To expect pet friendly to mean a dog can go everywhere

[Fluffyelephant]

We arrived yesterday in a holiday house for a family trip that was booked because the place described itself as pet friendly. On arrival though we were presented with very intense written rules regarding dogs - they were in bold and used terms like ‘under absolutely no circumstances with no exception can your dog…’

If we had been told these rules in advance we would never have paid to stay here as they absolutely won’t work for our dog and we know that. The main rule causing issue is that he’s only actually allowed in the living room and part of the hall so 75% of the house is off limits including the stairs. He’s well behaved and good natured and is a breed that doesn’t shed hair. But he’s a clingy breed and follows us around and always sleeps on the floor by our bed otherwise he gets very distressed.

The owners know a dog was coming because we told them and we paid an extra £50. But none of these rules were mentioned. If he caused damage then of course I would pay (as I would if it was caused by a child or adult) but this seems to be rules to preemptively prevent any damage from occurring in the first place.

Last night in an attempt to follow the rules I tried sleeping on the two seat sofa in the living room next to dog but this was horrendous so we just came upstairs. My partner says it’s impossible to relax so we’ll just have to drive gone today!

I feel like places say ‘pet friendly’ to get your money when they actually aren’t at all! AIBU?

Dogs belong outside & on the floor.

Sigh. Guess I’d better break the news to DDog that he’s not allowed to float around the living room tied to a bunch of helium balloons anymore…

Dogs shouldn't be allowed inside anywhere, dogs belong outside on the floor.

I think most people would disagree with you nowadays. Working guard dogs that sleep with the sheep, different matter, but that's not what OP is talking about. Don't like dogs, don't get a dog, no problem. Having a pet that is not allowed indoors would be an unusual choice though.

Dogs are people.

No. They are dogs. An animal.
Pets loved by their owners, yes. People, of course not.

Would you include all pets in your 'people' definition? Where do you draw the line?

It's funny because the idea of a child on my bed makes me feel physically sick 😂 with their snot when they're ill, kid breath and sticky hands 🤢

This!
Grim to have dogs in bedrooms🤢

Another boring argument "I don't like children doing this that & the other" I'll say it again for you dog bores DOGS ARE ANIMALS CHILDREN ARE HUMANS & THEY ARE NOT EQUAL!!!

My DDog used to shed like mad so was never allowed in bedrooms or on furniture. She was used to being downstairs( with free run of all rooms), so this wouldn’t be a problem to any dogs used to not going in bedrooms.
So, in this situation, you cannot be expected to sleep downstairs ‘watching’ the dog, I think that if your dog is well behaved, doesn’t shed and sleeps on the floor, then no one will know he’s been upstairs anyway surely?

Except it is a problem because you can barely go anywhere that doesn't accept dogs!! It's awful for those that don't want them around.

Are you ok?

I had this.
I put a throw on the bed and ignored. He needs to sleep near us

We once booked a cottage which claime dit was "dog friendly", only to find on arrival a large, lamnated notice instructing us that the dog "MUST" be restricted to the tiled porch/conservatory area. It was unheated (we were there in November) and so very cold. Had we known this in advance, we would never have booked it.

We chose to ignore it and as usual, gave the whole place a good hoover before we left. We has no intention of returning.

I think you & your dog need help!

The rules sound like bog standard pet friendly accomodation rules. They would have been considered perfectly acceptable in the 90s and early 2000s when dogs were beloved family pets but still animals, rather than the spoiled furry children they are considered as today. It's no great mystery that dogs are seen very differently by their owners today than what they were 10 years ago and providers of pet friendly accomodation need to adapt their business to the pet owners of today rather than having rules that are largely ignored by most dog owners.

I do think, rather than imposing these rules people who offer pet friendly accomodation should instead provide plenty of throws for bedding and furniture, ensure gardens are secure, have hard wood floors so clean up is much easier and accept that they will have to pay higher cleaning fees for their accommodation. They can always pass these costs onto the customers. They should also ensure there is access to a hoover and mop in their accommodation as wet weather, muddy paws and floors do not mix. They also need to be very clear they are pet friendly in their advertising listings. If they do insist on lots of rules, this needs to be very clear about these rules in the advert so pet owners can make informed choices.

Due to a family member having a severe pet hair and dog urine allergy we always only stay in non pet friendly accomodation.

Update!

We are going to stay. Dog’s having a great time lying on the floor getting lots of love while all the family is in the living room. We’re keeping tabs on him to check he doesn’t wander upstairs through the day but we are going to put his bed by our bed at night. I doubt it will cause any mess / inconvenience. Whereas if we did try and lock him in the living room all night I would worry he’d scratch at the door when distressed / confused or see his chance and sleep on the sofa!

I Appreciate all the suggestions about throws but he’s not really one for going on the sofa (while we’re there!) so that’s not a big issue.

Either way - I’ve learnt a even try valuable lesson from this holiday and will ask more questions of the holiday home owners in advance in the future!

I always take old duvet covers for sofa, take our own bedding and ignore ignore ignore.

We’re keeping tabs on him to check he doesn’t wander upstairs through the day but we are going to put his bed by our bed at night.

perfect and sensible compromise despite stupid last minute rules, well done.

Scottishshortbread11877, they'll have to swear the dog to secrecy then 😂

After your rant in capitals up thread, I think it's you who needs help.

Typical dog owner! Rules aren't for my precious dog! Boring

So what would your solution be? Go home and argue the toss with the owners to get them to refund the money??

Im not going to stay here again now that I know it’s unsuitable but I need a solution now after paying all the money and traveling here.

I’d say a complaint and asking for a refund as your required to leave as the sleeping situation isn’t accepted for you and your pet.

Gives the owner the option to allow the dog or refund you to leave 🤷🏻‍♀️

Just abide by the rules it's simple! As people have previously explained it's the rules in most places for the dogs not to be allowed everywhere, just stop being so precious about the dog & follow the rules.

If the rules were clear she’d never have booked the place.

Or to explain in a way you might understand:

BORING. IF THE RULES WERE CLEAR SHE’D NEVER HAVE BOOKED THE PLACE.

But then you can't complain when there's pet hair in pet-friendly accommodation, surely? 😬

But from what people are saying the rules are the same everywhere it says pet friendly but dog owners ignore this because it doesn't suit there precious dog!! So she'd go nowhere because there are rules for dogs at places but owners ignore them.