Properly Dog Friendly

Plenty of places say they’re dog friendly.

Usually this means they’ll tolerate one provided it doesn’t bark, shed, get wet, touch anything or behave noticeably like a dog.

We thought we’d do it properly.

Barton beach is across the road and dogs are welcome on it all year round. No seasonal restrictions. No discovering in July that the beach you’ve specifically booked a holiday beside has suddenly developed strong opinions about Labradors.

Back at 4 The Dome, there’s a warm outdoor dog shower for sandy paws and muddy undercarriages. The apartment is tiled throughout, so there’s no cream carpet waiting inside to ruin everybody’s afternoon.

Up to two dogs are welcome. Bowls, treats and poo bags are provided, and there’s a communal garden for last-thing-at-night poopies. There’s a torch too, because finding it again is generally considered good form. Umbrellas are provided for the human involved.

Then, when everyone needs a bit more than the beach, the New Forest is just inland. Miles of woodland, open heath and an almost unreasonable number of things to sniff.

In other words, we don’t merely allow dogs.

We’ve actually thought about them.