Bringing Your Dog on a Big Group Holiday: Everything Worth Knowing

Not so long ago, taking the dog on a family holiday meant a kennel booking, a favour from a friend or a neighbour, and a fair amount of guilt. Increasingly, it means booking and bringing your dog on a big group holiday. Where your dog is just as welcome as everyone else. For big group holidays especially, the kind where fifteen, twenty or thirty of you are gathering for a birthday, reunion or celebration, there’s usually at least one dog who’s very much part of the family. And when there’s space for everyone else, there should be space for them too.

A brown dog with brown eyes with blue sea and surf in the background.

Why More of Us Are Holidaying With Our Dogs

In short: dog ownership is at a record high, and more owners than ever are refusing to leave their dog behind when they travel.

PDSA’s PAW Report states that the UK is now home to more than 11 million pet dogs and according to UK Pet Food (formerly the PFMA), 41% of UK households now own at least one dog. That’s two in five homes across the country! With numbers like that, it’s no surprise that more owners than ever are looking to bring their dog along on holiday, rather than leaving them behind.

A survey by Away Resorts found that 85% of UK dog owners would rather holiday in the UK with their dog than travel abroad without them, and research by Lords and Labradors found that one in eight UK dog owners say they never holiday abroad at all, purely because they don’t want to leave their dog behind. A 2024 University of Surrey study estimated the UK’s dog-friendly travel sector could be worth close to £40 billion by 2030.

For big group getaways, this shift matters even more than it does for a couple’s weekend away. When you’re already coordinating a large group, several households and multiple generations, working around a kennel booking or a dog-sitter for one member of the party could become the trickiest part of the whole trip. A dog-friendly big house removes that problem entirely, everyone travels together, stays together, and comes home together.

Which of Our Big Houses Welcome Dogs?

We currently have dog-friendly big houses across Somerset, Devon, the Cotswolds and Lincolnshire.

Each of these houses welcomes up to two dogs by prior arrangement, usually with a small nightly charge.

What Makes a Big House Different for Dog Owners

A big house gives dogs the same thing it gives the rest of the group: proper space, rather than a cramped compromise.

A hotel room or a small cottage rarely works well for a dog who’s used to having room to move, especially with a large, lively group coming and going throughout the day. A big house changes that. Large gardens, multiple sitting rooms and space to settle away from the noise when needed mean a dog can genuinely enjoy the holiday, not just tolerate it.

It also solves one of the more awkward parts of a big group trip: what happens when only one or two people in the party have a dog. Rather than that dog (and its owner) being left out of a shared cottage or hotel booking, everyone stays under the same roof, and the dog becomes part of the group holiday rather than an afterthought.

A happy dog running through woodlands with the light shining between the trees, the dogs ears are up.

What to Know Before You Book (Not How to Pack)

We won’t tell you how to look after your own dog, but here’s what’s specificto booking a big group house that’s worth knowing in advance.

  • Dogs need to be agreed before you book, not on arrival. Most houses welcome up to two dogs by prior arrangement, typically with a charge of around £15 per dog, per night.
  • House rules vary slightly property to property. Most ask that dogs stay off the furniture and out of the bedrooms, and are supervised in the garden, our team can confirm the specifics for the house you’re considering.
  • It’s worth checking in with your group. With a large party, not everyone may be used to a dog being around for the whole stay, so a quick heads-up before you book is generally appreciated.
  • Let us know your dog’s size and how many you’re bringing, so we can help you find a house that’s genuinely well suited, not just technically dog-friendly.

Choosing the Right House for Your Dog and Your Group

Family together walking in the woods with a dog, large groups on holiday together in the UK

The right choice depends on your dog, your group size, and how much outdoor space you want.

A few things worth thinking about when choosing between our dog-friendly houses:

  • Garden size and enclosure— some gardens are larger or more enclosed than others, which matters if your dog likes to roam or isn’t fully reliable off-lead.
  • Water features— several of our houses have ponds, streams or lakes on thegrounds, which are lovely for a summer stay but worth knowing about in advance if your dog needs supervising near water.
  • Number of dogs and breed size— our houses typically welcome up to two dogs; if you would like to bring more, or a particularly large breed, do speak tous and we will see how we can help. 
  • Location and local walks— depending on whether you’d prefer moorland, coastline or gentle countryside walks, some regions will suit your dog (and your group) better than others.

Finding the Right House, With the Right Information

Choosing a house for a big group holiday can already be a bit of a puzzle, we’re thinking bedroom configurations, shared spaces, location, budget. Adding a dog into the mix is one more thing to get right, and it’s exactly the kind of detail our team, Victoria and Beverley, help every guest with. They speak with every booker individually to help you find the right dog-friendly house for your group, and to make sure you have all the information you need, dog policies included, before you book.

A young family, lying on a wooden floor in a big house with a dog in the middle. The woman is holding the dogs paw and the child is stroking the dog's head.

The Personal Touch at the Big House Co

The Big House Co has been helping families, friends and colleagues find the perfect big house since 1996, with thousands of guests having stayed in one of our houses over the years.

As a family-run business, we understand what makes a group holiday work, space that brings everyone together, houses full of character, and a personal touch that a big booking site simply can’t offer. That’s why every enquiry is handled by Victoria and Beverley, who get to know exactly what you’re looking for and help you find the right house for your group, whether that’s a milestone birthday, a big family reunion, or holidays where you can bring your dog along. It’s this personal, hands-on approach that keeps so many of our guests coming back, year after year.

Ready to bring the whole family, dog included? Explore our dog-friendly big houses here or get in touch with Victoria and Beverley via our Contact Us page, email party@thebighouseco.com, or call +44 (0)1823 662673.

The Big House Company. Big enough for everyone. Personal enough to feel like home