|
Feature Article: September
2002
Bringing
Your Well-Behaved Pooch
to a Bed and Breakfast Inn
Maybe you are tired of an ordinary motel or hotel room,
or perhaps you are looking for a romantic getaway. You might consider
staying at a bed and breakfast inn. Sounds like a plan. Except for one
minor detail. You insist on bringing your dog with you. After all, you
spend most of your time at work, and when you finally go on a vacation,
you want to bring your best friend along. Dog-friendly bed and breakfast
inns can be few and far between. But assuming you finally find one that
welcomes you and your pooch in one of their rooms, what should you expect
and what pet rules are normally practiced at bed and breakfast inns?
We found some advice from the experts, bed and breakfast innkeepers
and owners.
Most of the innkeepers we contacted have been allowing
pets in their establishments for at least 8 years. And most, if not
all of them, are pet lovers who have dogs of their own or just plain
like having dogs around. But in order to achieve harmony amongst all
guests, innkeepers usually have certain pet rules. The pet policies
at many inns are pretty much the same: pets must be leashed when outside
the room, pets must be quiet in the rooms, pets must be attended at
all times, and owners should pick up after their pets. A few inns also
require that your dog be on some kind of flea protection, like Advantage
or a flea collar.
We also asked the innkeepers what some of their "pet
peeves" are when allowing dogs. The overwhelming pet peeve was
dog owners that leave their dogs alone in the rooms when they should
not. Some inns have policies against this, and occasionally guests still
leave their pets alone. If you are going to bring your pet with you
on vacation, please be a responsible pet owner and do not leave your
dog alone if it is against the policy. Try to find activities to do
with your dog. And if you are dining out and cannot find a dog-friendly
outdoor restaurant, try bringing the food back to the room or inn.
Innkeepers do not like having dogs left alone in the rooms
for several reasons. Many innkeepers told us that even though guests
told them the dog would be quiet, the dog barked constantly. Another
problem was that some dogs (even normally well-behaved dogs) got scared
and were destructive to the room, like chewing or scratching on the
door.
Keep in mind that these problems are typically uncommon
for innkeepers. The overwhelming majority of pet owners are very responsible
and abide by the pet policies. In fact, the innkeepers and owners we
contacted had some great things to say about dogs and dog owners that
have been their guests.
|
"We love dogs and cats and really enjoy having
them. We also understand the frustration people have in this area
(Chincoteague Virginia area) with finding a really nice place
that allows pets. We really have stepped up our promotions of
being pet-friendly over the years." -- Tom and Sara Baker,
Owners, The Garden and
Sea Inn, New Church, Virginia, 800-824-0672
"I love animals. I have a dog of my own and
she enjoys the animals. And people who own pets are usually terrific
people!!" -- Nancy Hinchliff, Owner/Innkeeper, Aleksander
House Bed and Breakfast, Louisville, Kentucky, 502-637-4985
When asked what they like about allowing dogs, "The
guest's appreciation for allowing what has become a part of their
family to be with them while traveling." -- Nick Jacques,
Owner/Manager, Barrister
Bed and Breakfast, Helena, Montana, 406-443-7330
When asked why they decided to allow dogs, "We
have owned The Carriage House for 5 years, have our own dog and
cat, plus the previous owners accepted pets." -- Andrew and
Lesley Kettley, Owners, The
Carriage House Inn, Laguna Beach, California, 949-494-8945
|
It is also important to note that some bed and breakfast
inns charge an additional pet fee or deposit. If you decide to stay
at a dog-friendly bed and breakfast, be sure to ask about their pet
policy when making a reservation. If you know the policies ahead of
time, you will most likely have a more pleasant stay.
To voice your opinion on this article or
subject, please fill out our
form. We will include some of the comments or letters in next month's
Letters to the Editor section.
|
|
