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You dont say how big your dogs are.   We have a 13 yr old and a dog.  We have the side dinette, end bathroom model too. This also gives me plenty of kitchen workspace!  Making the bed up doesnt bother us, its done in two minutes. This gives us more living space with a large front lounge area.  Bathroom is important to us for changing space and as we like to stay on CLs. Big wardrobe in there too. Son sometimes sleeps on the side bed (if weather is bad, otherwise in his own tent) and the dog sleeps in the space underneath (cocker spaniel).  Depending on their size, your dogs could sleep on the single bed and wouldnt be cluttering the floor for those night time trips to the loo!

We all have different requirements and preferences as regards layout, its important to get the right one for you. In reality, what are the chances of another couple sharing your caravan and how often? Id be concentrating on immediate family needs, rather than possible scenarios.

We're 2 adults & 4 dogs (2 gsd's, a collie and a jack russel), we too swapped our first van because it was a 2 berth and had limited space even though we loved it and the 2nd van was a twin dinette one but lacked worktop space.

We now have a transverse bed with L shaped seating at the front, this layout gives us the fixed bed we wanted without losing your worktop space, a decent sized bathroom and the front area has tons of floor space plus the seats are long so we haven't had to compromise there either.

I think it's rare for someone to stick with their first van for long, no matter how much research you put in you will only find what works best for you by living in it for a week or so.

The internal sizes of our van is 9' 3" by 5' 3" and into that fits 2 single beds each 6' 6", 2 kitchen units, a portaloo and the equivillent storage space of 4 large suitcases.

Oh and 2 adults and 2 wee dugs.

When we have the awning up, the beds are left made up but 75% of our trips, we dont bother with the awning.

At night, the dogs usually start by sleeping under the beds but during the night they tend to come up and sleep behind the missus and I's knees.

I cannot speak for other folks dogs but because of the environment of the van and the strange new noises of the campsites, our dogs will often want to crawl into quite confined spaces within the van and stay there for hours on end. Equally they are just as often to be found stretched out, lying just outside the van quite unconcerned with what is going on around them.

I do believe that they enjoy the new sights and smells of a campsite and they at least are not bothered by the van's layout or what space is available and dedicated for their use. If it fits us, then it will fit them.