Dog hotels – how to choose a place that is friendly to your pet?

Separating from your dog – even for a few days – causes a lot of stress, both for the owner and the dog. It is also not always possible to leave your dog in the care of family or friends. In this situation, a dog hotel is a common solution. However, how to prepare a dog for separation and a stay in an unfamiliar place, among strangers to boot? How do you choose the right hotel to make sure that your dog feels comfortable and is cared for at the right level?

A good dog hotel – what do you need to ask about?

How to choose a hotel for your dog? The first rule when looking for a good hotel is to do some thorough research – preferably on the internet. It is easy (especially with the help of maps) to find the establishments located near your home and read reviews about them. However, to make sure that your pet is in a good place and does not experience additional trauma due to separation, contact the owners of the hotel or, preferably, go and do some research yourself.

Before your dog goes to a hotel.

There are two options to choose from – a home-based dog hotel and a more 'professional' one, i.e. a hotel where the dogs can spend time in separate kennels or rooms intended just for them. In this case, they have their own personal space for which they do not compete with other dogs. In pet hotels, the animal spends most of its time with the household members, but also with their pets, and other dogs brought in for a few days.

If your dog is a sociable one, who is more comfortable in the presence of people and other animals, then a home environment that reminds it of its own is surely the best solution.

Skills, experience, and the competence of carers

Is placing your dog in a hotel a good idea? Of course! Provided you choose the right one and ensure that the place provides your pet with comfort and high standards of care.

Polish law does not stipulate what kind of training a dog hotel manager should have. Therefore, it is important to check the competencies and skills of the people with whom your pet is to spend its time apart from you. All kinds of certificates and diplomas for a vet or a dog trainer are a great advantage.

A dog hotel with a behaviourist who is not only competent, but also experienced and has the right attitude towards animals, will certainly win their hearts the fastest and will be able to meet animals' needs, and that includes your pet. Ask for the above documents, and preferably go to the first meeting with your dog to see how the relationship between the potential carer and the animal unfolds.

If your dog is temperamental, find out whether it will be accepted and how the caretakers will deal with taming it. If the opposite is true and your pet is not aggressive at all, find out whether it will be well cared for and have a stress-free stay when surrounded by other pets, even dominant ones.

Site hygiene and safety

What should you look for when getting to know a hotel? Make sure that:

- the rooms, kennels and premises are clean and tidy

- animals have permanent access to water

- the entire facility and the individual kennels have a fence, without sharp edges or objects

- if necessary, a vet is available for your dog

- the premises (especially the kennels) are heated and monitored

Dog hotels – the cost of your dog's stay

How much does it cost to leave your dog in a hotel? Prices range from USD 15 to 50 per day. It is worth asking what is included in this price and what additional costs must be taken into account in the event of various emergencies. What can affect the price?

- location of the facility

- the size of the hotel

- accommodation of pets during the week, at weekends, and during holidays

- special feeding requirements for your dog, including supplements and medication

- additional grooming services

- pick-up of the dog from its place of residence and its transport home

- incidence of oestrous in a female dog

- training during the stay

An additional service may also be to walk your dog more times than stipulated by the hotel's internal schedule. This is particularly important for certain breeds that require more exercise and need to ‘take care of business’ more often than other dogs.

However, it is well known that various unexpected situations can occur during a walk outside the hotel. In order to increase your pet's safety, it is a good idea to get a DOG MICROCHIP and register your pet in the WORLDPETNET animal database. If your dog gets lost, frightened or runs away, you will be able to quickly identify it in the international animal database, which in turn will make it easier to find its owner and contact you. So be sure to have your dog microchipped and registered in our WPN database, thus showing great responsibility and care for your pet.

Dog hotels – where will your dog feel most comfortable?

Pay attention to your dog's temperament and the conditions you provide for it. If it is used to being with you all the time, a hotel where it is isolated in a kennel will certainly not suit it. If, on the other hand, your dog is independent and likes to spend time alone, it will have no problem being locked up in a kennel. Some dogs are typical ‘couch potatoes’; others prefer a larger space where they can burn off excess energy and run around. This is why it is a good idea to visit a hotel in person and leave your dog there ‘for a trial stay’.

A layette for the hotel – what should you bring with your dog?

The more familiar objects and habits from your dog's daily routine, the better its well-being. So what should you take to the hotel?

- a record book with proof of your dog's up-to-date vaccinations and deworming

- a supply of your dog's favourite food (can be portioned)

- a bed, a blanket, your pet's favourite toy

- medication, if your dog needs it, and dosage instructions

- leash, collar, harness

Procedures, i.e. a dog check-in

1. Depending on the establishment, an advance payment may be required to reserve a place in the hotel.

2. The dog's owner must also complete a registration form, and sometimes a civil contract must be signed for the duration of the dog's stay.

3. The dog's log book or a copy of it must be provided.