Abbey self catering - pets at Loch Ness.

Pets page!

Sadly we lost our rescue dog Suki in November 2004

We have always welcomed pet owners with their pets to our self catering properties byt since buying the apartment at the Abbey have realised that only in exceptional ciscumstances can we allow dogs. Of course guide dogs are always welcome. The information below, though not really relevant to visitors to our Fort Augustus apartment could be usefull to pet owners contemplating a visit to Loch Ness with dogs.

Fort Augustus and the forests around Loch ness is an excellent choice, as far as  your dogs are concerned. There is no better place for them to, "let their fur down" or "put their paws up" with lots of forest and hill trails to walk. It is also a very good place to get lost in the forest, so best behaviour is the rule of the day. We have known dogs to be lost for up to 3 days after chasing deer, (which, incidentally they would have no chance of catching). However, because we know most of you dogs that choose to come to Scotland for holiday are obedient! or at least prefer  the security of a lead in the forest.

There is also a matter of dog pooh! Many of you reading this will no doubt have seen other cottages that you would like to go to with your dog but which are not pet friendly. From our experience of self catering, and also as cottage owners ourselves, we can tell you, that for some cottage owners, it only takes one thoughtless pet owner to convince an accommodation provider not to allow dogs, and that is such a shame! In the interests of hygene (remember there might be children following your visit) we and other owners expect you to clear up your dogs mess, it is not fair to expect anyone else to do it. Most thoughtful accommodation owners provide a shovel for this purpose and it is up to you to use it

At Fort Augustus Abbey there are only communal lawns in the immediate surrounding grounds so any dog poo would need to be picked up and put into a suitable receptacle. We would also not want barking dogs to become a cause for complaint from neighbours. That is another reason so many cottage owners do not allow dogs is because owners leave them alone in a strange cottage  and consequently, the dog does its best to get out, (we once had a Great Dane enlarge a cat flap in our cottage back door to a size big enough for us to crawl through!!) or it takes it out on the cottage furniture.  Very expensive !! For this reason we expect you take your dog with you when you go out. After all, it is THEIR holiday too !

We hope you can keep your dog off furniture but concede that it is very difficult to do so if they are used to lying on the sofa at home!  If this rings bells with you, then you need to bring a cage for them to sleep in, or at the very least bring covers to protect the furniture ( we have in the past provided covers at the cottage for your use, just in case you forget to bring yours) If your dog sleeps on or in the bed at home, then we urge you to think carefully about where they will sleep whilst on holiday, as under NO circumstances should they be allowed onto the beds in any accommodation, even with covers.  Again this is where a cage could help.

In our capacity as dog owners and self catering property owners we are sometimes approached by distressed dog owners because Fido has picked up a tick or two after rolling about in the heather. This is more often during the summer when ticks sit on the tops of plants and grass waiting for Fido to come along. ( but more likely they would prefer venison ) There is a simple tool available from most vets and pet shops which makes removing Ticks a breeze, they operate like tweezers in reverse in that you squeeze them and they open.

We would advise you as dog owners coming to the Highlands with your dogs, to visit the vet before you leave home, to get them treated with Frontline tick repellant. We use it on our own dogs regularly and it is simple to apply -  just pour the drops of Frontline on to the skin at the back of the dogs neck to keep them totally free of ticks for one month and fleas for up to two months. You can then spend your holiday romping through forest and glen without any nasty surprises when you get home!

Dog friendly cruise company here Jacobite Loch Ness tours and cruises

More information on Ticks | Pet friendly cottages at Loch Ness