It has just become easier for dog owners to find their next trip away where they can take pets along with them.
Going on holiday can be tricky when it's not obvious if animals can tag along and a lot of people do not have others they can ask to look after their dogs for a week or two.
Many kennels who could provide such a service often have to be booked months in advance, meaning a last minute getaway is difficult.
That's not even considering the added cost of a overnight dog care could mean the price of the whole trip is effectively doubled for the family.
However, 'home swapping' could provide an alternative and also reduces stress caused by separation.
A platform called Love Home Swap showcases a range of houses you can stay at, and they now have an option for filtering the search to include pets.
James, a member of the growing community, swapped his home in Clifton, Bristol and took his dog on holiday to Pembrokeshire.
He took a ‘working holiday’, meaning he carried on logging on to his job from his temporary holiday home.
Staying in a property in Tresaith, a coastal village with views of Cardigan Bay, he told TeamDogs : “The kitchen table overlooked the beach and it was only a three minute walk to the shore.
"In between video calls I could walk down to the beach, and listen to the surf. The owner even let my small dog Peggy come down during the week, and then my wife joined us at the weekend.”
According to Statista , pet ownership in the UK has increased by 18% in the past year, one where new pets will have gotten used to constant companionship.
