It’s a dog’s life, etc. And my word, what a life…

Recently, we booked a stand at Hickstead to sell and promote the Silver Skincare range. This meant me being on site for several long days, in a heatwave. I was concerned about leaving the pug, Alice Pickle, the Duchess of Pickleton, whilst I was away. Who would look after Her Grace in the manner to which she has become accustomed? How would she cope without her loyal staff (me) to bow to her every need? Fortunately, I already knew the answer to this, because Alice Pickle has been lucky enough to be a guest at the Hotel for Pugs (and Griffons) before.

Last summer – in similarly blazing heat – she stayed there for a few days in the absolute lap of luxury. The highlights of which were the hours spent in the pool bar, Pug Tropicana, and her specially curated spa day treatments. She came back smelling fragrant. Closer to how a duchess should probably smell, and less like an old cheese, as per her usual aroma.

So I got in touch with Ian and Lisa again, the dog-focused and absolutely lovely couple whose beautiful country house home has been utterly taken over by pugs. To the point where it has become a hotel for them. In fact not just pugs, but also very cute Griffons Bruxellois. If you don’t know what they are, think gingery-brown pugs with tons of hair and beards and you’re not far off the mark. And they were able to fit Her Grace in for a stay. Hurrah, we all said.

After I booked her in, I realised she would be away for six nights

This is a long time for Alice – and for me. She and I are rather joined at the hip – it’s the most codependent relationship I’ve ever been in. But I needn’t have worried. Apart from the fact that working very long days on my feet in the heat was enough to floor me at the end of each day, both Ian and Lisa kept in touch with me throughout Alice’s stay.

I never had to wonder if she was alright, whether she was keeping cool, whether she was having a good time… it’s peace of mind you can’t put a price on, frankly.

Let me tell you a bit about Alice’s stay

Her days kicked off with morning walks in the cool woodland around 6am with the other dogs. She loved this. We live in an urban/beach-adjacent place, so a wood is always an exciting place for Alice. I got regular videos of her leaping logs and rustling through leaves.

During the daytime it was all about the five-star resort activities. Driving around in the Lambo with her best mate Polly riding shotgun (there is a yellow remote-control Lamborghini which the pugs get to zoom around the grounds in; see top picture). Or being hand pulled in a kind of luxury surrey with a fringe on top, because Ian was concerned that the grass might be too hot for Alice’s tootsies.

To keep cool in the 30+ heat, the Duchess had time in the shaded wakeboarding pool, learning to surf. And plenty of lounging around in the bigger ‘Pug Tropicana’ pool, snoozing in inflatables, and having regular cooling down spells in the water, and the shade.

Then there’s Puggy Puggy Treat Time, which is at teatime and warrants a special song, apparently, that Ian sings. “I do it in a falsetto,” he says. “It brings all the pugs to my yard.” The pugs and griffons are aware of PPTT, Pavlov style, and frankly take little reminding. Treats range from wedges of cold watermelon to slices of doggie sausage. And they all know exactly when it’s time.

One morning, sweating my arse off on the stand, I got a video from Ian showing Alice being hand-fed a few buttered toast squares at breakfast time. Crusts removed, naturally. “How wonderful,” I thought through slightly gritted teeth, sitting in the heat and dust of Hickstead on a stand where the temperatures were close to hitting 40 degrees. “I’m so pleased my dog is having a nice time.”

Enjoying the facilities and the bonhomie

Every dog is different, so the Hotel team checks what is good for everyone’s precious dumplings before doing anything with them. Alice is game for just about anything, so she got the full works throughout her stay, including a spa day. Transported to the wet room in the luxury surrey with a bottle of gin (!), she enjoyed a wash and shampoo, and a head massage. Followed by air drying with a special cap for her ears and a warm towel. She came home so silky and soft and clean I nearly didn’t recognise her.

She’s a girl’s girl though, and so although she spent her days with Ian engaged in the resort facilities, when she wanted a quiet cuddle she went to Lisa and snuggled up with her on the sofa. She also had a choice of where to sleep. They completely open up the house and no dog is restricted in any spaces, even the bedrooms. There are also unlimited cuddles on tap.

And I know they went over and above to keep my precious baby cool. See the screenshot above – also picked up when I was developing heatstroke at work. Jesus, what I wouldn’t have given for a bloody cold flannel! But the heat really is a worry with pugs and their ridiculous flat faces, and Alice has occasional seizures too. So knowing she was in safe and loving hands like this is really magic.

Read more: Doddery dogs – could your dog be struggling with arthritis?

And let’s not forget the social life…

For a single dog, Alice enjoyed the fun of spending some time in a place with lots of other little dogs. And doing a ton of stuff she never gets to do at home. She’s a sociable girl, but goes for long spells where it’s just me and her. She’s happy with that, but also really  likes to get out and get social sometimes.

She made lots of chums, but got particularly close to another pug called Polly. I think they both missed each other once Alice went home. It’s enriching for Alice to enjoy some doggie company like this, and I know she loved it. But she was pleased to get back to the peace of our own space. It was a lot for her, something Lisa and Ian really understand.

I can’t recommend this place enough. Frankly *I* could do with a week there, going wakeboarding, eating watermelon and having a cold flannel if I get a bit snory. Lisa and Ian have an absolutely beautiful home and grounds, and I love the fact that they share their haven with little four-legged friends. The hotel is fully licensed and insured, and there is strict paperwork ahead of the booking, which also gives peace of mind. And a place to put down your darling’s likes, dislikes and loves. They have extensive experience when it comes to dealing with dogs that have special needs too. I mean, does it get any more perfect?

Get in touch if you want a site visit or viewing ahead of bookings. They’re based in West Sussex.
www.hotelforpugs.com