Just like outdoor-loving dogs, here at Canine Cottages we’re passionate about digging – digging into data to better understand emerging holiday trends while shining a light on popular dog-friendly destinations and activities.
Combining our own survey of 3,893 dog owners with market research, we’re able to share the most interesting facts and stats that anyone planning a dog-friendly holiday should know. For example, did you know that pet-friendly Cornwall has been named the top UK holiday destination for dog owners? And that enclosed gardens are the most important cottage feature for pup-inclusive getaways in 2025?
Read on to gain more valuable insights into the UK’s dog-friendly holiday market; build your dog’s dream getaway using our holiday formula and start browsing our dog-friendly holiday cottages by clicking the link below.
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Dogs in the UK
Before diving into the dog-friendly holiday trends for 2025, we thought we’d take a moment to introduce the UK’s canine scene. Did you know that an estimated 13 million dogs are padding around our shores? That’s more dogs than people in countries like Belgium, Portugal and Greece!
To match this furry figure, it’s no surprise that 45% of all self-catering holiday cottage bookings across the country feature a dog. This is a healthy figure for hounds, but it doesn’t come close to our stats at Canine Cottages – 100% of our bookings include one or more dogs!
If you’re hungry for more doggy data, check out our infographic above to see a breakdown of the UK’s five most popular dog breeds; you might not be surprised to see Labradors topping the pile, closely followed by Cockapoos, Cocker Spaniels, Border Collies, and then Golden Retrievers.
And if you have a loving nickname for your dog, you’ll be interested to learn that the five most popular dog nicknames include: Boo, Pops, Bear, Moo, and Ted; while the most popular dog names for 2025 are: Bella, Poppy, Daisy, Alfie, Buddy, and Rosie – does your pup feature on the list?
Dog-friendly holiday planning
With so many holiday-loving hounds spread across the UK, combined with the growing demand for dog-friendly breaks, it’s no surprise that the way dog owners plan their holidays is changing.
The infographic above breaks down dog-owning holidaymakers into groups. With over 3,000 romantic dog-friendly cottages in our portfolio, we weren’t shocked to learn that couples account for 44% of dog-friendly travellers. Families with dogs make up 28% of holidaymakers, while multi-generational groups sit at 14%, solo travellers at 11%, and large groups accounting for 9%.
Our survey also reveals how booking habits have changed for families travelling with dogs. Coastal cottages were voted most popular, making up 62% of bookings; rural escapes account for 55%, with city breaks sitting at 12%.
Holidays with dogs are also on the up! On average in 2024, dog owners took two UK holidays, and for 2025, 80% of dog owners are planning to take a dog-friendly holiday – up 75% on 2024! For families who welcomed a four-legged friend into their pack in the last 3 years, 37% are planning more UK breaks, with 9% of families booking much further in advance.
Finally, when it comes to planning your hound’s holiday itinerary – for which our dog-friendly guides prove most helpful – 43% of dog owners value the importance of research and planning, while 48% book dog-friendly activities before even travelling.
The most popular dog-friendly destinations in the UK
Narrowing down our community’s favourite dog-friendly holiday destinations is always a fun task – we love fetchin’ facts! Across 2024, Cornwall was named the most popular county for pet-inclusive breaks, and it’s no surprise thanks to the region’s dramatic coastlines and scenic walking trails.
Dog-friendly Norfolk earned second place on the list, no doubt due to its golden beaches and family attractions. Devon, known for its vibrant seaside resorts, made third, while Cumbria, thanks to the jaw-dropping Lake District National Park, sits fourth on the list of dog-friendly counties.
Digging deeper, our survey also uncovered your most popular UK towns and villages in the UK. Furry favourites include the Cornish seaside town of Hayle, perfect for beach walks, while Wells-next-the-Sea occupies second place thanks to its splendid location in the Norfolk Coast National Landscape.
Top dog-friendly activities
When it comes to dog-friendly getaways, it’s not all about where to go, but what to do! Thanks to our survey of dog owners, we can reveal the canine community’s most popular holiday activities.
Of the 3,893 dog owners we asked, a whopping 73% listed rural walking as their favourite activity. 62% of people highlighted the value of eating out in dog-friendly pubs and restaurants, while 55% enjoy cooking in their holiday cottage – it’s a good job all our properties are self-catering! Visiting local towns and villages was highlighted by 54% of dog owners, while heading to dog-friendly tourist attractions is preferred by 36% of holidaymakers.
Plan your next dog-friendly holiday with ease when you read our list of most common challenges for dog-owning holidaymakers below – find our guides next to each consideration for extra help.
Dog-friendly holiday challenges
Most popular dog-friendly properties and features
While many of our 10,000+ dog-friendly properties are cottages, anyone seeking a unique getaway will be pleased to hear that our portfolio also includes luxury retreats, hot tub holidays, glamping stays and plenty more!
From the 3,893 dog owners we asked, 61% prefer a traditional holiday cottage, while 23% favour dog-friendly lodges and log cabins, and 9% enjoy staying in barn conversions on working farms.
When it comes to the most important property features, our survey highlights that 65% of holidaymakers seek properties with enclosed gardens, and 43% of people value a nearby footpath for walkies. As well as this, 26% of the respondents seek proximity to dog-friendly attractions, 24% like to stay within walking distance of a dog-friendly pub, and 17% appreciate on-site exercise fields.
If you like the sound of our survey’s most popular destinations, property types and features, and holiday activities, then you’ll be glad to hear that we’ve built your perfect holiday formula!
Below are some of our cottages that align with the four-legged filter – Cornish coastal cottages that are perfect for couples, feature enclosed gardens, and sit close to footpaths and dog-friendly attractions.
The perfect break in Cornwall
Plan your dog-friendly getaway
Fancy building your own holiday formula? Join the 199,394 dogs that holidayed with us through 2024 and click the button below to explore our collection of over 10,000 dog-friendly properties.
Spread across the UK, from Land’s End to John O'Groats, you’re sure to find the perfect base for your gang of humans and hounds. If you’re bringing an extra-large pack with you; rest easy knowing that over 6,700 of our properties welcome two or more dogs – meaning no one gets left behind!
For some extra inspiration, below is a reminder of our top dog-friendly UK destinations for both 2024 and 2025 … where will you visit next with Fido?
Destination inspiration
Most popular regions 2024: Peak District | New Forest | Somerset | Northumberland | Dorset
Most popular regions 2025: New Forest | Northumberland | Peak District | Somerset | Lake District
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.