No matter what the Chinese calendar may say, in Britain 2009 is set to be the Year of the Dog.

Holiday-cottage companies report that demand for properties where pets are welcome is booming — and those that take dogs and cater for kids by providing on-site activities are at a premium — as families skip both the kennel bills and the eurozone by taking Fido on a UK break.

With three kids and various hounds in tow, my family has been doing exactly that for the past decade. These are our recommendations for man’s best friend — and his offspring.

Glendorgal, Newquay

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A two-bedroom house sleeping up to six, Glendorgal is just to the north of Newquay. It’s nice and comfy inside, but the star attraction is without: the wonderful, ever-changing views over Porth Beach to Trevelgue Head.

For the kids: the cottages are part of a complex that includes the Glendorgal Hotel, which means you get access to an indoor heated swimming pool. Right next door is the Lusty Glaze adventure centre (01637 872444, lustyglaze.co.uk ), offering everything from zip-wiring to bodyboarding and a beach cafe. For older children, the garish pleasures of Newquay are within walking distance, as is Fistral Beach, one of the UK’s premier surfing sites, which welcomes dogs all year.

For the dogs: there’s an excellent coastal walk round to Trevelgue Head. Lusty Glaze bans dogs between May 30 and September 1, but even then welcomes “careful dog owners” between 7pm and 8am. Nearby Watergate Bay (home to Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant) welcomes them all year.

From £590 per week, plus £20 per dog, with Beach Retreats (01637 861005, beachretreats.co.uk )

Holbeck Ghyll, Cumbria

This swanky hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant on Lake Windermere, with self-catering options in its grounds, is ideal for dogs and dog-owners. Top of the pile is Lowtherwood, a new barn conversion that sleeps eight and has views of the lake, a Bose sound system, a sauna and an outdoor hot tub.

For the kids: the Low Wood Watersports and Activity Centre (elh.co.uk/watersports ) is just down the road, offering sailing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking and canoeing, as well as a climbing wall. Younger ones might like the nearby World of Beatrix Potter (www.hop-skip-jump.com ).

For the dogs: it isn’t just the grown-ups who get to have a gourmet break. The £8 charge for dogs can be upgraded to a designer package for £15 per night: a Michelin-star dog-food menu, a tailor-made doggy bag with treats and chews, a special bowl for mealtimes, a blanket for bedtime and a gift to take home. Strange, but true.

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