Am I Boring My Dog? (26 page)

That first aid kit that’s been gathering dust in your dog’s toy chest? Take it along. You never know. That’s true of shot certifications, too. If your normally calm pup takes a skin-breaking nip out of someone, you want everyone to know his rabies shots are up to date. Hotels that have pet care facilities may require proof of vaccination(s) in any case.

The hospitality industry has discovered that being dog friendly is smart business. Canine acceptance has become common, in spite—or, perhaps, because—of the economic downturn. It makes sense to do whatever you can to fill beds, even if it means filling them with furry bodies.

As a result, you’ve got a vast number of choices of places to stay, from posh resorts with exclusive dog amenities to rustic, activity-oriented camps devoted entirely to pooches and their people. I’ve broken them down into some basic categories, outlining what you can expect when you stay there. In all cases, be sure to check and recheck the pet policies when you make reservations, and confirm that your dog fits the size/ weight limits.

Many standard motel chains—among them, Best Western, Comfort Inn, La Quinta, Holiday Inn, Inn and Out Burgers,
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Motel 6, Quality Inn, Residence Inn, Red Roof Inn—allow guests to bring at least one “well-behaved family pet” (as opposed to one ill-tempered circus lion?). Charges vary from the vague “liable for any damages” to nonrefundable fees that run as high as $100 per stay.

Some motels put a limit on the size and number of dogs you can bring in; many do not. Among the odder formulations I came across is one that states, “Dogs up to 75 pounds are allowed for an additional one time pet fee of $75 per room. There may be one dog up to 75 pounds or two dogs that total 75 pounds per room.” Anyone who thinks that one laid back English Mastiff will cause more ruckus than two Jack Russell Terriers, doesn’t know, well, jack about dogs.

As you might imagine, no special amenities are offered in dog-friendly motel chains. If you’re lucky, you won’t get stuck in a smoking room. I understand that cleaning and allergies are an issue, but (most) dogs don’t stink nearly as much as stale cigarettes.

You’re required to note the presence of your dogs on the online reservation forms. However, I suspect that some motel desk clerks wouldn’t know or care if you brought in a menagerie, including that circus lion, if you turn up off-season and lots of rooms are available. One summer Clare and I and Frankie and Archie needed a place to stay in Palm Springs.
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The clerk at the Motel 6 we found seemed bored when I mentioned that we had two small dogs with us—and probably would have been equally uninterested if I had said “two small male hookers.”

Those who literally want to sleep in a pup tent—and don’t underestimate a dog’s body heat, for better and for worse—have a lot of options open to them. Many campgrounds are dog friendly, with special dedicated pet areas, suggested hiking trails, and so on.

Cabins and cottages are an excellent alternative for those who, as I do, prefer a firmer barrier between themselves and the great outdoors. Indoor bathrooms put me in a far better state of mind for appreciating nature—which remains easily accessible to Frankie. Some of these lodgings are pretty upscale. Frankie and I particularly enjoyed the luxe cottages at L’Auberge de Sedona, set in a lovely wooded area of Sedona with the proverbial burbling creek.

Frankie doesn’t like to interact with strangers first thing in the morning and, being diabetic, can’t take advantage of the lavish morning meals that are part of the bed and breakfast experience. He also worries about getting a dewclaw caught on a lace antimacassar. But Frankie has a tendency toward stereotyping. The B&Bs that accept dogs are not usually of the frou-frou variety and are often in beautiful settings. And you can expect a lot of personalized advice about local pup-friendly places.

This is the category I know best—not because I was ever rich but because, as a travel writer, I got comped at some pretty hoo-hah places, and Frankie happily freeloaded whenever he could. Most of the hotels and resorts we visited were within easy driving distance of Tucson because I was researching
Arizona for Dummies,
but we ventured as far as California to meet Clare and Archie, and were treated like celebrities at Le Merigot in Santa Monica (great beach location and excellent gift bags—just what you would expect from a hotel near Hollywood).

With Frankie weighing in at a svelte 11 pounds, he and I were able to stay at many places that limit their pups to 20 (sometimes 25) pounds or less.
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However, a number of upscale chains, including Loews, Kimpton, and Sofitel are not sizeist (if your dog weighs fewer than 80 pounds you’re okay at Sheratons, too). Most require nonrefundable deposits or daily “cleaning” fees, some quite hefty. You will also have to sign a liability form, promising—well, lots of things, such as never to leave your dog alone in the room and never to let her use the hotel pool (even though dogs are far less likely than children to pee in the water).
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In addition to dog walking and sitting services (for an extra fee, naturally), some of the perks you’re likely to encounter at high-end resorts and hotels include …

 

You can almost certainly depend on getting a packet detailing local dog facilities, from maps to nearby parks to lists of veterinarians and dog-friendly restaurants. Sometimes you’ll also encounter a pet concierge—human or canine. Consider, for example, Luke, the rescued Yellow Lab who holds that position at the Fairmont San Antonio. He isn’t very good at restaurant recommendations—he thinks dogs should be able to eat everywhere and sample everything on the menu—but he provides a friendly doggy welcome to all members of his species and their humans who check into his hotel.

As I mentioned earlier, you’ll often find a dog bed (everything from a large pillow to the snug form-fitting kind) in your hotel room. Dog bowls and mats are usually provided, too. The beds are generally yours for a price; the bowls may or may not be intended for transport; and anything personalized—usually just mats—is unambiguously yours. When in doubt, ask, lest you find a surprise on your credit card tab.

Always yours to take home are the goodie bags you’re likely to receive. Frankie has been gifted with everything from a dog-sized backpack—replete with foldable bowls for the hiking trail (Frankie said no thanks, I’m not a Sherpa)—and squeaky toys to a DVD of
My Dog Skip.
Biscuits from a local dog bakery are frequently included
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and, almost invariably, small plastic bags. I’m happy to have them; I just don’t like the fact that these not-so-subtle hints that you’re expected to clean up after your pup are labeled luxury amenities.
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Moreover, sometimes they’re pink and scented, which doubly offends me, because Frankie is male and his poop doesn’t stink.

 

Various combinations of meat, fish, brown rice, eggs, and veggies labeled with clever, dog-related names are often available to be delivered to your door. Usually the meat is ground beef or grilled chicken, but some places, such as the Peninsula Beverly Hills, highlight such items as “Spot’s New York Strip, a juicy 8 oz. grilled steak served sliced and garnished with baby carrots ($19).” I have been known to order food “for Frankie” and eat most of it. Hey, Frankie can’t down a half-pound steak, and I’m not going to find one on a human room service menu for less than 20 bucks.

Some hotels also offer “premium” brand dog foods that would never pass Frankie’s lips. I suggest you BYOK (bring your own kibble) if your pooch is accustomed to dining on pellets.

 

Just because your dog is on vacation doesn’t mean she can’t get an education. At the Mandarin Oriental in Miami, for example, you can get a certified dog trainer to work with you (and your dog) on correcting behavior issues. Group classes are also offered at several places.

Want to mingle with other dogs and their traveling companions? Yappy hours such as the one at the Hotel Monaco Alexandra let pups and their people meet and greet with species-appropriate beverages and snacks.

 

Not only are many hotels teaming up with grooming businesses for pup primping; some even offer in-room
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spa services such as massages.

Frankie was treated to a massage at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort near Phoenix. He initially went along with the program, albeit reluctantly, allowing his little limbs to be stretched and his flank to be kneaded, but he refused to turn over to let the massage therapist work on the other side. I don’t think he’s likely to recommend the treatment to his pup pals.

My two favorite perks don’t involve pampering, just simple but inspired concepts. At the Kimpton Hotels—the one I visited was FireSky in Scottsdale—your dog’s name is posted on a chalkboard at the property entryway. Imagine how proud Frankie felt to see his name prominently displayed every time we came in!

And if you check into the Fairmont Washington, D.C., with a dog (or, to be fair, a cat), the hotel will donate 5 percent of the room rate to the Washington Animal Rescue League. It’s too bad only dogs smaller than 20 pounds are permitted, thus limiting the largesse, but it’s still a terrific reminder that dogs don’t need massages and pedicures; they just need a good home.

Want to optimize the time spent with your dog and vacation with other people who are equally canine crazy? Consider a retreat where dog attendance is obligatory. These getaways, with names such as Camp Gone to the Dogs, Paws and Pals, Camp Barking Hills, or Camp Winnaribbun, may offer dorm rooms or rustic cabins where both you and your dog bunk; in some cases, nearby accommodations are arranged. Activities might include agility trials, swimming lessons, lectures on dog communication … even instructions in dog-hair spinning. Typically, these camps are limited—perhaps two weeklong sessions a year or selected weekends. For a full listing with details, see
www.dogplay.com/Activities/camps.html
.

Note:
Not all dogs are happy campers. Think carefully about whether your dog would be well-suited for a lot of social activity.

If you have family or friends who are willing to take your dog in, and a dog who’s willing to stay with them, you’ve got it made. Not only do you get free dogsitting, but anyone who agrees to care for your pup is probably close enough to you (or owes you enough) to put up with you calling several times a day and asking to put your pooch on the phone. Don’t forget to bring back gifts for the caretakers as well as for your dog.

Similarly, if you’ve successfully arranged play dates through dog networks, a longer vacation exchange might be worth trying. And most doggie daycare centers offer overnight boarding. See question 76 for details about both.

But there are dogs—and, yes, I’m talking about Frankie again—who don’t like to leave home. They’re stressed enough that you’re going away; mess with their lives any more and they’re over the top. This is where dogsitters come in.

You’ll find them the same way as you’ll find doggie daycare centers and dog walkers: referrals from friends, dog park acquaintances, vets, organizations such as The Pet Sitting Directory (
www.petsittingdirectory.com
) or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (
www.petsitters.org
), and … well, you never know. I found one great dogsitter through a local chef that I’m friendly with. He’d asked me where I’d been traveling lately, and when I told him I hadn’t really gone anywhere since Frankie was diagnosed with diabetes, he suggested I try Linda, his former pastry chef, who had started a dog-sitting business. I tend to trust people who know how to make desserts (and are insured and bonded). Sure enough, Linda was terrific with Frankie and his shots.

When Linda wasn’t available, I called my vet’s office and discovered that Sarah, one of the receptionists, had just started a dog-sitting business. Frankie was fond of her, and Sarah had the three vets in the practice on speed dial. What more could you ask for? Oh yes, communication: both Linda and Sarah e-mailed me with a Frankie status report at least once a day, often more.

In a typical arrangement, the dogsitter will stay overnight and feed and walk your dog in the morning and evening. Unless you pay extra for the sitter to check in, your dog is generally on her own during the day. Again, fees range by location—and expertise. I used to pay $25 for a college student to hang out with Frankie but when insulin shots got involved, the rates rose (I’ve paid from $40 to $65). Expect prices to go up commensurately in major metropolitan areas, but resist offers to exchange a stay in your conveniently located Manhattan or San Francisco apartment for free dog care—unless, of course, the offerer falls into the trusted family or friends category. Your pup might not get the attention she deserves from a sitter looking to enjoy a slice of big city life.