All You Need to Know About Staying in a Hotel with Dogs

What I Did Travelling with a Young, Working Dog as Well as an Old Senior with Mobility Issues

I recently went on a trip with my two dogs who have WILDLY different needs when it comes to their care and needs.

I have my two year old working line malinois who quite literally likes to bounce off walls.

And…

My 15-year old village dog who, while mobile, has limitations on what she is able to do physically. 

Since this was an extended trip where I stayed in multiple hotels of all shapes and sizes.. there were certain tricks we settled into that made our lives a lot easier and safer.

Here are a few things that worked for us:

• Use stair wells whenever possible. This was a bit tricker for Chai, my senior. But when it wasn’t too many flights, we opted for stairs. If you are staying in a dog-friendly hotel, there is a good chance you’ll bump into another dog at some point… And the place that will probably happen is at the elevators. Whether your dog is friendly or not… having a door open to magically and suddenly reveal… ANOTHER DOG… might not be the best face-to-face introduction for either party. 

• If using elevators, stand back from the doors before entering or exiting. If you need to use an elevator, stand back from the doors. You can try to position them sort of tucked behind you or at your side. But I would definitely recommend not allowing them to stand nose-pressed to the doors. Strangers can startle when they see a dog unexpectedly.. especially if yours is large and a breed of dog that often gets stereotyped as being “mean.” This weird, surprised expression from a stranger can trigger an unpleasant reaction from your unsuspecting dog who might usually behave just fine with people. The same can happen if they come nose-to-nose with another dog.

• Follow all hotel rules and potty-ing guidelines. Be respectful of the room. This is the polite thing to do as a guest… but also will help you stay on the good side of hotel staff. This way, if you need anything, they will be happy to help you. Be the reason why they continue to be a dog-friendly hotel. 

• Minimize barking. To avoid getting a noise complaint or riling up other dogs on the floor (which may just cause your dog to bark even more), you can minimize barking from a few angles:

1.) Make sure your dog has had sufficient exercise. Especially if they were in a crate for an extended period of time while travelling. 

2.) Consider using a white noise machine. If your dog is a bit jumpy and quick to bark in general, a white noise machine or  TV noise might help drown out some of the noises caused by other guests so your dog can settle for sleep. 

3.) If your dog is reactive and barks intensely at strangers, outside noises or other dogs… consider waiting to travel with them until these issues are resolved with assistance from a qualified trainer… or find another type of place to stay in that is more private. Trying to manage their barking and lunging might make the trip more stressful than you had planned. You are likely hoping to be in “vacation mode” and not “dog trainer mode.” If you can’t focus completely on managing your reactive dog to prevent an unpleasant experience, it might be better to wait before bringing them along.

• If you are staying in a pet friendly hotel with carpet, it’s likely the room has the smell of 1,000 dogs’ pee. Staff probably try their best to clean rooms after use, but if they are not using an industrial carpet cleaner with an enzymatic solution to break down the urine… assume there are pee smells. If your dog is not completely house-trained or is a marker… watch them closely and make sure they use the bathroom before entering the room!

• If dog has mobility issues, is a not housetrained puppy or incontinent, consider a hotel where doors are accessible from outside (motel-style). It can be too much to ask certain dogs to walk a hallway, wait for the elevator, and walk more hallways to get to the bathroom. If your dog struggles to move around or control their bladder, try to find a location that has quick access to a place they can use the bathroom.

• When travelling with multiple dogs, be prepared for dogs to be in close proximity of each others’ food and toys. If your dogs have ever fought over food, bones, toys or space.. being in a small room might put them in a tough situation that triggers another incident. The risk of another fight likely isn’t worth it. If fights are actively happening.. I would strongly recommend not putting your dogs in this environment. If you feel like you have a handle on managing what they are possessive over, work with a qualified trainer who can provide additional guidance for your particular dogs.

Travelling with dogs can be a highlight of your lives together.. But it also requires a different sort of planning and understanding that you will still need to follow some sort of "dog routine."

If you are hoping for a sleep in, don't-lift-a-finger-type of holiday, it may be best to leave your furry family member at home.