Lodge holidays are a brilliant way to explore the British countryside with your dog, but unfamiliar surroundings can unsettle even the most easy-going companion. The first night in a new place is often the hardest, with strange smells, sounds and layouts. By planning ahead and keeping things as normal as possible, you can help your dog feel secure.

Prepare Before You Leave Home

Preparation starts days before you pack the car. If your dog is used to a crate, bring it – even if you only use it at home as a safe space. For dogs who sleep on a bed, take a familiar blanket or an unwashed item of your clothing. The scent of home is one of the most powerful calming tools you have.

Practise short journeys if your dog is not a confident traveller. Short drives ending somewhere pleasant can build positive associations. On travel day, feed a light meal at least an hour before setting off, and take a brisk walk beforehand so they are tired but not exhausted. Pack their usual food, bowls, lead, poo bags, a towel and a couple of favourite toys. Avoid introducing new treats or chews that might upset their stomach.

Arrive Calmly and Introduce the Space Slowly

When you first arrive at the lodge, resist the urge to let your dog charge around. Keep them on the lead and walk them around the outside of the property first. Let them sniff the perimeter and get their bearings. Then go inside together, still on the lead, and allow them to explore one room at a time. Do not crowd them with excited family members. One person should lead the dog while others stay quiet.

Show them where their water bowl is and take them straight to the garden or designated toilet area. Reward any calm sniffing or settling with gentle praise. If they seem overwhelmed, take them back outside for a few minutes, then try again. The aim is to let them set the pace, not to force them to meet everyone or investigate every corner immediately.

Set Up a Familiar Den and Sleeping Area

Dogs feel safest when they have a den – a quiet, enclosed spot that is theirs. Set this up before your dog enters the lodge. If you use a crate, place it in a corner away from doors and windows, cover it with a blanket and put their familiar bedding inside. If they sleep on a bed, choose a corner of the bedroom and lay down the blanket from home. Add a worn T-shirt that smells of you.

Keep this area consistent throughout. Do not move the bed around or let children play in it. If your dog normally sleeps downstairs while you sleep upstairs, do not suddenly change that arrangement – it will add to their confusion. If they usually sleep in your bedroom, let them do so. At night, close curtains to block out wildlife activity, and consider a low radio or white noise to mask unfamiliar sounds.

Maintain Routines for Food, Walks and Toilet Breaks

Routine is reassuring. Feed the same food at the same times as at home. If you normally walk first thing in the morning, do that. If your dog gets a bedtime biscuit, pack it. Small rituals signal that everything is normal. Keep walks on a lead in rural areas – livestock, deer and ground-nesting birds are common, and even a reliable dog can forget recall in a new place.

Take toilet breaks to the same spot each time, especially last thing at night. Reward them calmly for going. If they have an accident indoors, clean it up without scolding – stress, not defiance, is almost always the cause. A good long walk before check-in can help them settle, but avoid exciting games right before bed.

Manage the First Night and Beyond

Even with the best preparation, the first night can be unsettled. Stick to your normal bedtime routine as closely as possible. Take your dog out for a final toilet break, then settle them in their den with a long-lasting chew or puzzle toy. If they whine, wait a few moments before responding. Then go to them calmly, without fuss, and sit nearby until they relax.

Some dogs bark at unfamiliar night noises – owls, foxes, creaking wood. A fan or radio can help. If your dog is used to sleeping in a crate, use it. If they usually share your bed, let them. The goal is not to create new habits but to preserve old ones. By the second or third night, most dogs will have settled, especially if daytime routines have been consistent.

Respect the Lodge and Rural Surroundings

Lodges often sit in shared or protected landscapes. Keep your dog under control near other guests, and always pick up after them. Check for gaps in fencing, open windows and balconies before letting them off the lead. If you must leave your dog alone in the lodge, build up to it gradually – start with a few minutes while you unpack the car, then longer only if they are relaxed. Never leave them alone on the first day.

With a bit of forward planning, familiar smells and gentle introductions, your dog can enjoy the lodge holiday almost as much as you do. A calm dog means a relaxed break for everyone.