Benefits of Making Your Holiday Let Dog Friendly

Dog friendly holiday lets are in high demand, with one in three guests now taking pets on holiday. Staycations with pets have risen by 40% compared to 2019. So, it seems ‘pawcations’ are the new staycations!

If you’re considering whether or not to welcome four-legged friends to your property, read on for the benefits of making your holiday let dog friendly.

Use the quick links to navigate to a particular topic or read on for our full guide to making your holiday let dog friendly.

• Dog friendly holiday cottages generate more holiday let income
• A dog friendly holiday let will appeal to a wider target audience
• Pet friendly holiday homes will extend your letting season
• Expect repeat bookings and referrals from happy dogs and their owners
• Top tips to creating a successful dog friendly holiday let
• Promoting your dog friendly let

Dog friendly holiday cottages generate more holiday let income

The demand for dog friendly holiday cottages is high and still on the rise. More people are choosing to holiday with their pets, especially over the winter season.

With that in mind there has never been a better time to accept pets in your holiday let. According to Sykes Cottages’ Staycation Index, holiday home owners can earn 11% more doing so.

What’s more many people with pets are happy to pay extra to bring them along. Usually, the additional cost to bring a dog is minimal in comparison to kennel fees.

A dog friendly holiday let will appeal to a wider target audience

Following a surge in dog owners over the pandemic, there’s no wonder there’s been an increase in pet friendly holidays. 48% of our properties are now dog friendly, and this will continue to rise as the demand for ‘pawcations’ continue.

So why allow dogs in your holiday let? In short, welcoming dogs in your holiday let widens your target audience and in turn increases your bookings.

According to the Sykes Holiday Letting Outlook Report, the most searched feature of a property is ‘pet friendly’. Many dog owners don’t like to leave their pets behind, so allowing pets in your property is beneficial to the success of your holiday let business.

Pet friendly holiday homes will extend your letting season

Not only does welcoming pets widen your target audience but it also extends your letting season.

Many out of season bookings are from those holidaying with dogs. This is because of the seasonal restrictions that prohibit animals lift in the Winter and shoulder months. Out of season your four-legged friends can roam free, embracing sandy paws on the beautiful North Cornwall beaches.

So, in summary, making your holiday let dog friendly can boost your year-round occupancy rates and drive more bookings.

Expect repeat bookings and referrals from happy dogs and their owners

If a property has all the facilities and amenities for pets, guests will recommend your holiday let to others looking for pet friendly breaks. Word of mouth referrals are key, so be sure to make a great first (and lasting) impression.

If you can provide a property for happy dogs and happy owners, then you are likely to gain repeat bookings. For top tips on how to create a successful dog friendly holiday let, read on.

Top tips to creating a successful dog friendly holiday let

Here are a few of our top tips to help welcome guests and their pets:

• Doggie welcome packs – for an extra personal touch help your four-legged guests feel at home too. Your pet welcome pack could include dog treats, a toy and some essentials like disposable waste bags.
• Dog friendly guides – to allow guests to enjoy a pet friendly break to its maximum potential provide local guides of dog friendly pubs and restaurants, the best walks to take your pooch on, and any top dog friendly attractions.
• Essential pet amenities – ensure you have all the key requirements for those holidaying with furry friends. We recommend providing a dog bowl (food and water), towels to rub down after a walk, dog bed, chews or toys to prevent boredom, poo bags and a spare lead.
• Secure your garden or outside space – if your property offers an outdoor space, install secure fencing to prevent pets from escaping. Pet proof your flower beds with non-toxic plants and be sure to use pet-friendly pest and weed control.
• Pet friendly fixtures and fittings – if allowing pets into your holiday let, we recommend pet-proofing your property. Choose hard flooring over carpets, pet friendly furniture, stock-up on cleaning products to eliminate odours and secure your cables, keeping things out of reach from four-legged friends.
• Property pet insurance – be sure to check your insurance covers you for any pet related damages.

Promoting your dog friendly let

When marketing your dog friendly holiday let it’s important to make sure potential guests have all the information required.

Here are some of our top tips when advertising your dog friendly let:

• Commission a professional photographer to take photos of your property, be sure to include photos of dogs in the space and the amenities you offer to pets.
• Make sure your property description includes ‘pet friendly’ keywords. These are popular search terms from guests.
• Emphasise all the pet friendly amenities you offer in your marketing.
• Inform your holiday let agent of specific features that would benefit pet owners, including a secure garden or outside space.

At John Bray Cornish Holidays, we successfully manage over 170 dog friendly holiday lets. If you are new to letting or are thinking of accepting pets in your property, get in touch today. We have a range of property management options to choose from and with two local offices, we can offer holiday home owners and their guests the best possible service.

Book a property visit today email newowners@johnbraycornishholidays.co.uk or order our FREE Owners Guide via our Let Your Cottage page.

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