'it's a Dog's Life' - Unleash Your Fun Here!

• Perfect Retreat for both me and my dogs!

  Perfect Retreat for both me and my dogs!

  • Guest Bridgid N
  • Date of stay 09/14/12
  • Review Submitted 10/17/12
  My two dogs and I needed a break from the city (badly) and found this place through another website. Pam was wonderful to deal with, prompt to answer questions, send info and get the process started. The location is perfect...secluded but not completely isolated, with short drives to Sawyer, Three Oaks and lots of other places. The house is clean, stylish, comfortable and well-stocked. I felt like I was staying at a friends house, to be honest! There would definitely be enough room for several people without feeling like you were at sleep away camp, and all the rooms were nicely furnished. My dogs were in heaven. They loved the yard, the deck, our trips to Warren Beach...and the quiet time in general. It was a perfect weekend. Id go back in a second...and am looking at a winter trip now!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Best. Week. Ever.

  Best. Week. Ever.

  • Guest Rex
  • Date of stay 07/28/12
  • Review Submitted 08/14/12
  My wife, two kids and our dog just spent a glorious week at "It's a Dog's Life" and we can't stop talking about what a fantastic time we had. The house is beautiful, wonderfully decorated and filled with every amenity you can imagine. The back deck and back yard are huge and made our dog's dreams come true. Also plenty of room to play T-ball with the boys and spend fun nights making s'mores around the fire pit. The house is just minutes away from Cherry Beach and from Warren Dunes State Park, which has a fantastic beach. We've been coming to this part of Michigan for years, and the location really can't be beat. Easy access to St. Joseph, New Buffalo, and a great bakery about two minutes from the house in Harbert. One of the many things we appreciated were the small details in and around the house. At night you start to notice little dragonfly lights hanging in the bushes in the back yard. The front porch has two huge rocking chairs and a welcoming bench. The living room is filled with candles and a fireplace, tasteful accent lighting and comfy chairs. We just can't recommend this house highly enough. It made for one of our most memorable family vacations. We're already talking about going back for a trip in the winter!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Just as Good the Second Time!!!!!

  Just as Good the Second Time!!!!!

  • Guest Pam
  • Date of stay 09/10/11
  • Review Submitted 10/03/11
  Stayed at the "cottage" the second year in a row for our annual "Dog Vacation". Read my first review and add a few stars to it....we love it here. The house is perfect, the beautiful yard was fully hunted by our dogs and we loved the screened in porch for relaxing every evening. Thanks again, Pam, for making our vacation one of the best. We even built a few bonfires this year...mmmm...smores.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Two pitties in the city blog post

  Guest comment entered by owner

  Two pitties in the city blog post

  • Guest Claudia
  • Date of stay 07/16/11
  • Review Submitted 08/22/11
  Hi Pam, I'm a big fan of a local (with broader following) dog blog - two pitties in the city - they do a feature on being a tourist with your dog, and I submitted our July getaway. The feature ran today: http://pittiesincity.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-be-tourist-with-your-dog-series_19.html

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• MY FAVORITE "DOG VACATION" EVER!

  MY FAVORITE "DOG VACATION" EVER!

  • Guest Pam
  • Date of stay 09/18/10
  • Review Submitted 09/29/10
  Just got back from a week in "Harbor Country" and the beautiful cottage in the woods! Beautiful furnishings, a wonderful screened in porch stepping out onto a relaxing deck and fireplace. Every year I try to find the perfect place to take the dogs so they can swim in the lake and run and play in the woods. I hit the jackpot this year! We liked Weko Beach for the dogs...no stairs. After Labor Day you can walk right in and not see any one! A two minute drive to beautiful Lake Michigan and a fenced in back yard that had my dogs hunting and playing like pups. The "doggie door" was so much fun, I am now going to put one in here at home. Plenty to do in the surrounding areas. Don't miss the "pork chops to die for" at the Red Arrow Roadhouse down the street (half price entrees Tue. - Thurs. after Labor Day) or the coffee cake fresh out of the oven from the Swedish bakery in Harbart. The Blue Plate Restaurant was our choice for breakfast. Wine tasting, antique hunting, exploring all the little shops and cafes. Saugatuk and St. Joe were wonderful day trips.....fudge and ice cream shops galore. Don't forget to go to New Buffalo to the Stray Dog Restaurant....everything was good. Then go back to the cottage...be sure to take your bottle of wine and some cheese & crackers and go out onto the deck or screenhouse and relax.....it feels like home. The best part.....you have your doggies with you too! I am looking at a calendar right now to decide when to go back....I can't wait!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Miles away from ordinary yet only over an hour from Chicago!Amazing!

  Miles away from ordinary yet only over an hour from Chicago!Amazing!

  • Guest Ivona
  • Date of stay 05/17/10
  • Review Submitted 06/25/10
  I needed to de-stress and was looking for a quick getaway yet wanted to feel like I was miles away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. And my two dogs were going with me - THAT I was not going to compromise on. It's A Dogs' Life cottage was heaven sent - I could have not picked a better place. Originally I was planning on staying a week, but extended - couldn't leave the place! The cottage is adorable, clean and has everything you could possibly need. The vaulted ceiling w/skylights in the open living/dining/kitchen area provides light all day long. The back screened porch is PERFECT for reading. I made a point to have a nice lunch almost every day of my stay on the deck overlooking the woods. The cottage is secluded and private yet just around the corner from the famous Swedish bakery in Herbert (gained at least 3 pounds but SO worth it!). Sawyer, Three Oaks, Lakeside and New Buffalo are only minutes away, so is the antiquing and the beaches. My dogs and I were going to Berrien Street beach in Lakeside as it was the only one without a steep staircase - which my shepherd would not be able to handle. The cottage was also located just a few miles from Spring Creek Equestrian Center where I was riding horses every day, could bring my dogs and they could run free with the farm dogs. The biggest surprise for Kapallua, the chocolate lab, wast the fact that she was humbled by the fact that there are, in fact, animals bigger than her, and Simba could not be happier after takin a mud bath right in the middle of the farm. The look on his face.... was priceless. Most of the time I cooked or grilled at the cottage, but also went out couple of times - I enjoyed a nice martini and calamari on the deck at Brentwood in New Buffalo, overlooking the marina. Had dinner at Wheatberry in Buchanan (about 20-25min drive - plug for my friends from Evanston who opened the place in August of 2009, already VERY popular, the scenery is gorgeous). Went for breakfast to Elm Street Bistro in Three Oaks, visited Acorn Theater, picked up some nice wines at the Wine Shop next door, went to Drier's butcher shop 4 times for the sausage I didn't need - because the butcher was soooo cute, oh and the fact that the store has been family operated since early 1900s - you literally feel like you stepped back in time. Stop by & say hi from Ivona :) I cannot wait to get back to the cottage - one could feel the positive energy from the moment you unlock the door. I felt awaited and welcome :)

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Relaxing Honeymoon Getaway

  Relaxing Honeymoon Getaway

  • Guest ttmac
  • Date of stay 07/25/09
  • Review Submitted 05/15/10
  My husband and I stayed at the 'Dog's Life' house last summer for our honeymoon. We just wanted a place where we could relax, go to the beach, hang out on the patio, be with our dogs, cook, or go out to a nice meal. This was the perfect place for us. The house is cozy and clean and had all the amenities for cooking. My husband loves to cook and the kitchen was equipped with everything he needed. It's a close drive to Cherry Beach which was beautiful. We also found a dog friendly beach nearby and during the week it was like having our own private beach. We spent one day at the Tabor Hill winery where we enjoyed an excellent lunch and brought back to St. Louis some very good wines. Be sure to check out the Sawywer Garden Center. They have a great market, garden shop, and gift store. We wished we had found it earlier in our trip. The house is nice and secluded but close to all the cute little towns, New Buffalo and Harbert. We saw a movie at the historic Acorn theater and enjoyed the Farmer's Market as well. The blueberries were amazing. My husband and I have traveled all over the world, but we can't wait to go back to our little home away from home in Three oaks.

  Recommended for: Pet owners, age 55+, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• 5 visits and looking forward to number 6

  5 visits and looking forward to number 6

  • Guest ILoveVermont
  • Date of stay 07/17/09
  • Review Submitted 03/25/10
  I have visited this this fabulous home 5 times and am going to be there again in June. The owner is MODEST in her description of the home - it is even better than she says. The town is also just a perfect getaway spot no matter what the season. I discovered the wineries on my last visit and found them to be an excellent addition to my vacation!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• • Guest Jennifer183
  • Date of stay 10/13/09
  • Review Submitted 10/13/09
  This is a BEAUTIFUL home and in a great location. The beaches are great and we were really taken by the town of Three Oaks. It was our best midwestern vacation. The greatest asset, however, is the owner, Pam. She is a joy to work with, flexible, accommodating, and helpful. We really appreciated her list (with directions) of suggested resturants and things to do in the area. It is obvious that Pam loves this home and Harbor County and you will too.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• • Guest Terri23
  • Date of stay 09/13/09
  • Review Submitted 09/13/09
  Lovely, cozy cottage-made us feel right at home. Kitchen is top-notch and very well equipped (and I'm a cooking enthusiastic!)Perfect layout for our two large dogs, no crowding at all! Near lovely beaches, great restaurants and unique shops (with delightful owners! - check out B Books in Three Oaks!) Peaceful, country feel but just a few minutes drive to anything your heart desires.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

June/July/August $1700/week (weekly rentals only)
Sept-Oct ... $450/weekend .. $1275/week
Nov-Apr ... $350/weekend .. $1000/week
May...$400/weekend...$1100/week
Housekeeping & Pet Fee Required Each Visit
Weekly rentals are 6 nights, 7 days (Saturday to Friday)
3 night minimum for holiday weekend
Holiday Week Rates - To Be Advised

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.