AIBU to find pet-friendly cottages impractical if dogs cannot use furniture?

[Butterflyfluff]

I’ve been looking at ‘pet friendly’ holiday cottages in the UK to take our dog and pretty much all of them say dogs are not allowed on furniture or in bedrooms.

I don’t think I know anyone who’s dogs don’t jump on the sofa so how are you supposed to mange this - take loads of covers or just stay at home?

A lot of dogs are not allowed on furniture, they have their own basket/ beds, and are not even allowed upstairs at home.

It's a choice but it's not outrageous or uncommon.

That said, no one follows the "rules" of rental. Dogs are allowed, who is going to check where they went? Totally different to bring a pet in a pet-free rental.

Agreed, I absolutely would not do that.

My dog isn't allowed on the sofa or upstairs- I think it's very common.

Places usually say if they have particular rules. If somewhere said dog-friendly without specifying "not on sofas" in advance, I would just ignore that rule if I was a dogs-on-the-sofa person. (Actually I am one but am married to someone who isn't. I would love to sit on the sofa with my dog.)

I've never had an issue with training a dog not to jump up on a sofa. They have a crate they can take them self in & out of & a dog bed in the living room.
They don't jump on a sofa unless I want them to. The majority of dog owners I know are the same.

I always thought it was basic dog training. There seem to be a lot of badly trained dogs with no boundaries.

Good for the holiday companies making their boundaries clear.

The cottages are not the problem, your dog training (or lack of) is.

Our dog would only come up on the sofa when he had the signal (pat on couch and up command) it was ok, so he was easily managed when we had visitors or went elsewhere. He was also trained to stay out of bedrooms and kitchen.

As a holiday home owner...and someone who stays in holiday homes (not my own, it's not big enough for my dogs)...I just accept that dogs will get on the furniture. I provide blankets in my holiday home for that exact purpose and I take blankets with me when I go.

I routinely go away with five, very hairy, dogs (am actually doing it this weekend). They all sleep in the bedroom with me. I just hoover before I go home. Been doing it for years and never had any complaints 😊

My dog was allowed on the sofa at home but not at anyone elses house or a holiday cottage. He'd be sneaky enough to try overnight though so was booted out the lounge at bedtime.

Well, as one example of many, we recently fostered a dog who had always previously been allowed on furniture. We had to gently tell her three times to get off the sofa, and redirected her to her own bed where she got a treat.

Over the 6 weeks we had her she tentatively asked a couple more times (when she worried she was missing out on biscuits being consumed) but was content being redirected to her own bed.

Bore off. I could absolutely train them to do that if I wanted to. I don’t.
They are extremely well trained but I like them on the sofa with me. We are all different, who would have guessed?

Wouldn’t bother us although we don’t take the dog on holiday. My enormous Ddog isn’t allowed on the furniture at home and he sleeps on his dog bed downstairs.

I don’t think it’s hygienic to have dogs slobbering on the furniture. It makes it stink!

I just cover them and let them on, no harm done. I don't let them on the beds.

Have you looked at pack holidays on fb? Truly dog friendly. We also had a dog friendly cottage in Devon allowed everywhere

I like our dog cuddling up on the sofa and having the run of the house so it’s nothing to do with training, just personal preference.

This is also true, they do make the furniture smell with long term use. Even with daily changed throws, I change my dog sofas every 12-18 months.

Er, the dog is in the kitchen with the door closed.

I’m sure there are plenty of human based secretions on holiday rental furniture that are far worse and a bit of dog dribble! 😂

Shut them in the bathroom at night with a dog bed or bring a crate for them overnight.
Actually quite easy if you are willing to respect someone’s rules for their house.
Might need to train your dog at home first but that is your option if you want to travel with them.

Loads of places are open plan so that doesn’t work even if you wanted it to.

I don’t know any families who don’t have their dogs snuggle with them on the sofa (types on mn with dog on lap… lounging on sofa).

And this is why I wish you could filter not pet friendly on air b and b. So grim letting animals on furniture.

Blergh! 🤮 THAT is a far more revolting thought than a bit of dog slobber, to me at least!
Oh and everyone saying “dogs are not hygienic” and feeling smug about how clean they are? I have a holiday rental, not a particularly “budget” one. The people who leave it filthiest, BY FAR, are those without dogs. Shit stains in the toilet, or on the bed sheets and towels, unflushed toilets, dirty nappies in the kitchen, on one memorable occasion skiddy y fronts in the garden? All people without dogs.

Yet most sofas and probably all beds have had people shagging on them and that doesn’t bother you 😂

Grew up with dogs, never allowed on furniture, know dog owners now and it's a mix, their dogs not allowed on furniture at all or only allowed on specific furniture in their own home.

I don't think it's unreasonable for a holiday let to say dogs allowed but not on furniture or upstairs.

I loved the sofa snuggles with my dog. She also slept on my bed with me.
Nothing to do with training. I wanted her on the furniture with me.

It kind of is to do with training. My SIL’s dog is allowed on their sofa at home but when we’ve been away to a rental with them he listens when they tell him not to sit on the sofa.