For many of us, our pets are firm members of the family. Nothing is good enough for our little (or big) pooch, so why compromise while on holiday? If you want to take your dog on your adventure this year, then a canal holiday would be the perfect fit. No planes to board, no endless paperwork to sort and plenty of space and walkies await you and your dog. Most of the hire companies welcome your pooch on their holiday boats and many go above and beyond to give not just yourself but also your furry companion the best start to your canal holiday.

No need to leave your pooch behind

When you rent a narrowboat, there is no reason to leave your beloved furry friend behind. There is no paperwork to fill out and no need to bring a travel cage. Your hire boat is your home away from home, with all the amenities and space your dog knows from home. Beautiful walks along the towpath, cosy evenings with your dog and exciting cruises with plenty of wildlife to see - a narrowboat holiday is a perfect getaway for you and your 4-legged friend.

Save money on your next holiday

Save money on your next boat holiday with your pet - no need to pay a fortune on dog kennels or boarding. No tearful goodbye when you leave your dog behind at the pet sitter. This time, your pooch is part of the adventure. Most hire companies charge a small price for your pet, mostly it’s in the region of £15 - £25 for the whole holiday. This turns out to be much cheaper than a pet hotel where you usually have to pay the same amount but per day. There are also hire companies who don’t charge anything at all for your pet. Sometimes the first pet is free and sometimes all of them. There will however usually be a max limit of 2 dogs per boat.

The best dog walks right on your doorstep

Your dog will love his holiday on a narrowboat. Moor up in the middle of nowhere or in a town, in the city or close to a park. One thing is always the same: the towpath is right on your doorstep and with it the best walks for your furry companion. On rainy days the towpath might get a bit muddy at times, but that’s not a problem at all. A quick rinse in the shower and your pooch is ready for a cozy evening on your holiday boat.

It’s not just your dog that is welcome aboard

By pet-friendly boat holidays, we aren’t just talking about dogs of course. You're more than welcome to bring your cat, rabbit, hamster or guinea pig along. Just make sure to keep the littlest furry friends in a suitable cage, as there are lots of little nooks and crannies on a boat where your hamster or mouse might want to hide.

A canal boat holiday with your dog is usually a very easy and worry-free experience. However - especially when it’s your first time on a narrowboat with your pet, there are few things you should take into consideration to ensure the best possible boating experience.

Create a cosy and relaxing space for your pet

It’s very important for your dog to have a little space of its own, especially after an exciting day on the cut. This is very easy to achieve with a simple blanket (preferably one that your dog has used at home and smells familiar). Look for a little corner and make up a little bed for your little pooch, where he can have a rest and sleep at night. Think of other things you might need to turn your dog’s canal boat holiday into a great experience for her. A few examples are:

• Favourite toy
• Water and food bowl
• Dog food & Treats
• Collar and leash (extra leash in case one falls overboard)
• Ball or other toys for playing outside

Keeping your dog safe

Only you know your dog best. If he is very sensitive to noises, then it might be better for him to stay inside the narrowboat while you cruise along the canal, ideally with someone else to comfort him. Some dogs need a couple of days to get used to this whole new concept of a moving home. If your dog is most comfortable if she can stay with you at all times, then it might be a good idea to create a little area on the stern next to you while you chug along. Just make sure to put a little blanket in a corner of the stern where it doesn’t turn into a trip hazard and your dog will be as happy as can be.

Dogs usually love it to see new things and watch the world go by while you are on a narrowboat - ducks, geese, swans and herons are only a few examples of welcome distractions for your dog that are worth watching. Sometimes it can happen that your dog is getting a bit overexcited and takes the plunge into the water, be it on purpose or not. Luckily, the canals haven’t got a strong current and are comparatively shallow for the most part. Just change the gear of your hire boat into neutral and try to navigate your dog either in the direction of the bank or the boat. It is very helpful in most cases if your dog wears a special life vest for dogs as they usually have a handle on the back. Canal banks can be steep and difficult for dogs to climb out of. By having an easy to access handle from a life vest, you can give your for legged friend a helping hand.

On hot days it is also very important to keep your dog cool and hydrated. Always make sure that the water bowl is topped up at all times and that your dog has a cool place to rest. If it gets too hot on your holiday boat, take your dog for a walk to the nearest suitable shade, such as wooded areas, a big shady tree or take him for a swim in a lake.

Once you've decided to take a canal boat holiday with your pet or dog you can use are "More Filters" functionality to search only for holiday boats that are pet friendly. However to keep things simple we've automatically applied that filter to the below list: This list is all holidays in 2023 so go ahead and apply additional filter until you've found a holiday that suits you.