Dogs and changeovers

[AllWashedOut]

Hi O wise ones,

I have a problem with my holiday rental and now with lockdown I have time to think how to get out of it.

Guests keep bringing dogs when the ad says no dogs. I'm reluctant to leave poor feedback, though I would love to, in case it puts of potential guests. How do I get dog hair out of the thick pile carpet, off the surfaces and white bed linen?

At the moment, the carpet is a backbreaking back and forth with the Henry nozzle. I have a pile of tea-towels to dry surfaces and toss into the wash pile when they have gathered too much hair (though it still feels like I'm wiping hairs in circles). And linen, I'm forced to passing over with one of those sticky rollers.

Help me!

I am allergic to ddogs. I would give you a bad review if I stayed!! Be honest and review dishonest guests. The good ones will keep coming!

Definitely get a better hoover than a Henry for a start!

Is there a way of checking if they have a dog on check in? Or making an additional charge? This is really selfish of your guests. As pp's said what about allergic people? this could spoil the holiday of another guest.

Either become dog friendly and charge more accordingly or be militant about dogs not being allowed and ensure you do an arrival check in/spot check.

I would also make it clear that anyone that allows a dog into the property will be charged a £50 per night cleaning fee and charged for any damage.

I would also make it clear that anyone that allows a dog into the property will be charged a £50 per night cleaning fee and charged for any damage.

If you were a dog friendly cottage you would be able to have t&cs like no dogs upstairs, pet
cleaning surcharge etc and also perhaps youd have wooden floors with rugs you could swap rather than carpet.

What's the check in process? If it's happened a lot I think you either need to be there or to pop in on the first evening just to check they are all settled in.

I had to turn away an allergic guest recently. It's less that - we can't guarantee dog free as it is a family holiday home too and we and family have dogs. We ask for a fee for dogs but people are not owning up to it! Yet I have to clear out the dog poos from the garden, wipe nose shapes from the many full length windows we have and of course clean up all the dog hair! Next door welcomes each party personally and that would put a stop to it I suppose.

But how does anyone keep dog friendly places clean??! Exasperated this morning with all the black hairs on pillow cases I'm ironing.

Yes you need to start being more assertive!

Think of the guests who book you because they do not want a place that has dogs! They are more important than selfish idiots who bring dogs.

I assume your advert is very clear about no dogs?

Do you not check people in in person?

Do you mention during the booking and details process that it is definitely no dogs?

I like the PP's idea of charging £50 per night for cleaning.

But until this it would never have occurred to me that people would bring dogs to a non dog place and it would put me off using your place.

So decide who's side you are on . And be strong. Don't be afraid to leave truthful reviews! You are shooting yourself in the foot otherwise.

Oh, well having seen your update - are you dog free or not?? You charge a fee for dogs but people aren't owning up to it?

I find it confusing as to what you actually want.

In-person hand over would work I see that. In summer months that is a bore because guests could arrive late and the narrow lanes are full of cars. Autumn/winter not so bad so perhaps I could do that as an easy change. I'm going to reword the ads and house rules to include more charges. Problem with online holiday sites: is post-hoc charging even possible? I fear as soon as I start hitting the pocket, they'll complain about other unrelated things. I just know what people are like when the feel something is unfair, they lash out (worked in hospitality in the past).

Just charge more per night and promote it as dog friendly and provide Poo bags and dog bowls and a dog bed of some sort.

They get charged if they don't pick up dog poo on their credit card!!

Sorry: Ad is online filed under no-dogs category. In the wording we say 'will consider one small dog, please enquire, plus fee' something like that. So we have had dogs stay with lovely owners that pay and keep everything spotless. Then we've had guests stay with big hairy things, not mentioned or paid for.

People regularly bring dogs to ours and I’ve never had thick dog hair everywhere like you describe! Usually it’s one small dog, sometimes two, but our guests seem to be very respectful and they certainly keep them off the beds. But even if the bedding did have muddy paw prints on it would still come out of the 60 degree wash absolutely fine again.

I supply a couple of easily washed throws they can put between sofas and dogs, because we know ourselves that a lot of dogs want to be on the furniture with their people so why try to ban it...

You’ve been unlucky, do you attract a lot of walkers? With big hairy dogs?

But if your place says no dogs and people bring dogs, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t state that in your reviews to be honest.

And you can’t be on site or you’d intercept them in the yard or at key handover? so maybe you need a video doorbell so you’ll see them arrive - then you can contact them and either tell them to leave or pay your “dog cleaning fee”

@Chamomileteaplease I like your take on it.

I love dogs, always had dogs, but never thought people would do this either. I will ban all dogs in strong wording, no maybes.

I would consider changing the flooring too to something easier to keep clean and provide a basic hoover and request that shedding is kept on top of.

If you are going for dog free then make it very very clear that anyone bringing a dog will be charged, that this is due to previous occupants ignoring the no dog rule.

Well as we have a dog when we stay in dog friendly cottages, I generally expect there to be wooden flooring rather than carpets and throws for sofas.

Your advert sounds confusing. People are cheap and tacky bringing dogs when they've not paid the extra for them, but either you take dogs or you don't.

We have a large breed dog and I mentally roll by eyes a bit at cottages that only take small well-behaved dogs because it just seems a bit weird to be sort of pet friendly but not really. I wouldn't rent your place with or without the hound as if we don't have him with us we don't want a doggy smelling cottage and with him sounds like we'd be worried about paw marks all the time.

If you're going to continue to take dogs then rip up the carpets and put down wooden flooring or go fully dog free. Meanwhile put a clause in your bookings to say dog only allowed through prearrangement and if not there will be a £100 cleaning fine.

@IAmcuriousyellow It's a walkers haven with beach walks close by so lots of sand and mud. The last lot had muddy shake marks up the kitchen wall to the height of my head. Next door actually saw the dog. It was big. Sometimes, I'm sure they've bathed the dogs in the bath, not kidding. I pull the hair out of the plug hole. Furniture and carpets are all light coloured, so potential for dirt everywhere. Even had a suspicious dog wee on the sofa (yellow fresh stain the height of a cocked leg). It just can't be a dog friendly house unless we redecorate. I like the idea of a camera though, thank you.

Ditch Henry for a big start. I use a Shark hoover & it's great.

I would look at what dog welcome charge versus what you charge and I would be cheeky and ask them for occupancy rates and advice - look for an area with similar offerings to you.

You may find it more profitable to become dog friendly and make the changes.

I agree a ring doorbell and camera in the back garden will be proof of people having a dog or not!!

I've been a changeover cleaner and this is frustrating too. Say ive got a 4hour booked clean that turns into 6hours plus extra laundering because of hairy smelly dog.

Change your ad to very clear No dogs. Take deposit or card details and clearly state a charge will be made for cleaning if you're found to have brought dog

@Screwcorona thank you, it's a PITA isn't it.

@RandomMess We'll consider this once we've gone DOG FREE and seen the impact on bookings. 2020 we were fully booked outside lockdowns so we obviously want to keep that up.

@Dereg methinks an upgrade is due. Thank you for the tip!

"It just can't be a dog friendly house unless we redecorate."

I think you are sending mixed messages. You take your dogs there and your ad says that you are willing to accept dogs.

But don't be afraid to call out those who flout the rules- they are being cheeky fuckers and they'll think they've got away with it and do it again. Do you take a deposit? You could also deduct additional cleaning from that.

We have a dog friendly holiday let and it works great, only had one issue but we are very up front about being dog friendly.

Do you take a security deposit? If not then you should to cover any unexpected damages. If you do, then you take out of that whatever is needed for extra cleaning costs, but you will probably need some way of proving they have a dog with them so a ring doorbell is perfect.

There was a very enthusiastic discussion recently about the wonders of rubber brooms for cleaning pet hair. That might help in the short term?

Make it clear that if you find any 'evidence' of a dog staying such as the poo in the garden you mentioned, a cleaning charge will be made. When I've self catered, there's always been a deposit to cover breakages etc which is only refunded once the property's been inspected. This could be part of that.

I'd never book any property that accepts dogs. It is going to stink whatever you do. There's definitely a market for pet-unfriendly places.

sorry that the substantial minority of selfish fucker dog keepers are messing you about. The amount of dogshit left on my front garden by these horrible people really pisses me off. Dog licence should be £3k a year unless an assistance dog.