Certificates) only apply to international travel. For getting around the UK with your dog, all you need is a working microchip (which is legally required anyway) and a collar with your name and address on the tag. Genuinely, that's the full list. No forms, no fees, nothing.
Can I take my dog on the train?
Most UK train operators allow dogs for free, but rules vary. The general rule is dogs on a lead, behaving themselves, not taking up a seat. Some operators require smaller dogs to be in a carrier. First class policies differ by company. Check the specific operator's website before booking. Dogs cannot sit on seats (officially, anyway).
What if my dog gets ill on holiday?
Any UK vet will treat your dog in an emergency, regardless of whether they're a registered patient. You'll pay on the day and claim back through your insurance. This is why having your policy number to hand matters. For non-emergencies, most practices will see visiting dogs as temporary patients. Call ahead rather than turning up.