Must Love Dogs BnB - Rutherglen - Dog Friendly Accommodation
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Dog Friendly Accommodation ~ Must Love Dogs BnB, Rutherglen

Must Love Dogs is located just a short stroll from Rutherglen.  Here you’ll find a number of cafes, pubs and restaurants, as well as the information centre and sights like the Wine Bottle Water Tower.  Must Love Dogs was originally built in 1840 as one of the first pubs in Rutherglen, The Globe and has been lovingly restored by the owners Charlie & Chris. The accommodation offered includes a Chandelier Suite, Garden Suite and a self-contained cottage, all of which are dog friendly. A fully cooked breakfast and fantastic conversation from your hosts and the other guests are enjoyed on the patio outside during summer or in the heritage dining room during winter. During our stay here, we especially loved that there’s a solar-heated pool for use by all guests, dogs included.

Must Love Dogs, Dog Friendly Accommodation in Rutherglen Victoria.

Accommodation Type: Bed and Breakfast (where a fully cooked breakfast is actually included!). There is also the option to stay self-catered in their onsite cottage.


Location: Rutherglen, a small town in northeastern Victoria, Australia.  It’s near the Murray River border with New South Wales, just over three hours from Melbourne and roughly 6.5 hours from Sydney.

No of Bedrooms/Beds/Guests: There are two suites at Must Love Dogs. The Chandelier Suite (which we stayed in) and the Garden Suite. Both these are designed around a bedroom, en-suite bathroom and a sitting room for a couple. There is the option for additional beds to be set up, however, this would make it more crowded in the spaces. The self-contained cottage is a little larger in space and can accommodate two couples (one in the bedroom and the other on the sofa bed in the living area).

No of Bathrooms: One in each Suite and the Cottage. The Garden Suite and Cottage have showers and bathtubs. The Chandelier suite just has a shower only (due to its space and heritage listing).

Suitable for: Couples. A couple and a child may also be accommodated however we feel it’s ideally a place for a couple to stay – to relax and enjoy together.

Price Bracket: $$$

Access & Parking: There’s plenty of off-street parking outside the property.

Recommended Time of Year to Visit: Autumn and Spring would provide ideal weather for visiting the Rutherglen region. Summer and winter are well accommodated at Must Love Dogs with air conditioners and heaters.

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Dog-Friendly Features

  • Each Suite and the cottage have an individual fully fenced outdoor area.
  • There weren’t a whole bunch of dog rules to be found – dogs are permitted on the couches and beds…and the pool. They can go in the shared outdoor areas (but you would need to exercise courtesy & common sense as the other guests staying there will likely also have dogs).
  • Dog treats on arrival.
  • Water bowls are provided in the Suites & Cottage, as well as in shared areas and outdoor areas.
  • Pooper scoopers and a bin for disposal are found in each outdoor area.
  • Clean-up supplies are provided should your dog have an accident inside.
  • Dogs are permitted to stay in the room or outdoor area if you wish to head out without them (not that we recommend this for any prolonged length of time).
  • Free pet sitting by arrangement.

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Facilities for the Humans

  • Yummy afternoon tea on arrival.
  • Complimentary chocolate & Muscat (a local specialty) to enjoy during your stay.
  • Complimentary tea, coffee and ice are provided.  A Nespresso machine with pods is also available for guest use in the patio area.
  • Delicious fully cooked breakfast (Charlie has owned and managed restaurants in his earlier days, so it’s a great breakfast that you get!).
  • Large beach towels are provided for use in the pool area.
  • A BBQ is available in the shared outdoor area.
  • Suites and the cottage have tv, videos and games for the guests’ use.

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What We Loved

  • It’s a truly Dog-Friendly property to stay at. It’s called ‘Must Love Dogs’ for a very good reason!
  • Paws down, Keiko and Summer’s favourite thing about Must Love Dogs was that they were welcome to use the pool with us. Perfect for cooling off on the warm days we experienced during our stay (although it’s heated, so you could use it on not-so-warm days!)
  • Chris and Charlie’s Hospitality. They are more than willing to give you their local knowledge of which wineries and places to eat that allow your dogs to enjoy the atmosphere as well. They also provided us with vouchers for complimentary tasting platters at a couple of the local wineries.
  • History of the Property. Built-in 1840, Must Loves Dogs has that old-world charm and was previously home to one of the first pubs in Rutherglen, The Globe. It’s lovely to stay somewhere that has its own interesting history.
  • Location of the Property. It is just a short stroll into town and centrally located for exploring the region’s wineries & produce.  Close by you also have the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and the Murray River.

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Things to Know

  • Chris and Charlie’s five dogs have the run of the garden/patio area when they are there visiting. This is where breakfast is served in Summer, so guest dogs mostly have to stay in their suites/cabins during this time.
  • Minimum stays may be imposed at Must Love Dog’s discretion. A 10% surcharge applies for peak holidays and festivals.
  • You can organise add-ons with Chris & Charlie, including evening meals, winery tours and picnic baskets.
  • The self-catered cottage is wheelchair friendly.  You can add breakfast to your stay in the cottage for an additional fee.
  • WiFi is limited and needs to be organised with Chris.
  • Check-in 2 pm. Check out at 11 am.
  • Must Love Dogs has won numerous awards for its accommodation.  This includes being one of the best 25 Bed & Breakfasts in Australia, certificates of excellence awards and the highest ratings on booking platforms.

For More Info

Must Love Dogs Website

We stayed at Must Love Dogs in December 2017. Information and services available may have changed since then.  Please confirm any special requirements or wishes with Must Love Dogs prior to visiting yourself just to ensure that you too have a wonderful stay!
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