Dogs & Pets in the Welsh Gatehouse: We are Dog Friendly, Cat Friendly and Pet Friendly -

AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE IS A QUESTIONNAIRE ABOUT YOUR DOG(S), PLEASE FILL THIS IN.

We have written this page focusing on dogs, but it applies to other pets too.

We are a dog-friendly (not just dog tolerant) holiday let and welcome up to three well-behaved dogs. As the property contains valuable furnishings and carefully chosen pieces, we are selective about the dogs we accept.

For example, our bespoke sofa was hand-built in four sections at a cost of £6,000, as this was the only way we could get such a large item up the stairs. Any chewing or damage would be extremely distressing. We appreciate your understanding in helping us care for the property so it remains beautiful for everyone to enjoy.

WE WELCOME WELL BEHAVED DOGS
Maintaining our high standard of accommodation is important to us and sadly we can’t always just repair damage, more often than not it has to be replaced. So we ask that all dogs holidaying with us are fully house-trained and grown up enough to be well past any chewing stage, as all damage must be reported and paid for. In simple terms, our definition of a well-behaved dog is one that does not toilet indoors, does not chew, and does not cause damage to the house or garden. We are not concerned about things like reactivity or imperfect recall, these are completely understandable in a new environment. What matters most to us is that your dog respects the space.

DOGS MUST NOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED
Dogs must not be left unattended in the property at any time. Being in an unfamiliar environment can be unsettling for dogs and may lead to distress, barking, or damage. Dogs should remain with you throughout your stay.

SPIRAL STAIRS
There is a spiral staircase (part stone, part wood) which all guests, including your dog(s), will need to use to access the property. You are responsible for ensuring your dog can safely go up and down the staircase. Please be aware that the steps may be uneven or slippery. We cannot accept responsibility for any injury to your dog while they are in the Welsh Gatehouse, or for any damage caused while using the stairs. For safety, we recommend carrying smaller dogs and closely supervising larger dogs when using the staircase
.

SHARING A BED: COMPANIONWAY LADDER TO THE BEDROOM
There is a companionway ladder leading to the bedroom. This ladder is not dog-friendly and must not be used by pets. If you wish to co-sleep with your dog, you will need to carry them up and down the ladder. Please ensure you can do this safely, as this is entirely at your own risk.

BEDDING IF YOU CO-SLEEP
If your dog usually sleeps on your bed at home, you may wish to do the same while on holiday. In this case, we ask that you bring your own bedding (sheets, pillow and duvet), as dog hair can be very difficult to remove from ours. Please also bear in mind that accessing the bedroom involves using the companionway ladder.

DOGS ON THE SOFA
We want you and your dog to be able to relax while you are away. If your dog sleeps on the sofa at home, then of course they are going to do that on holiday. We provide three brown ‘throws’ and ask you to make sure the sofa is protected.

WE PROVIDE EQUIPMENT TO PROTECT THE RUGS AND SOFA
To keep it lovely for you, so you are able to really relax, we ‘set up’ the Gatehouse carefully, providing sofa covers, small dog towels for muddy paws (please bring more if you know they will be needed) water bowls, and a ‘lost pet’ tag for your dog to wear. We make a charge of £30 for one dog, £50 for 2 dogs and £70 for 3 dogs, which covers this.

DOG WELCOME KIT

pet tags saying “I’m on holiday at the Welsh Gatehouse”
poop bags
water bowls
ball
treats
dog towels for muddy paws
two brown throws for the sofa
a third brown throw for the bed

BRING YOUR DOG’S BEDDING AND FEEDING EQUIPMENT
Please remember to bring your dog’s bedding and any necessary feeding equipment.

OUTSIDE TAP FOR MUDDY DOGS
There is a cold water outside tap in the shed. As you come in through the gate, turn right onto the path. On the right hand side there is a brown wooden door and in that shed is a tap. There will be a short hose (which you may need to attach) to hose down your dog. There may be an old towel on the hooks on the ground floor level of the Gatehouse, which you are welcome to use to dry your dog. Alternatively, there is a wet room upstairs in the gatehouse, so you could use warm water to shower your dog, but please don’t use the white towels to dry your dog. Bring your own. We will provide some small brown doggy towels for paws.

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THE GARDEN, DOOR, GATES, AND HEIGHT OF WALLS
We have a fully enclosed garden, which we think is pretty much escape proof (unless your dog jumps over 1m37). The garden has two gates which are never used and lead into our neighbours’ gardens.
The lowest gate in the garden is 1.37m (4’6″), though most of the garden has a wall that is over 2 metres high. See the photos below. The Dog Waste bin is on the ground floor of the Welsh Gatehouse. NB Deliveries for Courtyard House (our home at the other end of the garden) come in through a completely different entrance, at the back of the house.

(CLICK IMAGE TO SEE VIDEO)

YOU CAN BOLT THE ENTRANCE DOOR WHEN YOUR DOG IS IN THE GARDEN
The only entrance to the Courtyard Garden that is used is the small door set into the large wooden gates. You can bolt this from the inside whilst your dog(s) is in the garden. This stops anyone from entering the garden from outside. Please unbolt it when you go back inside the Gatehouse living area.

(CLICK IMAGE TO SEE VIDEO)

BALL – USE CAREFULLY IN THE COURTYARD GARDEN
We provide a ball for your enjoyment, primarily for when you are walking your dog. Please note: the Welsh Gatehouse and Courtyard House contain over 80% original crown glass, hand-blown window panes that are historically significant and irreplaceable. Crown glass was made by spinning molten glass into a flat disc before cutting it into panes. There is no modern equivalent, any replacement would be a replica. For this reason, we ask that you use the ball only in open areas, away from the buildings, to avoid the risk of breaking these precious windows. The Village Alive Trust award, that we were given for the renovation, was partially due to the amount of Crown Glass we were able to preserve. Thank you for helping us protect this heritage.

WE PROVIDE A LIST OF DOG FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS AND CAFES
We are compiling a list of dog friendly places locally, so that you can take your furry friend with you. If after you have stayed, there is somewhere you think we should add, please let us know.

REPORTING DAMAGE
We understand that even with the best of intentions, things can go wrong and accidents happen. We really appreciate it when guests let us know if something has been broken or damaged. We ask that you report anything that has been broken or damaged during your stay.

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING DEPOSIT
We have introduced a policy of taking a £300 Good Housekeeping Deposit from pet owners. Whilst we know that around 95% of our guests with dogs are respectful and considerate of our historic building, there are occasional instances where this is not the case. The deposit provides us with reassurance that the property will be well cared for. To be honest, we also hope it acts as a gentle deterrent to guests who think their dog may cause damage. Since they are unlikely to get their deposit back, we hope they may decide that the Welsh Gatehouse is not the right fit for them. This helps us protect the building and ensure a positive experience for everyone.

The Good Housekeeping deposit will be fully refunded within seven days of the final day of your stay, provided the property is left in good condition, with no damage or excessive cleaning required.

PLEASE PAY THE £300 DEPOSIT 21 DAYS BEFORE YOUR HOLIDAY
Please pay £300 into our Monzo Bank account 21 days before your visit. Please email info@welshgatehouse.com to confirm that it has been paid.

Account Name: Juliet Grayson and William Ayot
Personal Account
Sort Code 04-00-06
Account Number 72470382

REASONS WHY WE MAY NEED TO RETAIN ALL OR PART OF THE DEPOSIT INCLUDE:

Failure to clean up all dog waste from the gardens. Please bag all waste in black bags. The Dog Waste bin is on the ground floor of the Welsh Gatehouse. Charges for uncollected waste found in the garden: £50–£100.
Excessive shedding left uncleaned.
Strong ‘wet dog’ odours inside the building.
Fleas, ticks, or other parasite infestations.
Damage to the property, including:
- Ruined or stained carpets
- Scratched doors or floors
- Broken, chewed, or otherwise damaged items
The white towels being used to dry a muddy dog

CLEANING EQUIPMENT
The Dyson vacuum (please put it back on charge after use) and other cleaning equipment is on the ground floor by the washing machine. There is a blue dog hair mitt under the sink area. Other cleaning products are under the sink.

COMPLIMENTARY CRATE OR DOG BED?
We are considering offering our guests the chance to borrow a crate or a dog bed. This would be something we offer but make no charge for. Would this have been helpful for you? Please let us know (info@welshgatehouse.com) so we know for future guests. And if yes, what size would you have needed.