Ella House

Ella House is a self-contained holiday rental in Dover Gardens, a coastal suburb southwest of Adelaide, and the yard is the reason dog owners book it: landscaped front and back gardens fully enclosed with secure Colorbond fencing, which past guests have singled out as the selling point for their dogs.

Dogs at Ella House

The whole self-contained house is yours, rather than a single room, and the listings welcome dogs and cats, typically one pet in total. Hosts want to know about your pet at the time of booking so they can confirm the space suits, which suits owners of large or determined dogs fine, since the fencing question gets a direct answer before you pay. Pet fees and size limits are not published, so nail both down with the host in writing when you book.

Pepsi: the fully fenced back yard got top marks from previous guests. I approve.

The house

It is a private house rather than an apartment, with the usual holiday-let extras including a barbecue and laundry facilities, and space to spread out that a motel room cannot match. The setup suits a family or a couple who want a private base with outdoor space for the dog.

Getting there and parking

Dover Gardens sits between the Seacliff and Brighton stretch and the Anzac Highway corridor, roughly 20 minutes from the Adelaide CBD, with off-street parking at the house. The Glenelg beachside strip is a short drive north.

Close by with the dogs

For a coffee with the dog in tow, Daily Fixx Cafe Glenelg and Banks and Brown at Warradale are both close, and the Patritti winery is right in the suburb. More options are on the Dover Gardens destination page and in the South Australia stays directory.