Planning a few days up in the Lake District sometime July or August. Realise this will be peak time, but looking for a nice (but reasonably priced) place for two plus dog. Would be good to find location that allows us to get to some of the main attractions, icing on the cake would be somewhere with a decent pub (preferably one which also serves food) within strolling distance. Any thoughts?

you say a "few days". How few? Most anyplace will require a full week's rental - usually from Saturday to Saturday but sometimes starting on other days of the week.

Probably a week - as you say most places seem to be Sat to Sat.

I have often used English Country Cottages
http://www.english-country-cottages.co.uk/
and have always had satisfaction from them. They tell you if pets are welcome.
There is also Cumbrian Cottages
http://www.cumbrian-cottages.co.uk/
I think that you will have to get your skates on if you want to book for July or August.

Cumbrian Cottages tell you how many yards you are from a restaurant or pub.

both of the agencies MissPrism mentions are good. I haven't used cumbrian cottages myself but have heard good things about them. I have used English Country Cottages a couple of times (not in the Lakes though) and had really good service.

Also check out this site for pet friendly cottages

http://www.countrycottagesonline.com...y_Cottages.htm

You are having a laugh if you hope to find a good place still available at this stage!
Last year we got one through http://www.uk-cottage-rental.co.uk which was pet friendly, but they have less choice than others like www.cottages4u.ci.uk
A really good pub to stay at is The Drunken Duck Inn, which lies somewhere not too far from Ambleside by car.
Good luck!!

I have always had wonderful luck using Premier Cottages.
http://www.premiercottages.co.uk/

Stevie-B We booked the Drunken Duck last Oct for a weekend in July!!

Yeah --Drunken Duck!! I first visited here 10 years ago as a student, and staggered back to a cottage at Low Wray. It used to be very different, dirty walking boots-kind-of-place. It went 'posh' a few years ago, but I still love it!