Dog friendly has a defined meaning. A hotel can only describe themselves as dog friendly if it meets the dog friendly standard, and its definition of what what dog friendly means.
Dog friendly is defined as a hotel where dogs are permitted to stay overnight, policy is clear and consistently applied, real food and water bowls are provided, dogs are allowed to accompany you into at least one indoor shared area (where legally permitted), and does not exclude normal family dogs from the hotel through blanket size or weight restrictions. Hotels that rely on exceptions, discretion, unclear rules, or misleading marketing do not meet the standard and are not listed.
This means the hotels listed on our public register are genuinely dog-friendly in practice, not just in name, so you know what staying there with a dog is really like before you arrive.
Hotels are first assessed against our published dog friendly standard on a pass/fail basis. Only those that meet the standard are then ranked based on how they perform.
Our standards and assessment framework are published and applied consistently, so you can see exactly what we measure and how dog-friendly hotels are evaluated.
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We assess every hotel using the same published criteria, looking at real policies, access, and restrictions, so we deliver clear and consistent assessments every time.
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Our assessments explain what staying at a hotel is really like with a dog, based on published policies, access rules, fees, and limitations, so you know what to expect.
Our rankings are based on data collected through our published standard and assessment framework. Only hotels that meet the standard are ranked, based on how they perform against the same criteria, ensuring results are consistent, comparable, and grounded in evidence rather than marketing claims. This keeps our rankings fair, evidence-based, and unbiased.
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Reserved for hotels that demonstrate exceptional dog-friendly practice, with clear policies, high-quality provisions, and consistently welcoming access across the property..png)
High-performing dog-friendly hotels with clear policies, thoughtful provisions, and reliable access that make travelling with a dog straightforward and comfortable..png)
Reliable dog-friendly accommodation that meets core expectations, offering fair policies and essential provisions suitable for most stays, without major restrictions..png)
Meets the basic requirements for travelling with a dog, with standard provisions and some limitations that may affect longer or more complex stays..png)
Hotels that meet the minimum standard but offer limited dog-friendly provision, with restrictive policies or fees that may reduce overall comfort or value..png)
The lowest-performing hotels we assess, where dog-friendly provision is minimal and policies, access, or fees may significantly limit a stay with a dog.