Dairy Cottages, Horton

Dairy Cottages is set up for dogs in a way that few self-catering conversions bother with. There is an enclosed field on site that dogs can be let into, private gardens attached to the cottages, and a gated courtyard that means a late-night trip outside does not involve a lead and a torch. The setting is quiet Dorset farmland north of Wimborne, with the coast about half an hour away.

The owners are the reason most dog owners come back. They meet guests with the keys, share what they know about the area, and point people at dog-friendly beaches worth the drive. Parties travelling with two small dogs describe them making full use of both the garden and the courtyard, and the cottages themselves are modern, well equipped and comfortable in a way that suits coming back muddy.

Two things need saying plainly before you book. A pet charge of £30 per dog applies and is collected at the property rather than taken at booking, which has caught people out, and the booking process does not always ask how many dogs are coming - so budget for it and flag your dogs when you reserve. And the lanes outside have no pavements or verges, so there is no safe route for a walk straight from the door. In practice you drive to your walks, which is fine if you were driving anyway but a real limitation if you expected to step out with the dog before breakfast.

Two smaller notes. The grass in the paddock is cut but the clippings are not collected, so on wet mornings dogs come back in with damp cuttings stuck to their coats and want a towel at the door. And parties booking a particular cottage for its larger garden have occasionally been moved to the other one on arrival, so if garden size matters for your dogs, confirm which cottage you are getting.

Best suited to owners of two or more dogs who want a safe enclosed space on site, are happy to drive to their walks, and want hosts who make an effort. It earns a 4.5 out of 5 paw rating.