Self catering with dogs

[birdglasspen2]

What do you expect from a house that allows dogs to stay? Are these expectations of how your dog/you behave fair?

House has dog towels, dog blankets, dog treats, dog poo bags, dog bowls, mats for bowls, a box of tennis balls, ball thrower and toys.

Guests are welcome to leave dogs unattended on the understanding they won't damage the house.

Dog poo should be removed from the garden and driveway area.

The bedsheets are white, preferably dogs aren't in bedrooms at all but I understand some people sleep with dogs, I think if they are on the beds they should bring their own bedding.

There is no extra charge for dogs but guests are expected to hoover up excessive dog hair.

I guess what I am trying to understand is why some dog owners think it is ok to leave dog hair all over bedding, filthy chairs where wet muddy dogs have sat and dog poo around garden.

This is a large property and is well cared for and enjoyed by guests. How do I get dog owners to treat it well!!

We stayed last week at a very expensive self catering place with two dogs. We cleared up all dog poo from the garden and brought our own blankets from home for them to sit on on the sofas and beds (although there were a very few slightly mucky paw prints from when they jumped to wake DS up in excitement!) we didn’t allow the dogs upstairs at all during the day and when we went out we shut them in the kitchen so that they wouldn’t cause any damage to any furnishings etc (although both of them completely house trained/bomb proof and have no history of ever chewing or destroying anything). I think the problem is that there are inconsiderate people, who don’t see it as a problem. I wouldn’t expect to hoover though and I was very cross with the company as they sent the gardeners round during our stay with no warning, one of our dogs is very nervous, and got very upset at finding them in the garden.

We rent out dog friendly holiday cottages.

Ours are promoted as being very dog friendly and they are. Throws, dog beds large acres of land just for the visitors dogs, loads of enrichment , training camps, agility, scentwork etc.

We have a dog sitting service available if the dogs do not go with the owners.

We are very lucky that over 98% of our bookings are repeat bookings. We have refused some bookings due to how they have left the property previously.

Some people are very disrespectful and just filthly!

OP I would never allow people to leave dogs unattended in the cottages, and if you are having to spend more time cleaning then that just has to be charged for. Can you hold onto a deposit and return a week after they have left with money deducted for any extra cleaning required?

The best dog friendly place we stayed at had throws for the furniture and beds and asked that the throws be used if the dogs were to go on the furniture. It also had tiled or wooden floors throughout so easy to sweep up dog hairs before we left it.

I would LOVE a link to your places to rent! PM if you prefer

Same!

The last place we stayed at didn't allow dogs in the bedrooms. Slightly annoying as our dog sleeps in our room. Thankfully we were in contact with the owners and mentioned about the bad first nights sleep and they said she could sleep in the room.

IMO if you're going to allow dogs in the bedrooms then you really should provide appropriately coloured bedding yourself or mention beforehand that dogs are only allowed in the bedrooms as long as people bring their own bedding with them.

I also think you're a bit bonkers allowing people to leave their dogs in your property unattended. Dogs can eat through walls and doors or your sofa in a matter of minutes - how are you going to manage that when you only have a few hours between guests?

I don’t expect treats, bowls, ball thrower etc, but most dog friendly cottages we’ve stayed in do provide these, which is nice. Even the cottage owned by a company provides poo bags, although no treats etc. Always use our own, though.

I take our own throws for sofa, unless it’s the one or two cottages we go to where I know they provide them and specify they are for dogs on furniture.

I Hoover or brush up excess dog hair, but do have a heavy shedding breed.

Absolutely always pick up poo from garden, driveway, local lane, field…..

Dog not allowed upstairs at home, so ditto in a cottage. One super-dog-friendly place allows dogs on beds, all the rest range from never let your dog upstairs to if it happens, it happens, please make sure they don’t mess the bedding
Previous dog would bark the place down in one cottage as the milkman came at 4.30am. It was attached to another cottage, so to avoid disturbance she slept in her crate upstairs with us. Hoovered thoroughly when we left.

I wouldn’t ever leave my dog in a cottage on her own. I don’t take her on holiday to leave her in the house. Only one place we go to say it’s ok. Previous dog would have chewed every stick of furniture to matchsticks out of boredom and badness

Link for me too please, @DogwalkingDot.

The bedsheets are white, preferably dogs aren't in bedrooms at all but I understand some people sleep with dogs, I think if they are on the beds they should bring their own bedding.

We recently stayed in a cottage, the first one since getting DDog. We did take a quote cover but didn't think to take a sheet fir to cover the mattress.

We have realised then that we should have taken one but I'd maybe add a line to the house rules saying that if DDogs sleep on or in beds own bed linen should be used

Just stayed in one.

Dogs not allowed upstairs (stair gate at bottom). We knew this before booking as it was noted on the listing. At least if the listing says that, people with dogs who want to sleep on beds can book elsewhere!

Lots of throws for the sofas and dog blankets/towels - all freshly laundered, not a single dog hair on any of them.

Box of dog toys, balls, poo bags.

£20 extra charge - perfectly justifiable for the costs of the additional cleaning, i.e. vacuuming/sweeping the floors, vacuuming the sofas (not a single dog hair on them), laundering the dog blankets/towels/throws. All traces of dog, i.e. hairs/smells have to be eradicated before the next guests move in, and that takes extra cleaning time!

We are in a lovely one at the moment too, on Anglesey (which is a very dog friendly area)- no dogs in bedroom, which is fine for us, but all else beautifully set up and gate straight in to owner’s field, down to a lake, and 10 minute lovely walk through to beach. With weather like we’ve had this week, has been fantastic.

I’m not actually ragingly bothered about stuff being provided for dogs, I bring what we need anyway. I prefer no carpets. My main concerns are a properly secure garden, good walks straight from house (and particularly an easy walk in the dark for our last walk just before bed) and peace and quiet.

As to how do you get people to treat it well - imagine this is the same for any cottage really, some people are just ignorant and never will, but I guess dogs do have the potential to multiply the mess. Hopefully most are careful to protect the ability to rent lovely places and it’s just a few idiots.

We use to charge for dogs but in reality as we’re on an island guests depart and arrive at the same time so we really have to get cleaned up quickly as guests are hanging around wanting in…I know that’s their problem but I still like to get house ready asap.

So my thinking is to remove charge for dogs but expect them to do that extra bit, ie a hoover round. I say people can leave dogs because they do anyway even if I say don’t and then I just feel mad! And I assume the best in that people won’t leave a dog that’s likely to chew house to bits! We live next door and can see the dogs left as they generally sit on conservatory chairs looking out and we see them if we drive past😬🙄.

I just wish I didn’t need to dictate how people treat the house when staying with dogs and that it would be common sense. When I use to have a dog I’d always hoover afterwards and remove any sign a dog had been it’s hard enough to find places that take dogs!

We've stayed in a few.

It doesn't bother us if the dog can't sleep in the bedroom. She doesn't at home so isn't in the habit. A bed would be useful but we would bring blankets/cushions from home so she knows it's hers. Bowls and tray are useful. A couple of tennis balls maybe but again we would bring familiar toys for her.

Every place we've stayed has had hard floors and either leather or leather like sofas for hygiene and a couple of throws.

An enclosed garden is great and possibly a small trowl or spade for picking up poo which can then go into the waste.

We love taking the dog on holiday and depending on where it is would consider yours. There's only the 2 of us plus the dog so we only need a small property.

Would love a link to this place!

It sounds like you've gone above and beyond for dog owners. My dog typically doesn't go upstairs at home or on holiday but a lot of people sleep with their dogs in their bed so saying to bring your own bedding is a good idea. I think the dogs being left one is difficult, although I will leave my dog loose at home and he's not destructive (he used to be hence the crate training) if we are anywhere else he's left in a crate still just to be safe. Having throws, blankets etc for the sofa is a good idea that will be easier to wash

Me too.

Those rules sound much more helpful than most.

I recognise this post was months ago but if it helps.... we charge a refundable damage deposit of £75.00 which is returned providing there's no damage done or trace of dog hair left.
This had enormously improved the condition the accommodation is left in.
We supply blankets and towels and have a dedicated dog run and enclosed patios.