Buying a B&B that's right for a travelling dog
What to look for in a small stay before you book, from someone who's verified more than a hundred of them.
A genuinely dog-friendly B&B is rarely the one with the biggest "Dogs Welcome" sticker in the window. The signal is in the small print and the small gestures: a blanket already laid on the bed, a water bowl by the door, a host who asks your dog's name before they ask yours. Look for a ground-floor room if your dog is older, a fully enclosed garden if you have a bolter, and a breakfast room that takes dogs in rather than asks you to eat in shifts.
The questions worth asking before you book are short. Is there a dog fee, and what does it cover? How many dogs can the room take? Is the room above a pub or busy lounge? Is there somewhere off-lead within five minutes of the gate? A good host will answer all four without sounding put-upon. If the reply is vague or grudging, that's your answer — the welcome scale starts at the booking enquiry, not at check-in.