This latest survey says that women miss their dogs more than their partners, friend or family when they are away and suggests it’s time to stop calling them ‘man’s’ best friend.

As a double-poochie owner, I can only concur. There are moments on a trip when I will suddenly go, “Awww, wish my pooches could be here” – especially when I see dogs running free in parks in London or on treks in New Zealand or splashing away on the beaches of Brittany.

And I feel sorry for my urban doggies – who are much like us urbanites – trapped within our concrete jungle and to whom nature is watching a well-manicured tree swaying in the gentle breeze outside your bedroom window.

Anyway, in this survey, Skyscanner surveyed over 1,000 dog owners and found that, while men would miss their partner the most if they were on holiday without them, with 37% putting them top, women don’t return the favour. Only 21% of women polled said they’d miss their partner most with 37% putting their favourite pooch first.

The survey also says dog owners also go to great lengths to keep in touch with their pet while on holiday. As many as 40% have called or texted from holiday to check that Fido is OK, while 14% have admitted to ‘chatting’ to their dog by phone so that it can hear their voice, while 5% have taken it further and had a holiday Skype ‘conversation’ with their dog. For those favouring a more traditional touch, 6% have put pen to paper to write their dog a postcard. 



I have to confess, I have Skyped my doggies but often I feel it spooks them more than soothes them, and after one nano-second of sniffing the screen and finding no treats there, they lose interest anyway and you’re left making silly-poochy noises while they put their butts in front of your face.

The survey also reveals many travellers feel ruff (who writes these Skypoller pieces – I want the job) when it comes to jetting off abroad without their four legged friend, with 22% of holidaymakers taking a photo of their pooch on holiday.

A shocking 3% of dog owners admit to having cut their hard earned holiday short and returned home early as they missed their dog too much.

What’s so shocking about that?

With owners not wanting to be separated from their beloved pets, it’s perhaps not surprising that over half of holidaymakers plan breaks with their pets in mind to ensure they aren’t left at home.

One in five dedicated dog owners have never been away without them and 20% claim the company of any pet would make for the pawfect companion on holiday, more so than their own children and even their friends.

Well, unfortunately, for those of us who live in Singapore, we can’t take our dogs anywhere except to Sentosa and if we do drive them to Malaysia, it’s a one-way ticket unless we are prepared to put them in quarantine – and that, Skypoller, would be worse than missing them while we’re on holiday.