Dog friendly places - small dog only - WHY?

jenns

  Maybe the better way  to look at it is that owners of large dogs are the only ones who think their dogs should be allowed in hotels without question (just like only smokers have a problem with smoking bans).  

Yeah, that's exactly what we're arguing. 

zircon

I agree that a hotel / B&B owner should be able to decide how they want to.

Kpwlee- I guess what I find curious about your responses is you seem so offended by the fact other people might view your big dog as being a terrifying, uncontrollable, dirty beast thus they fear letting your dog, or any dog over say 40 pounds stay at their hotel.  Sadly a lot of people aren't dog savvy.  Even a lot of dog owners don't seem to be dog savvy these days.

Well, for those who have been turned down at a hotel because their dog is too large, have any of you bothered to ask them WHY the weight restriction is in place? Would seem a lot more constructive than arguing about hypotheses as to what the reason is on the forum, no?

Here is a new perspective for you:  I am a hotel director for a very large, global hotel chain AND I own large dogs.  Needless to say, I am conflicted about our own policies.

Our policy:  Up to 75 lbs, no numbers limit, must not visit dining areas or pool areas, must not be left alone in the room, must be leashed or crated when in a public area, owner/guest must sign a waiver upon check-in.  The waiver includes liability and a statement that the dog will not be left alone.  Our biggest problem is the dogs left alone, in a strange place with strange sounds.

Honestly, no hotel I've worked for (and there are quite a few) has had a scale at the front desk.  We have accepted Newfies, labs, RRs, big mutts and small mutts and everything in between.  I will share that the sweet Newfie that stayed one night with us scared the c**p out of everyone that saw him (except me, I got slobbered on).

We also have the right to refuse a dog that acts aggresively towards others.

Here's the thing - Rarely have I come across a dog owner that travels with their pet is irresonsible enough to have an aggresive dog in public.  And yeah, we need to deep clean the room upon departure but we don't charge for this unless there is undue damage.

Krissim Klaw

Kpwlee- I guess what I find curious about your responses is you seem so offended by the fact other people might view your big dog as being a terrifying, uncontrollable, dirty beast

That wouldn't offend you?

I have managed a Calif. hotel for the past 8 years and we allow all dogs regardless of size or breed. We charge a extra nigthtly fee that is not refunded after check-out even if your dog behaved. We charge the fee to cover pet costs like hepa filters, carpet treatments even if the dog hasnt messed in the room, non hazardous pest control around the permimiter of the yard of each room and we also treat the couches that are not leather and windows.

All the treatments are for pet dander and allerergies.

in the past 8 years we've only had actual damage done 2x. Once was a pekingese dog who chewed a leg of a chair and the second was a lab that clawed at the carpet by the door. I've found that owners generally know if their dog will behave or not plus since so many people crate train nowadays it makes it easier.

Awhile back I had a lady try to demand her pet fee back after her stay because the dog did no damage to the room. Despite all of the above listed things we use the money for I tried to explain the convienance of allowing the dogs is enough reason to charge.

So despite the dog size I think the main issue is taking these allowances for granted. I think the idea that big dogs cause more damage is not only unfounded but laughable.

In addition I would like to suggest asking for "pet letter of good behavior' from any landlord, kennel or hotel or resort you've stayed at. Last summer the campground I booked at was a littel skeptical about allowing two full sized pit bulls but once I offered 3 letter from previous hotels they happily agreed.

Krissim Klaw

Why is that not discriminating?  According to your definition it should be since you aren't allowing other pet animals but you are allowing pet dogs.  Why is my ferret, snake, pig, anymore of a bad hotel guest then your dog?  Why shouldn't I be able to take my pets with me on a vacation simply because they aren't as common as dogs and people aren't educated on them? 

LOL....just for the record, we allow all animals except cats. We are not being discriminatory by any means but by experience cats pee in the rooms. We only stopped doing this about three years ago. You'd be surprised that cats do more damage then any sized dog. Also cat dander is considerbaly more harmful to people with allergies. With that said we've had a ton of reptiles, birds and even soem silk moths, LOL.

Without getting my head chewed off here I do just want to point out that small dogs are the main culprit when it comes to pottying in the room and barking excessively. I dont know why, please dont get mad but from what we've witnessed here at the hotel that seems to be the case.

We also try to be understanding about barking. We understand its a new place for the dogs so we ask owners to leave their cell phone number at the front desk if their dog has never stayed with us before and they will be leaving it unattended. We call if the barking lasts longer then 5 minutes we call the owners. If they need to be called 3x during a stay we question wetehr they are allowed to come back. I've never had to tell a customer to never bring their dogs again.

Now (drum roll please)....the #1 issue with allowing dogs at our property........off leash dogs......and thats not even the dogs, LOL thats the owners fault

LOL - ditto on the cats.  Those darn felines just are not great guests!  They keep on trying to make the place "theirs".

We also ask for the cell number in our waiver, even though they shouldn't leave the dog(s) in the room alone at all!  When people are shocked that we have that rule I feel like saying, didn't you bring your dog so that you could spend time with it?  I realize it is an incovenience but imagine how your dog feels in this strange place?!?!

chelsea_b

Krissim Klaw

Kpwlee- I guess what I find curious about your responses is you seem so offended by the fact other people might view your big dog as being a terrifying, uncontrollable, dirty beast

That wouldn't offend you?

Krissim Klaw

Besides, I must admit I find it too humorous to be insulted when say someone flees from the sight of one of my 3 inch bugs like they are the plague.

Yeah, I'm not offended either - I find it totally humorous when my 4 foot snake causes a 200 lb man to run and scream like a baby.

And yes, cats have done far more damage to my property and furniture than either of my dogs.  It does puzzle me how so many rental communities allow cats but no dogs.  To me that makes a lot less sense than the dog weight restriction.

Krissim Klaw

Kpwlee- I guess what I find curious about your responses is you seem so offended by the fact other people might view your big dog as being a terrifying, uncontrollable, dirty beast thus they fear letting your dog, or any dog over say 40 pounds stay at their hotel. 

I've just skimmed over my posts and don't see that - what has been stated by several (all small dog owners) is that large dogs are scary, messy, damage things, drool, and not controlled. Or believed to be. I do believe that this inference shows those individuals/organizations to be making uneducated decisions and the connotation is that large dogs are bad.  Small (subjective because there is no set weight) dogs are OK.  I have then queried how in the world the arbitrary weight limit that I have seen range from 20-80lbs determines that your dog is either the above nasty critter or a welcome guest.

My stance all along as been allow dogs or don't.  As the people in the hotel business have stated people that travel with their dogs tend to be responsible and have well trained dogs, seriously who would want to travel with an untrained dog.

VanMorrison

LOL - ditto on the cats.  Those darn felines just are not great guests!  They keep on trying to make the place "theirs".

We also ask for the cell number in our waiver, even though they shouldn't leave the dog(s) in the room alone at all!  When people are shocked that we have that rule I feel like saying, didn't you bring your dog so that you could spend time with it?  I realize it is an incovenience but imagine how your dog feels in this strange place?!?!

It used to be our policy to not allow the dogs in the rooms unattended as well. However 5 years ago this lady was staying with us becuase she was attending a confference in town. She had left her dog in the car for about 4 hours. When she set off to the confference it was foggy and horibly overcast but this is the Cali coast, it warmed up real fast. I was freaking out, she hadnt left water in the car and he had wet the whole back seat by sweat and panting. I made a mess of her car by squirting a water bottle in his mouth but at that point I didnt care. My groundskeeper set up a umbrella rigged along the fence she parked next to to try and give some shade. She came rushing back in a panic but despite her worry he would have been toast if left him to how own.

Needless to say I begged my boss to give a trial run for leaving the dogs in the room and its now our policy that its ok.

Krissim & Jenns, I may have pit bulls but I would run for the hills if you produced either snakes or bugs infront of my face, LOL.

AuroraLove

Krissim & Jenns, I may have pit bulls but I would run for the hills if you produced either snakes or bugs infront of my face, LOL.

 

Aw come on AuroraLove, Emmett (snake's name) is as gentle as the sweetest pittie you know, all he wants is to snuggle against a nice warm person

A couple of thoughts,

1-I own rental properties and I agree with AuroraLove, give me a dog any day over a cat. How many hours have I spent cleaning cat pee out of carpets and repairing clawed woodwork. But then again, not that many people travel with their cats.

2- I can understand why some people are scared of big dogs. If I had to choose between being attacked by a 110 lb dog or a 11 lb one, I'd pick the 11 lb one any day. But that shouldn't be a consideration-no one has any business bringing an aggressive dog into a hotal situation with strange noises and unfamiliar people. Thankfully, most do not. But as a side note, there is the so-called "big black dog" syndrome in shelters, meaning those dogs are less likely to get adopted because of their appearance. A lot of people don't see beyond that.

 3- AuroraLove you did a lot of good that day with that dog in the car and also changing your boss' mind about dogs. Hats off to you. 

4- I always thought the reason for not leaving the dog unattended in the room was that if housekeeping comes in they might be afraid or potentially make the dog feel threatened. So I would never advocate that guests should leave their dog in the room unattended (except possibly in a crate while they eat dinner).