Ty Gardd, Usk

Ty Gardd is a self-contained lodge in the Monmouthshire countryside just outside Usk, and the thing that makes it work for dogs is simply that you get the whole place to yourself. There are no shared corridors, no reception to walk a wet dog through and no other guests to work around - just a lodge, a garden and a lot of quiet.

The garden is enclosed, and that is the detail dog owners mention first. It means you can open the door and let them out rather than clipping a lead on every time, and it makes the covered hot tub and seating area usable while the dog potters about. There is a dog waste bin on site too, so you are not carrying bags around with you all week.

The setting is properly rural. The lodge sits in open farmland between Usk and Raglan, with lanes to walk straight out into and Usk itself around ten minutes away for a pub lunch or supplies. Guests consistently describe the location as peaceful and secluded, and the log burner earns a mention from almost everyone who stays in the colder months.

Two things are worth knowing. Housekeeping has slipped on occasion - cobwebs, crumbs left on a board and a dog waste bin that had not been emptied before arrival have all come up, and in warm weather the last of those is more than a niggle. And the pet policy is only half on record: the listing sets out what the lodge puts out for dogs, towels, a water bowl and a throw so they can settle on the sofa with you, along with a request to clean up after them, but says nothing about charges, dog numbers or size limits, so confirm those with the owner before you book.

It suits dog owners who would rather have space and privacy than hotel service - a couple or a small family with one or two dogs, happy to be out in the country. On that basis it earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.