Joe's blog from Peak Holidays

Hello

Hello, I'm Joe. I'm an 18 month old Labrador. As my humans started this blog, I thought I should paw a few words so the puppies amongst you will know where you can go and what there is to sniff in the Peak District.

This picture is of me now at 18 months old - I used the cute puppy picture on my humans page to draw you into my page - though I'm still cute!

Undercarriage up, paws to automatic

Joe jumping in the snow After a day jumping and playing in the wonderful Peak District, you need to allow your owner to have a rest and a recuperative drink.

Many like to go to the local pub, and all the cottages have good pubs locally that welcome well behaved dogs. Here are my suggestions:

Church Corner Cottage: The George Hotel only 1 minute from the cottage welcomes dogs in the tap room. At the other end of the village - 5 minutes walk - the Farmyard Inn also makes us dogs welcome.

Hillocks Cottage & The Nook: The Red Lion is 2 minutes walk from either cottage and makes us dogs very welcome. Get there early to secure the table by the fire!

Clipshead Farm Cottage: You need to reserve a little energy as both the village pubs are around a mile from the cottage. But its worth the walk as both the Old Gate Inn and the Miners Arms will give you a warm welcome.

Keeping Safe

In the Peak District us dogs need to be extra careful not to leave our owners. I think it is best to insist to your human that you stay on your lead at all times when you are near the farm animals.

The people at Natural England have published a countryside code, which we all need to keep in mind when we visit the countryside.

Walkies

During your stay your owners will be taking you out with them hopefully on long walks around the Peak District. However, when we are closer to home, us dogs like a little trot out for a quick sniff and things (you know!). I have tested the facilities near all the cottages and can report they are very good. Here are my favourites:

Church Corner Cottage: Get your human to walk for a few minutes down the hill by the church and you are in Bradford Dale. You can have a nice walk along the river to stretch your legs. There is even a circular walk through the dale and then back up through the village - a nice 15 minutes stroll before you go back to lie by the log fire.
Hillocks Cottage & The Nook: There is a little lane next to the pub (50 yards from the cottage). Walk up the lane and you come to open fields where you can have a good look round. Veer off to the right when you are in the fields and you can walk round to the top of the village and then back down to the cottage. All done in 20 minutes, but a lot longer if you want to walk further through the fields - follow the right of way signs.
Clipshead Farm Cottage: You are living at the end of a very quiet country lane. You can walk back up the lane quite safely. As you walk up from the cottage you will see a number of footpath signs taking you across the fields but you need to take care as there are some horses and sheep in the some of the fields.

And don't forget to ensure your human brings some bags with them; one full of treats and the other just in case of a deposit (you know!).

House rules

Whenever you go to someone else's cottage it is always best to understand the house rules before you go. In conjunction with my humans, I have agreed the following house rule on behalf of all dogs staying at the cottages:

Ensure the humans keep off the floors at all times - these are strictly for dogs to lie on. If they must sit down make sure they use the chairs provided. To ensure they have no excuse for sitting on the floor, you should not get up on the furniture.
I have found that the humans have some odd bedroom and washing habits. Therefore, it is best that you keep out of the bedrooms and bathrooms at all times - stick to the living areas of the cottage where you can be cosy and the bonus is you avoid their snoring, which only keeps you awake all night.
Do not allow yourself to be left at the cottage on your own. How would they like to be locked in a strange place alone? It is your holiday too and those humans need to find places to go where you are welcome - and there are plenty of them in the Peak District, so there are no excuses!