Dog-friendly holiday rental in Normandy — La Brochardière

Travelling with your dog means travelling with a family member who does not read the listings. What they want is space to run, a corner to sleep in, and for you to stop stressing every time they wander off.

At La Brochardière, that is exactly what we set out to build.

The garden is enclosed. Really.

It is the only criterion that truly matters when you look for a dog-friendly rental: can I leave them outside without checking every three minutes?

Here: yes. The garden is fully fenced. The gate closes on the street side. No hole in the hedge, no gap under the fence, no direct access to a busy road. If your dog is the type to test the limits, they will find them quickly — and live with it.

What that changes in practice: you drink your coffee in peace while the dog patrols outside. You go shopping without planning a strategy. You come back from the forest and simply drop the lead — they trot into the garden, drink from their bowl, and collapse in the shade.

The house is made for dogs (that come in from outside)

A few details that seem trivial until you come home through Norman mud in November:

• The ground floor is tiled. One pass of the mop and it is done.
• The entrance has a hallway. Paws get wiped before the living room.
• No carpet. Anywhere. Hair can be swept up.
• No white velvet sofa. The décor is made for living.

And in winter, the dog will have their spot — in front of the fireplace, on a cushion stolen from somebody.

No extra charge

Many cottages charge 30 or 50 euros per night per dog. Over a three-week spa stay, that adds up.

Here, it is free. No supplement, no dog deposit, no surprise. We just ask you to tell us before booking: how many, what breed, what temperament. We have already hosted up to three dogs in the house. It all depends on the profile, but our default answer is yes.

And what is there to do with them nearby?

Every day:
The lake loop (3 km), ideal in the morning. Flat, shaded, quiet outside July and August. In some sections you can let them off the lead.

Proper walking:
The Andaines Forest, 10,000 hectares a 5-minute walk away. On a lead — that is the rule in a state forest — but the trails are endless. For active dogs that need to run, sniff and explore, it is the dream.

Further out, for the day:
The Normandy beaches. Mont-Saint-Michel at 1h15, the Côte Fleurie at 1h30. Cabourg, Houlgate and Granville allow dogs off season or on dedicated sections. We give you the up-to-date list on arrival.

Dog-friendly places to visit:
The grounds of Carrouges castle (not the interior). The lake promenade in Bagnoles. All the trails of the Normandie-Maine Regional Nature Park.

Practical services

• Vet 2 km away, in La Ferté-Macé
• Emergency vet in Bagnoles-de-l’Orne, 12 km
• Pet shop and food in La Ferté or Bagnoles
• Grooming in Bagnoles
• Day kennels (for visits that do not suit dogs), several within 15 km

What if we are also coming as a family?

That is often where it gets stuck: finding a place that works for the children AND the dog. Here, the two logics meet. The enclosed garden hosts the children playing and the dog watching over them. Two bedrooms, six beds, a fully equipped kitchen, a washing machine. You arrive on Saturday, you leave with a bag of clean laundry.

The rules, briefly

We do not like ten-clause contracts. Three things:

• Not on the sofa, not on the beds. Covers provided if needed.
• Vaccinations up to date, recent worming.
• Compulsive barking while the owners are away: to be avoided, for the neighbours.

That is all. The rest is common sense.

A few questions

Do you take large dogs?
Yes. German Shepherd, Labrador, Bouvier — we take them.

And cats?
Also. The enclosed garden protects less careful cats. Mind the small road along the property for the adventurous ones.

More than two dogs?
Let us talk first. We have already done three without any problem.

Day kennels if you want a quiet day out?
We give you the contacts on arrival.