To wonder why dogs are suddenly welcone at loads of hotels?

[Shellym13]

I'm allergic and ended up with streaming eyes and my inhaler on my last trip. Could hardly breath. Surely they should keep specific rooms aside and not give them to non dog owning guests!
I like dogs but not in a hotel restaurant or hotel room.

I haven't stayed in any hotel that's happy with leaving your dog unattended....so we would never return to a hotel that won't allow us to dine with our four legged pal.

It never would cross my mind to ask if a dog had previously been in the room. DS (2) is severely allergic and has breathing difficulties when exposed to dog/cat/horse.
Surely he should be able to sleep in a hotel bed without having to check that a furry critter hasn't been in there before him???

I don't know about hotels but holiday cottages that allow dogs, generally get about 40% more bookings than those that don't.
The Headland hotel in Cornwall (in the film The Witches) was one of the hotels were we took our dogs. It is right on the dog friendly Fistral beach.

I remember getting on a train in France, from Ste fFoy La Grande to Bordeaux with my gorgeous JRT Eddie. The businessman in the seat face-en-face insisted on moving his briefcase so that Eddie, who was comfortable on the floor could have a seat

Well we looked at a room at a hotel in Cornwall,gorgeous setting over Talland Bay, loved the view so much we were all set to book for next summer. Then when we went to the room it had that slight whiffy dog smell. We booked to stay in a cottage instead.

I bet most dog owners think their pooches don't hooch, but I can assure you they really,really do, particularly in a smallish hotel room.

Some forward thinking hoteliers allow dogs but most still don't so it shouldn't be that hard for someone with an allergy to book one that isn't dog friendly.

Although i suppose even non dog friendly will allow assistance dogs.

Peachbellini, we taken my dog into Dobbies a couple of times recently and we do get stopped by people admiring and looking to pet her.

Once booked for my 3 DC and I to stay at this lovely hotel in Devon. The website that I booked it on didn't mention that it is advertised on other websites as vision impaired and guide dog friendly. Had a lovely surprise coming down to breakfast finding the dining room all full of guide dogs! No problem at all, just found it hilarious that there was no mention when I booked it. Lovely place.

Former hotel manager here, dogs were indeed limited to certain rooms.
For someone with any allergy, the onus is on them to ask ahead of time if they are at risk. I understand that you may never have considered dogs would have been in your room, but, now you will.
Plenty of non-middle class people get dogs as status symbols, like staffies, mastiffs and now huskies...not just the handbag and landrover brigade. Most people with any sense, however, actually love their dogs, have to put in a lot of effort to take care of them and would prefer not to stick them in kennels or tie them outside a shop. Sheldon - I've seen too many people tormenting dogs outside shops not to mention trying to get their dog to attack the one tied up. :(

Abernathy - surely the onus is on both sides.

The hotelier should ensure that the dog friendliness of the establishment is clearly advertised, including being displayed on any partner sites that are used for selling rooms. That way before booking, the potential guest understands there is a potential that a dog will have stayed in their room directly before them.

Thankfully the vast majority of hotels still appear to be dog free - or very sensibly, only put dogs in certain rooms. Really unfair in my view to expect the customer to look out for/highlight allergy triggers when they would absolutely not expect them to be there in the first place.

Seen as good business I expect.

I'm sorry I forgot assistance dogs. It's absolutely right that they are entitled to access all areas that humans can.

Some weird attitudes on this thread. Dogs are not usually status symbols . And plenty of non middle-class people have dogs. If you don't like dogs or are allergic to them, go to the many many hotels that don't allow them. If there weren't a big market for dog-friendly accommodation, hotels wouldn't be offering it. They are businesses. They don't have to seek the permission of the anti-dog population before choosing what service they offer.

As for the 'eew it's unhygienic' comments, it's not really that long since humans used to live in much closer proximity with animals. It was probably beneficial rather than eew.

Another chain that does is Ibis, being French.

Premier inns don't, presumably other than for assistance dogs.

I've just been for lunch. There was a dog nearby, quite little so I was trying to not let it put me off and then they walked it past. The dog stunk, that was my lunch done. I've had pets I just don't like them where I'm eating.

Best eat at home then. It's the only place you can guarantee a dog free environment.

I eat out a lot. That was the first time in a long while that's happened and im only mentioning it on here I would never irl. I wasn't a diva about it, no need for the dig.

I hear you GingerLDN. A lot of dog owners just don't seem to acknowledge that sometimes their beloved pets do in fact smell and when particularly whiffy, it's not nice for other people to be eating in their vicinity.

Very much in the way that whilst DCs are allowed in most establishments, it doesn't mean they should be given free reign of the place and dirty nappies should be changed quickly in the bathroom.

I wasn't having a dig. It's true isn't it? If you're so sensitive to the smell of dogs that when one small one walks past you for what can't have been more than five seconds, you can no longer continue to eat then it's probably best if you don't eat out. There's always going to be a possibility of dogs in public places given the law around assistance dogs.

There is a brilliant website called Pets Pyjamas which books dog-friendly hotels, and Mr&Mrs Smith has a dog concierge person as well.
Clearly is makes very good business sense to let dog owners stay with their dogs.

We did go to one veh naice spa hotel where they told us in hushed tones that dogs weren't allowed into the spa area. Which presumably means someone has once tried to take their dog into a jacuzzi or massage room with them

I'm not the only person who would be put off by wet dog surely! It's a strong smell. As I've said in the thread already I no longer go to my favourite place on account of it being so dog friendly - provides treats, has dog competitions etc. I've never complained about it. I just go elsewhere and where I live there are many places to choose from. This week I am on holiday in the countryside where it's all dog friendly. I'm not going to never go out to eat on the off chance there is a dog about. I'm a grown up I wouldn't make a fuss but yes it does put me off, as it would if someone farted, changed a baby's bum at the table or had bad BO. Also don't like eating in houses that smell strongly of pets. Don't see what's strange about it.

We travel in the States with our dog frequently. I have read that the increase in hotels that accept pets is one of the many marketing changes that have come with the aging of the baby boom generation.. Our children are grown, we have a bit of disposable income to travel and we have pets who are used to getting lots of attention from empty nesters.

All of the places where we stay have designated rooms for pets. (We have traveled with our cat, too, when she was living.) Many also require an extra charge.

Actually I suppose I shouldn't protest too much about it.

DH is desperate to get a dog when he retires. I'm less keen - you can probably tell I'm not a dog lover - but at least if hotels are lining up to have canine overnighters these days, we'll still be able to travel places.