Miss Burns
September 2020
We booked this cottage as it stated "up to 2 well behaved dogs welcome".. We have one very well behaved and friendly cockapoo so we booked.
Little did we know (as it was not stated on the cottage description) that 3 possessive/aggressive dogs lived in the owners cottage just a stones throw away from the rental cottage.
Upon arrival (approx. 5:30pm on Sat 4th Sept), we were confronted by the owners 3 dogs barking at our car. This is not abnormal (so we thought) so we got out of the car to say hello. We quickly realised that the dogs were not friendly as they were barking/snarling/jumping up and showing teeth to our dog. It got our of hand so much so that we had to pick our dog up and get in to the cottage to keep him safe. The dogs were trying to bite our dog and one of them got his tail in their mouth.
The owner just looked on aghast and did not say a word. She just tried to get the dogs under control but failed miserably.
This unfortunately set the tone for the remainder of our week holiday. We were unable to sit outside on the patio area as the 3 dogs from the owners were left to wander around. We had to check that the outside area was clear every time we left the cottage to go out for the day because of the unfriendly dogs and their behaviour towards us all and our dog. The 3 dogs were left to their own devices so they were frequently barking at the patio doors of the rental cottage.
Later in the week a further dog joined in (making a total of 4 dogs that the owner had) and all dogs barked at us when we were in the property, leaving the property and returning to the property.
It was no fun at all and not relaxing in the slightest.
The owner (female) did make an attempt to apologise to us and said " I didn't sleep at all last night, I don't know what's got in to the dogs". That was it, there was no attempt at controlling the dogs whatsoever.
What would have been useful is (1) if the owners of the cottage had control of their dogs, (2) if the owners of the cottage did not let their dogs into the outside area that they rent out as a holiday cottage, (3) if the owner cleaned up after their dogs and not allow them foul in the area or access area to the cottage that they rent out.
It was a lovely location, and a nice enough cottage but the dogs ruined our break. Making us all anxious and not at all relaxed. Obviously we like dogs, we have our own, but this was unacceptable for a holiday rental.