Taking your dog on holiday in the UK: a checklist

• Check the place you're staying is dog-friendly, tell them you're bringing your dog, and ask about leaving them in the room. Dogs Trust says most accommodation lets you leave your dog as long as you're still on the premises, but not for too long.
• Look up dog-friendly walks, pubs and beaches nearby. Dogs Trust warns that some beaches are closed to dogs, especially in the summer months: see the beach rules below.
• Find the nearest vet to where you're staying, and their out-of-hours or emergency service, as Dogs Trust suggests.

• Food and bowls, treats, and water for the journey
• Lead, harness and collar, with the tag on
• Their bed, or a blanket that smells of home
• Any medication, with enough to last the whole trip
• Poo bags, a towel, and a cool mat if it's warm
• Their vaccination record, and a recent photo

Dogs Trust suggests checking your dog's microchip details are up to date before you go, because if they're wrong and your dog goes missing while you're away, it'll be harder to be reunited. Make sure the tag has contact details that work while you're away, too. The engraved tag should still show your name and home address, which the law asks for, with a mobile number you'll answer.

With a QR tag, you can add a local contact as the emergency contact on your dog's profile before you go, and change it back when you're home. If your dog goes missing, turn on lost mode.

Rule 57 of the Highway Code says dogs should be suitably restrained in a vehicle, so they can't distract you while you're driving or be hurt, or hurt you, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, a pet carrier, a dog cage or a dog guard all work. Stop for breaks and water, and never leave your dog alone in a warm car.

In England and Wales, councils set local dog rules with Public Spaces Protection Orders. GOV.UK says these can require you to keep your dog on a lead, keep them out of certain places, limit how many dogs you walk at once, and clear up after them. Seasonal beach bans are set this way: in Cornwall, for example, the council's order (as it stood in October 2025) kept dogs off 46 beaches from 10am to 6pm between 1 July and 31 August, and from 15 May to 30 September on Blue Flag and Seaside Award beaches.

Ignoring one can mean a £100 fixed penalty on the spot, or a fine of up to £1,000 if it goes to court. Look for signs at the beach or park, and check the council's website before you go: it must publish any new order.

• Keep your dog on the lead until they know the area, and practise recall somewhere safe first.
• Use a short lead near roads, and on paths shared with cyclists or horse riders.
• Walking near farm animals? Check the countryside rules for dog walkers first.
• Give them time to settle before leaving them alone, and don't leave them for long.
• On hot days, walk early and late, and take shade and fresh water to the beach.

A dog in a new place doesn't know the way back. Start our lost dog checklist straight away, tell the local council's dog warden and nearby vets, and make a lost dog poster with your mobile number.