Dog-friendly Holidays: Bruges

Somehow, I can't seem to leave work at home. Perhaps it's because I really love my work!

For example, when I went to Florida in April, I couldn't help noting that all the Disney parks have kennels at the entrance, and that assistance dogs are made very welcome. Perhaps it was more obvious because there were so few dogs... in Bruges it's quite the other way around.

From Belgian Shepherds to Bichon Frises, from Poodles to Pugs there was nowhere you could look without a dog hoving into view. Residents of and visitors to the semi-medieval town - a cobble-strewn beauty interwoven with canals and studded with churches, galleries and enough chocolate shops to satisfy the most avid chocoholic - are regularly accompanied by a well-behaved pooch. Best of all is the most famous dog in Bruges (above), a golden lab who spends his days hanging out of a window over the canal gazing at the passers-by.

Almost all were on leads, walking to heel beautifully. When nature called, the owners whipped out bags and had the mess off the street and into a bin in a trice (shame the same couldn't be said for the horses pulling tourist carriages). The dogs didn't seem to be on a walk, but just accompanying the owner about their business like any other member of the family. Hotels and restaurants were accommodating, one waitress stooping to pop a bowl of water in front of a thirsty terrier type on a hot day as if it were as common as handing out the menus.

Being low on motor traffic (bicycles are the order of the day) with large pedestrianised areas also helps. The town is small, flat and easily navigable, heaving with history and museums. Foodies will find it a particularly fun place to visit, with local specialities including mosselen (mussels with the ubiquitous gorgeous chips), various stews made with some of the infinite varieties of local beer and, of course, the famous Belgian waffle. Oh, and there's even a museum dedicated to French fries!

Canal boat rides are relaxing and recommended, though the summer weather is variable. We had a stunningly bright and beautiful weekend, but it does rain more in the summer than the winter. Our favourite place was the Begijnhof, a serene convent that used to be a community of widows and unmarried young women, but there is virtually no corner of Bruges that isn't ridiculously picturesque.

We went by Eurostar and local train, but if you take your own car it wouldn't take longer than 2-3 hours from Calais.

Curiously enough, I only saw three cats during the entire time I was there. I seriously think this place has gone to the dogs...

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Dog-friendly Weekends: Dunstable Downs

I know it's an English habit to get carried away about summer when there are two days of good weather on the trot, but forgive me. I'd forgotten what the sun looks like! On Sunday, I found myself enjoying a burst of spring sunshine on Dunstable Downs, just off the M1 (exit Junction 9, as for Whipsnade Zoo).

This really is the best setting for entertaining adults, children and dogs in a variety of ways! My husband is a keen kite flyer, and while he was battling with a Flexifoil, I took a wander and watched the gliders, paragliders and even frisbee players, taking the photos above and below. We then went off for a meandering and exhausting walk and up and down the hills, taking in the stunning scenery and practically falling over dogs as we went!

There were dogs everywhere. One Springer Spaniel kept popping up in front of us wherever we went, Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition-style, and a Westie was getting seriously excited about his frisbee. A group of boys herding a couple of panting off-lead Staffies were quick to warn us that "they're friendly!" which made me sad - of course they were! Tails were wagging, tongues were out, and one rushed up to me, bright eyes sparkling and pushed a very wet, cold nose into my hand in greeting. I think the boys found it rare that these barrell-chested boys were viewed without suspicion or hostility, but these looked like happy, healthy and most of all well-socialised lads to me.

Five minutes could not go past without an inquisitive face bobbing by at knee height, paws rooting in damp mud and teeth cradling a mangled tennis ball. Although dogs are not welcome inside the Visitors Centre (unless they're assistance dogs) there are plenty of outside tables where canine companions are welcome to sit with their families as they munch on yummy but not particularly diet-friendly snacks - the chips smelled amazing to us in our tired post-ramble state.

With wildlife trails posted, the gliding school at the bottom of the hill and all manner of airborne entertainment taking place, there's plenty to watch even if you're not feeling energetic yourself. It's a great, clean, open space for kids and pets to run around - just make sure they're all well-behaved!

And speaking of well-behaved, I did have to save a growl or two for the handful of irresponsible dog owners who did not clear up after their pals. Don't ruin it for the rest of the dog-owning world.

Got a favourite dog-friendly place to go? Tell us about it! And don't forget that if you're looking for a dog-friendly place to take a holiday, booking through the special Dogs Trust / Welcome Cottages site means Welcome donate a chunk of your cash to us, with over £100,000 raised so far.