Panorama House, Sandbanks

Panorama House is a whole-house holiday let on Panorama Road, high on the Sandbanks peninsula and about 400 metres from the beach. For a dog that likes sand and salt water this is close to ideal: the harbour side and the open sea beach are both within a short walk, the peninsula is flat, and having the whole house to yourselves means no reception, no corridors and no other guests to work around.

The owners have clearly thought about dogs rather than merely tolerating them. There is an outside hose for rinsing off a sandy or salty dog and a dog towel in the house, and the front porch works well as somewhere to get the worst off before anyone goes inside. Guests travelling with dogs single out the enclosed back garden, which takes the anxiety out of opening a door in a road this close to the water. The house rules are sensible and clearly stated: dogs downstairs rather than upstairs, off the beds, and never left in the conservatory, which gets extremely hot in sun.

Beyond the dog side, this is a large, comfortable family house - five-star rated, several bathrooms, a big kitchen and dining space, a sun terrace at the back and a conservatory that suits a wet afternoon. Feedback across all stays is consistently strong on cleanliness, space and location, with the usual seaside caveat that the outside decking and steps get slippery in rain.

The main thing to plan around is the beach season. Guests with dogs point out that autumn and winter are the sweet spot here, because the local beaches carry seasonal dog restrictions over the summer months and the popular stretches get busy. Check the current rules for the beach you are aiming for before you travel.

Panorama House suits families and groups with dogs who want space, a secure garden and a short walk to the water, and who can travel outside high summer.