Dogs

Dogs are most welcome as guests; they can be wonderful creatures. We anticipate that most of them will be well-behaved most of the time. We aim to provide for their special and particular needs, while also recognising that most guests come without them.

However, we maintain the house to a standard that those with dog allergies can be comfortable with. Doggie smells may be completely unnoticed by dog owners, but may be pungent and unpleasant to some others. Other guests will tolerate boistrous canine behaviour to differing extents, but do not at all expect to be kept awake at night by barking dogs. We ask that all visiting dogs and their owners respect these rules.

Dogs in the house: During day-time, dogs are limited to the utility room, the adjacent bar/television room, as well as the garden. No animals are allowed into the kitchen, drawing room, dining room or bedrooms at any time.

Buster, our 4 year old Labrador, lives outside at all times. He has a kennel on the terrace.

Sleeping arrangements: We insist that visiting dogs sleep downstairs (in the bar or utility area), or in owner's cars. A dog cage can be provided should you need one. There is also a small conservatory which can accommmodate two large dogs separated by doors from the utility area and the garden terrace.

Cleaning: we make a one-off charge of £20 per visit to cover the cost to deep cleaning the bar and utility area to dog allergy sufferer standards after your visit.

The garden: The whole rear garden is large (about an acre), and moderately dog-proofed to prevent escape, but this cannot be guaranteed. Dog owners are asked to clear up after any calls of nature in the upper garden: plastic nappy sacks are available just inside the door to the back porch, and a small swing-top bin just outside is for this purpose too. Please remember that the lower garden is home to our small flock of Hebridean sheep. If your dog is liable to chase after either the six sheep or our six free-range laying hens, or our seven ducks, please use a lead in the lower garden.

Dog food and bedding: We can provided standard dried dog food, and a small choice of dog beds for your canine companion to borrow.

Serious overnight noise: where a barking guest dog keeps other guests awake, we do ask that owners give some serious thought either to spending part or all of the night downstairs with their dog, or arrange for the guest dog to stay subsequent nights in nearby overnight kennels.