Help! Currently in an air b&b and having a dispute with the host!

[UpsetMummyofOne]

Hi all, advice much needed ! Currently in an air b&b, a whole flat rental, with my family and two dogs. The listing said dogs and small pets would be considered. I booked this back in November as soon as we got the save the date, and in my very first message to the host I said we had two dogs. Since then, we have had messages back and forth about the keysafe, provision of towels, linen, amenities etc. We arrived earlier this evening and settled in, met the neighbours and let the host know we had arrived via message on the app. A few hours ago I have received a message from the host saying that we have been seen with dogs that we didn't declare and she has respectfully asked that we don't leave the dogs alone in the property while we are here as previous guests dogs have whined when they have been left. I have wrote back apologising that she didn't realise we were bringing dogs and that wasn't my intention and I mentioned them in my very first message to her ! We are here for an event which takes place tomorrow that the dogs will not be able to come to and I am not prepared to leave them in a car for hours, especially with this heat we have been having. Any advice where I stand with this ? I am tempted to open a dispute with air b & b - not familiar with this process. The property was described as modern in the listing - it is farm from modern, quite worn and dated like a lot of dog friendly accommodations are that we have been to before! I am upset that the host thinks I tried to sneak dogs in behind her back. I have looked back at our correspondence and the dogs have definitely been mentioned. Where do I stand and what should I do next ?

If you can avoid involving AirBnB, do so, they are completely useless and take the landlords side every single time.

I had a bad experience with air B&B in NYC, apartment like yours not as described, tatty and dirty, said non smoking and there were fag butts in the lounge, worse still it had not been cleaned from previous visitors. Tried to contact host who ignored all house calls until I left a message saying I was booking into a hotel 6 hours later. Too late then as I’d firmed out on hotel and couldn’t stomach staying there after seeing the dirt, tried to say cleaner was on their way. The point was the apartment was not the standard described. I raised a dispute with Air B&B and they were awful, took the hosts side and after much wrangling only gave me a quarter of the payment back, plus took down my review I’d put of the apartment. Since found out they will not allow any negative comments on their site and are awful with getting money out of. I vowed never to book with them again and I’ve stuck to it. Good luck though I fear you will end up frustrated by their complaints procedure.x

In reference to my earlier post we have never left our dogs for the day. It’s more early evening if we pop out for an evening meal. Not every evening. Generally walking distance to where we are staying and no longer than an hour to hour & half. Nothing wrong with that and as explained our dogs settle as in their own crate with their own bedding so it doesn’t feel strange for them.

Muzzle the dogs and tie them up?

There are loads of stories recently of people turning up to their air b and b home. And the house is owned by someone else, and he knows nothing about it. LOADS of stories. It is not regulated or checked at all

My work has banned us from using Airbnb, even though many of us need accommodation for weeks at a time when we are away for research, etc, and it would be a convenient option. They say there are too many scams.

I really wouldn't worry too much. You are nearby and can check on the dogs.

The owner just doesn't want the neighbours bothered. if they aren't bothered then they won't likely have any issue with it. You could ask if she wants you to leave your contact details with the neighbour just in case, but probably not necessary.
By now the airbnb host has prob read back over the messages and realised their mistake, so won't push it with you.

My friend lets an airbnb - don't underestimate the amount of work it can be, and how awful/damaging many many guests are. They probably didnt' mean to offend/accuse you and genuinely forgot about the initial dog message. enjoy the wedding

No regulations. No inspections re food etc. A friend recently got food poisoning from the breakfast served at one turns out they didn’t have a food and hygiene certificate I would never even look at them.

I am baffled at this comment.

They're not B&Bs. They are accommodation.

Maybe I am missing a trick.

Industry standard is not to leave dogs on the property unattended.

Obviously various people ignore this. I had to pay to get the whole sitting room.redecorated after a selfish arse left their dog unattended who scratched the walls and doors. And kept our neighbours awake with the barking.

I would say stick to your guns and go to the wedding. I would also be polite about it though and explain that you didn't realise it would be an issue etc and be prepared to swallow it if you do have to come back and stay there if the dogs are being noisy. I don't know your dogs but mine tend to just sleep when we are not in and not make a noise.
I have never heard of dog friendly accommodation that doesn't allow you to leave dogs unattended. It doesn't even make sense to me, I mean how would you go to the shop if you needed to etc, I can't imagine Tesco being too pleased about a visiting pooch! I would say it sounds like a miscommunication for which you are largely not responsible. If the owner did not want dogs left unattended they should have made it crystal clear before taking any booking/money. I would try and sort it amicably and not let it bother you, it may be a big deal now but not in the great scheme of life. Enjoy the wedding

@GCAcademic, that' ridiculous that your work has banned people from using Airbnb. There may be some scams but I am sure there are not lots.

The safest thing to do is just use the ones that have reviews. I tend to do that. Have only booked a new listing once but that was fine too.

If they have reviews they can't be scams can they?

@TigerTooth

Muzzle the dogs and tie them up?

I wouldn't know how to ^begin to answer that...

@JerryGiraffe You don't know many holiday places that allow you to leave a dog unattended?

I dont know any that allow you to leave them.

It's common sense really, either check before you book or don't leave them in the property alone.

@Movinghouseatlast the ignorance of some dog owners is quite unbelievable isn't it?

@Bixter, totally agree. I just don't get why people go on holiday to then leave their dog alone and in a strange place too. Even the most laid back dog could be upset by that.

If dogs are going to ruin your plans then don't take them on holiday.

If it's not stated in the t&c then they can't enforce it.
Continue with your plans. Just be aware the host will charge you for any damage caused.

The host needs to be specific in her t&cs.

@mydogisthebest This doesn't sounds like a holiday though, they've gone specifically for a wedding, and chose this accommodation due to its proximity to the wedding so they can take and leave the dogs. They obviously know that their dogs will be fine being left.

I do wonder about these dogs who would be traumatised by being left alone for a short period of time in a strange place. In the circumstances the OP has given - they will come and see the dogs every couple of hours and walk them and won't be out late - really some people are advocating putting them in a strange kennel instead as being less scary for them , seems a bit odd.

Our DDog is only a year or so old, but I know he'd hate to be in kennels even for a short period of time, whereas I think he'd be absolutely fine on his own in a cottage for a while provided we had been there for at least a day and he'd had a really long walk prior to being left. In those circumstances he'd happily snooze for a few hours until we came back. Obviously we'd make sure there was nothing around for him to damage, but he's not a very destructive dog anyway.

So what happened??

@Nesssie when me and DH take our dogs on holiday we accept that we can't go to museums, art galleries, in shops etc. We also accept that we can only eat at places that allow dogs inside or sit outside regardless of the weather.

It's part and parcel of being a good owner. If we want to sightsee and visit museums etc we just go on holiday without the dogs.

We do, obviously, leave them at home sometimes to go out but never for longer than 4 hours. We either take them to a dog sitter or someone looks after them in our house.

If you want a holiday where you can do exactly what you like then really you shouldn't take dogs or children.

Our previous dog would have been fine being left alone but when we took him to Wales for a week they had a freak heatwave. It was far too hot to venture out during the day with him and in fact he would have refused to go out of the door. So we sat inside or in the garden every day reading or watching dvd's. We only went out early morning and late afternoon/evening. Really the holiday was a waste of money but, again, we accepted that.

mydogisthebest But, as I said, this wasn't a holiday. It was for a wedding. And the accommodation was chosen specifically so the dogs could be left and catered for. Obviously they know their dogs would be fine, hence why they have done this arrangement.

@Nesssie, yes the OP said they had purposely booked to go to a wedding but quite a few posters have said they would or do leave their dogs in holiday places. My reply was mainly to them

I have never actually seen any holiday let say dogs can be left alone and am surprised the OP thought it would be ok.

Im an Air BNB host in Gloucestershire and I have lots of dogs here(not all at once of course) I do make sure I see the dog when they arrive and might suggest if Im worried, that they dont leave the dog alone. The latest guest had a lovely little dog who was left for a while when they went to a wedding locally. It crossed my mind that if I heard any distress I would text them to sort him out (or offer to let him out) but they came back several times to him. Dont start an argument and dont go to Airbnb This will leave a horrid atmosphere. No one is trying to get one over- these things happen and we should give and take. We cant as hosts remember to cross every 'T'! I try not to lay down too many hard rules but ask for a little consideration especially if Im worried any damage might be done by guests.
AirBnB works on trust and I believe this is right ....generally :)

Even though places are dog friendly, it is my experience that hosts prefer dogs not to be left alone as they can get anxious and can disturb neighbours or be destructive.

I would always discuss with the host anything like leaving a dog alone, especially if it’s for an extended period of time.

I would apologise to the host for not discussing with them about leaving the dogs and politely point out that you did mention their presence.

But I don’t think the host is entirely in the wrong here. Dog friendly doesn’t mean you can leave a dog alone. Anymore than dog friendly in a hotel means you can leave a dog in a hotel for the day.

I think he'd be absolutely fine on his own in a cottage for a while
This isn't a cottage, it's a flat. There are other flats all around - in flats you can often hear neighbours coughing, sneezing or playing music - and people potentially walking past the door to the flat at all times of day and night. It's lovely for you that your dog would be happy left alone strange surroundings with no-one to comfort him if he got agitated; that must be very convenient. But the owner wouldn't know if a visiting dog was like yours, or like mine and would bark constantly behind the door, disturbing everyone in the building.