Pet owners often complain about how difficult it is to find pet-friendly accommodations. It seems particularly unfair when our pets are both quiet and better behaved than many human guests!
Unfortunately, some hotels have a reason that they won’t allow pets (or have very strict pet policies that may seem unreasonable to many pet owners): someone, sometime, even if it’s in the dim, dark past, has allowed their pet to run amok. Maybe the pet has disturbed or frightened other guests. Perhaps the pet destroyed the room. Even if this type of thing happened “only once,” it’s often enough to cause them to put a stricter pet policy in place—or even disallow pets altogether.
You and your visiting pet are ambassadors for all of “pet-dom” when you travel.
- Choose accommodation that is suitable for your pet. If your pet doesn’t like other animals, don’t vacation at a ranch or a Bed & Breakfast where resident pets might mingle with guest pets. If your pet likes to bark at strangers, choose a private cottage over a busy hotel. There’s a wide variety of pet-friendly accommodations available that should make your choice easier.
- Your pet should have good house manners. Obviously he should be reliably housetrained, shouldn’t chew or scratch, should be quiet (or will be quiet on command), and should not run gleefully around the room, knocking things over or breaking them.
- Let other guests (including guest pets) enjoy their stay in peace. Some people are afraid, allergic, or simply don’t enjoy pets the same way we do. If your dog is prone to barking, don’t leave him unattended in the room (even if the hotel’s pet policy allows you to do so). Don’t allow your pet to jump on or rush at other guests, or lick them or lean on them unless you know it’s okay with them. People who love pets will often give you some pretty clear signs!
- Don’t allow your pet to approach guest pets at will, either. Some animals don’t enjoy meeting “strange” pets. Ask permission if you want to introduce them. It’ll help keep the peace!
