The Covid-19 pandemic didn’t just change how we lived – it changed who we lived with. A surge in dog ownership swept the UK during lockdown, driven by loneliness, the need for companionship and the simple joy of a daily walk. But as the world reopened – customers and the travel industry faced a new reckoning: millions of new dog owners demanded a more inclusive pet-friendly travel experience. Shacks recently conducted research into the lasting effects of this shift and its implications for travel, accommodation and pet welfare.

Covid-19 – A Nation of New Dog Owners
According to the 2021 Pet Food Manufacturer Report (PMRA) – between March 2020 and March 2021, over 3.2 million UK households acquired a pet, with dogs making up the majority of these pets. The Dogs Trust National Dog Survey 2024 revealed that 44% of pandemic-era dog acquisitions were by first-time owners with many citing mental wellbeing, exercise and companionship as key motivators.

This boom has had a ripple effect on travel. At Shacks, a provider of luxury off-grid cabins, all of which do accept pets, internal booking data revealed the proportion of bookings with a pet is on track to grow by 30% year-on-year in 2025. The trend continues to shape the company’s accommodation design, policy and marketing.

New dog owners face the challenges of balancing their desire for travel with the well-being of their dog – many owners have underestimated this challenge. For the staycation travel industry – being pet friendly isn’t a new challenge but it’s one that is increasingly demanding a better solution for customers. Many UK companies aren’t aware of the overwhelming desire of dog-owners to travel with their pets – 85% of holiday makers would prefer to staycation with their pets – rather than travel abroad without them.

The Impact On Pet Welfare

One underappreciated side-effect of owners having spent significantly more time around their pets during covid lockdowns – has been the impact upon dog welfare. Lockdown puppies missed critical socialisation windows. The Dogs Trust 2024 Survey found that 52% of dogs bark at outside noises, 17% struggle around other dogs and 16% show anxiety around strangers – behaviours linked to isolation during early development. Battersea’s 2024 study echoed this, with 97% of pandemic puppy owners reporting at least one behavioural issue and 80% using aversive training methods, which can worsen anxiety.

During lockdown, dogs were rarely left alone. But as offices reopened and as the “return to office” trend continues to gather momentum – many owners face unexpected costs and dilemmas when making travel plans. The Blue Cross notes that dogs should not be left alone for more than 4–5 hours, yet kennel demand has surged with some facilities reporting waiting lists and early booking as much as 12 month ahead.

Return to Office Culture –  A New Challenge For Pets & Owners
The remote working pendulum has swung sharply in 2025, with a growing number of UK companies mandating full or partial in-office attendance. According to the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Professional Development) over 51% of UK businesses now require employees to be on-site at least three days a week. Further over 70% of workers say pressure to return is coming directly from senior leadership.

Major brands like Amazon, JPMorgan Chase and Asda have led the charge, formalising stricter return-to-office policies that signal a broader shift in workplace norms. But for millions of pet owners, this snapback to office culture presents a new dilemma: navigating pet care logistics, rising kennel costs and the emotional toll of leaving animals alone after years of constant companionship.

A 2021 survey by YuMOVE found that 78% of pandemic dogs showed signs of separation anxiety as owners returned to work. 48% of dog owners reduced time in the office and 40% avoided it entirely. TrustedHousesitters, a Brighton-based pet-sitting network, reported revenue from new members is now 4 times pre-pandemic levels, driven by the surge in pet ownership and the return to office & travel.

Inflationary kennel costs force pet owners to ask friendly or family for help, make savings elsewhere to pay fees for kennels or take a staycation with a pet-friendly accommodation provider – which eliminates some of the costs but can limit the choice of accommodation options available.

Travel Abroad Still a Headache & Proving Costly
Post-Brexit UK-issued pet passports are no longer valid in the EU. Owners must now obtain Animal Health Certificates, costing up to £200 per trip according to Passpets and navigate complex tapeworm and rabies rules. This has made overseas travel with dogs more expensive and less accessible.

For those willing to leave their pooch behind whilst they travel – this comes at a cost. Boarding a dog in the UK for a 7-day holiday now averages £120–£245, depending on location and kennel quality, with premium facilities in London reaching £350+ for the week. Prices have risen sharply post-pandemic, driven by increased demand, staffing shortages and inflation in pet care essentials. According to The Good Kennel Guide, some owners are paying £17–£35 per night, with holiday surcharges adding £5–£15 extra per day during peak periods.

For many, this makes kennelling a dog a significant part of their overall travel expenditure – and that’s before factoring in extras like playtime, grooming, or medication. It’s a growing barrier for dog owners who want to travel but face limited, costly options for care at home. The net effect is an increasing preference to staycation in the UK – according to Sykes Cottages’ 2025 Staycation Index around 63% of brits are planning a UK break in 2025 with 34% making it their main holiday.

Solutions & The Road Ahead – The Travel Industry Must Adapt
Dog-friendly travel is no longer niche—it’s mainstream. The University of Surrey’s 2023 study estimates the global dog-friendly travel market will be worth £40 billion by 2030 urging providers to offer clear, inclusive policies.

In their 2024 pet-friendly travel report Petspyjamas reported a sharp increase in interest for dog-inclusive walking tours, vineyard visits, spa breaks and eco-accommodation options in rural areas. These findings highlight both a consumer expectation and an opportunity – especially for countryside operators.

UK Off-Grid holiday provider Shacks has taken things a step further and addressed a core concern from customers to improve its pet-friendly offering. By enclosing many of its properties to ensure dogs can’t escape and adopting an “all properties pet-friendly policy” across all of its properties and providing dog treats and poop bags to guests bringing their pets with them on holiday.

By paying close attention to customer behaviour and booking flows the business also saw first hand the anxiety and scepticism dog-owners face when trying to book a friendly break. “Customers are surprised when we say we don’t charge a fee-per-dog and it’s taken some effort to reassure customers that we do indeed welcome any number of dogs, cats or other pets.” said Tom Lowes, Marketing Lead at Shacks. Further Shacks wants to combat any stigma around pet-inclusive stays “By ensuring dogs are presented prominently within our imagery, catering specifically to dog owners’ needs – we’re aiming to promote bringing pets on holiday and recognising pets as what they are, an indispensable part of the family and when it comes to travelling, not a burden or a problem.”

Lasting Challenges For Owners, Charities & The Travel Industry

As dog owners, employers and travel providers play catch-up whilst the dogs play catch – others are taking on the on-going challenge of providing long term behavioural support and advice. Organisations like Dogs Trust and Battersea offer resources for owners navigating dog anxiety and lifestyle shifts. Their work underlines a broader responsibility shared across hospitality, leisure and animal welfare charities to meet dogs’ emotional needs – not just their physical ones.

Covid-19 didn’t just change how we travel—it changed who we travel with. From national booking habits and pet supplements to human and pets mental health needs, dog-friendly travel is shaping the future of staycation holidays in the UK and overseas. Providers who recognise these patterns and react to improve pet-friendly support within offerings – are helping set the standard for responsible pet-inclusive tourism as well as a better future for owners and pets.