Dogs and other pets at Tintern Abbey Cottage and Foxes Reach

Pets are welcome at both cottages. Tintern is a very pet friendly village, so your dog can come with you to the Abbey, the pub and many local attractions. We hold the Visit Wales Pets Welcome Award and have been featured in Dog Friendly Magazine and The Lady, who called our cottages “five star cottages which have everything, a real home from home for you and your pet”.

Our gardens are fenced and gated, and most dogs are very content here. After woodland walks or riverside runs, they usually end up stretched out in front of the woodburner.

How many pets can stay

As a guide, we normally accept up to two medium sized dogs (around springer spaniel or labrador size), or one giant breed, at each cottage. We may accept three very small dogs, such as jack russell types, depending on the number of people in your party. Please ask if you are unsure.

More than six bodies in total at Foxes Reach or Tintern Abbey Cottage feels very tight. More than seven, for example five people and one dog, or four people, one dog and a baby, usually is  too much foir your comfort.  This is simply to protect the quality of your stay, especially at Christmas and New Year when there is also a full sized fresh tree in each cottage, which is lovely but does take up room. We may sometimes agree to extra guests or pets, depending on their size and temperament, so do talk to us.

What sort of pets are accepted

Friendly, family pet dogs of any breed, whether pedigree or much-loved crossbreeds, are welcome. All dogs must be housetrained and well behaved. Aggressive guarding types and any dog regarded in UK law as a dangerous breed cannot be accepted. Any pet that causes nuisance or a threat will be asked to leave.

We are usually happy to accept a housetrained cat with its own litter tray by arrangement. As with dogs, cats must be reliably clean, must not scratch furniture or fittings, and are not allowed on beds. Litter trays must not be emptied in the garden, please use the dustbin.

Small caged animals such as gerbils, hamsters and rabbits are usually fine, as long as they remain in their cages inside the cottage. Caged birds also need to remain caged and cannot be allowed to fly free inside. We do not usually charge for small caged pets, provided they are booked in with us and remain in their cages. Any chewing, staining or other damage caused if they are let out will be charged for.

Preparing your dog for holiday

To keep things pleasant for everyone, please give your dog a quick “MOT” before you come. A pre-holiday trim, worming, shampoo and up-to-date flea and tick treatment help us look after your pet, the next guests and the gardens.

What to bring for your pet

We have bowls, leads and “muddy paws” towels that you are welcome to borrow, though most dogs prefer their own things. Please bring your dog’s own bed. A spacious cage with their bed inside works very well, especially for puppies or pets who may be left for short periods, and it is best if they are used to this at home first.

Our bed linen is white, fine Egyptian cotton. If your pet is used to sleeping on the human bed, please bring your own linen and throws to protect ours. If your dog likes the best seat in the sitting room, please bring a throw to cover the leather furniture. Thank you.

No pets left home alone

Pets, including cats, must not be left alone in the cottages, except in their own secure cage on a hard floor and then only for a maximum of four hours. This protects the cottage, but more importantly most animals become very distressed when left on their own in a strange house, which is when damage tends to happen.

If you are going out, it is usually kinder for them to wait in your familiar car nearby, or to settle in their own covered cage with their bed. There are so many places in this very pet friendly area where dogs are welcome that they can usually come along. If you are here for a wedding or similar event, please plan your day with your pet in mind and return to them regularly.

Sorry, but incontinent pets, young or old, cannot be accepted. All pets must be reliably housetrained.

Pet charges

There is an additional charge for pets. This is usually [£15] for a short break and [£25] for a week, per dog or cat. For horses, please ask us for a quote. Small caged pets are often free of charge, provided they are booked in with us and remain in their cages.

Damage, dirt and garden use

Pets are a proper part of your party and you are responsible for them, just as you are for the humans in your group. Any damage caused to the cottage, furniture or garden will need to be paid for.

Please keep the garden clean. Dog poo must be bagged and binned daily. We welcome many children and weed the beds by hand, so a clean garden is important. There is excellent woodland and riverside walking straight from the door at both cottages, so most dogs can “go” on a walk rather than in the garden. It is often worth stopping for a walk before checking in, or before you come back after a day out, so nobody arrives feeling desperate. We are happy to suggest routes.

Please keep all pets off the white bed linen. You do not need to banish them from the bedroom, but throws or your own bedding are needed if they usually sleep on the bed.

Puppies

We are cautious about accepting puppies because we need to keep the cottages clean, undamaged and ready for the next guests. You know your puppy best and are responsible for supervising them and for any damage they cause. A cage, especially at night and whenever a puppy is unsupervised, works very well for most guests and removes a lot of worry all round. Please see the “No pets left home alone” section above.

Dog walking from the cottages

There is excellent local walking of all kinds straight from our doorsteps, from forest paths to riverbank strolls. Dogs usually end the day happily tired in front of the woodburner. If you would like ideas, ask us for our “Where can we walk?” information when you book.

Pets in the gardens

Our gardens are well fenced and gated, but they are still gardens, not escape-proof compounds, so you remain responsible for your pet. Very small and determined dogs, such as some jack russells, may be able to get under a gate, though we have never lost a guest’s pet yet. At Tintern Abbey Cottage the back garden is fully fenced and gated, but the front garden is open because of the conservation area and the view.

Cats are best kept on a lead outside, as there are neighbouring cats, squirrels and foxes who may not be as welcoming as we are.

Assistance dogs

Our cottages are not especially suitable for guests with significant mobility issues, so please see our access statements. There is, of course, no charge for a registered assistance dog such as a Hearing Dog, Guide Dog or working search and rescue or police dog accompanying the person they support or the officer they work with. We may ask for registration details. Please discuss this with us when you book.

A small soft spot: free Irish setter

Special offer: free dog. We are not giving you a dog, simply not charging you to bring yours if they are an Irish (Red) Setter. We have a particular soft spot for them and miss having our own “redheads” around. This offer does not apply to bookings made through agencies.

If you have friends with Irish setters, please tell them about this slightly eccentric offer. The image we use is of Wendover Gentleman, grandfather of our own much-missed setter Cardale Wild Gingermint and very like him.

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