Coastal Garden Retreats

Coastal Garden Retreats is a modern whole-house rental at Parkstone in Poole, and it is one of the more straightforwardly dog-friendly places on this stretch of coast: a proper house with its own enclosed garden, taken by several groups who brought dogs and came away happy. Guests travelling with two small dogs have described the garden as secure enough to let them out in, which is the detail that separates a genuinely dog-ready let from one that merely permits dogs.

There is real space inside. Parties of five plus a dog have used the house without it feeling crowded, the kitchen is well equipped, and the garden catches the sun for most of the day, so there is somewhere to sit out with the dog rather than shutting it indoors. Most guests describe the house as clean and comfortably furnished, and the beaches are a short drive away.

A few things to weigh. The road outside is busy and can be awkward to pull in and out of, which matters if your dog is a bolter or you are used to opening the car door onto somewhere quiet. Standards have not been perfectly consistent either: most stays report a spotless house, but there is at least one account of a long-unmown lawn, a dirty patio and a strong odour indoors. That same account flagged a socket in an upstairs bedroom with exposed cabling behind it as something an inquisitive dog could have got into, so it is worth doing the usual sweep at dog height when you arrive.

Pet rules are not published for the property, so confirm how many dogs are allowed, whether there is a charge, and whether dogs can be left alone in the house when you book.

Best suited to families and small groups who want a house with a secure garden as a base for Poole and the wider Dorset coast. It earns a 4.3/5 paw rating.