Hotel dog limit: Is it better to ask for forgiveness than permission?

[Bicoastal]

So every hotel I can find near a coursing event have a 2-dog limit. This is a one night stay with 3 dogs.

My friend called one of the hotels and the manager will not waive the limit. Do I call every hotel to ask or do we show up with 3 dogs and hope for the best?

We have previously exceeded the limit. We were unaware of the restriction and either got lucky no one realized or didn’t care to enforce. Every time I’ve stayed at a dog hotel, I’ve seen other dogs folks and some exceed the limit more than we do. I have never asked em how. Is this limit enforced?

Is it common for the host hotel to waive the limits?

What do dog people do who travel with half a dozen dogs? (Or one large dog: there is often a weight limit)

[Highflyer]

The people I know who break this rule just sneak the extra dog(s) in without asking. Obviously these are not fancy hotels, they generally are the motor inn types with outside entrances.

[Frivian]

Just do it… I have never paid for my cat to stay in a hotel…

[wireweiners]

You just have to be sneaky. Never walk more than two at a time and make sure they are quiet. Load two and then go back for the other.

True story. Years ago, the Dachshund Nationals were in Fredricksburg, MD. One of my crazier dog friends had just bought a new van and proposed we rent a camper and drive from Texas to MD for the show. There were 4 of us in the van and we had 14 dogs between us. Our van broke down in Christenburg, VA. The Chevy place had to order the part so we had to stay over night in Christenburg. We had no place other than the dealership to park the camper and they wouldn’t let us stay in it while it was on their lot so we had to find a motel. The closest was a Ho Jo. While we were checking in, they asked us how many pets we had. My friend said one. I just looked at her and didn’t say anything. After we were out of the office, I asked her “One pet?” She said yeah, Rudy (her little old ancient dachshund) is the only pet. The rest are show dogs.:lol: So we only walked one at a time and everybody was called Rudy.

[S1969]

When I stay at a dog-friendly hotel I ask to be placed near a rear exit so that we can get in and out without disturbing other guests. Most hotels are very happy to accommodate this, and usually have parking back there too. So we never bring the dogs through the front entrance and/or lobby and they never see them at all. I suspect more than anything, hotels are just covering themselves for damage, and if you break the rules, then they can hold you responsible.

So - I’d say just go, and ask to be near a rear exit so you can walk dogs in the a.m. without having to bring them through the lobby and potentially disturb other guests.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I am one of those people with big dogs (80 lbs). I have to choose hotels carefully. But this time of year when it is in the 50’s-60’s with lows in the 40’s I leave dogs in their kennels in my SUV overnight when I travel. It’s just easier than hauling all their stuff in. I’ve even paid for a room with them and just not brought them in. I always worry about them finding rat poison or some nasty thing under a desk. FYI, some motels do put out poison–be careful–I’ve had dog-show friends find it in rooms they had dogs in.

It’s the same as if we all go camping together, except the car stays warmer. With two back there, I can throw a wool blanket over the crates and they are comfortable with temps down into the 20’s.

[Romany]

How about shopping around for dog-friendly Bed & Breakfasts? Or airbnb?

[BostonBanker]

I’m an ‘ask permission’ person, and I have yet to be turned down when I’ve asked. I just say “I’m going to be in town for a dog event; would it be possible to stay with two dogs? They are experienced hotel dogs, and we will be arriving late and heading out first thing in the morning.” Those were obviously hotels with 1 pet limits.

I don’t know if there are any near you, but I’ve never run into a La Quinta (my chain of choice for trials) that has a pet limit.

[arapaloosa_lady]

How many nights are you staying?

One night in a Motel 6, I wouldn’t worry about it. But if I wanted to spend 7 nights in a Hampton Inn, I’d be a bit more hesitant about getting kicked out.

[pinkpony321]

in this case, sneak the third in and just stay in for the evening! No one will be the wiser if you’re not coming and going frequently, unless your dogs are vocal. check in late-after the night time potty break- and you’ll be golden.

[Bells]

We have one dog that fits in a duffle bag. He is yet to be discovered when we bring the others.

[MustangSavvy]

We stayed with three big dogs at La Quinta with zero issues. Otherwise, I would just hide it.

[Bicoastal]

Three different looking dogs staying one night. La Quinta is a strong contender. They too have a limit (I called): 2 dog, 65lb max. I know people exceed that limit.

OK I just called LQ this morning and asked, like you guys suggested, “I’m coming to town for a dog event, would that be relaxed for competitors? We have three smallish dogs.”

“Yeah ok no problem.” Slam the receiver! Click. I didn’t have the chance to ask her name or anything else.

So… show up and if we are asked say, “Well some lady who answered the phone Oct 7 said three dogs are ok.” We definitely won’t walk three dogs through the lobby. One of us checks in while another stays in the car, then pull the car around to as close as possible to our door or exit.

I’m aware some people leave the dogs in the car. I thought more COTHers would suggest it. That isn’t going to happen with this group. Others have four (or 14 :lol:) purebreds who look identical. That doesn’t apply.

Oh! One more question: When I’ve asked to be ground floor near the rear exit to make dogs and loading easier, there was quite a bit of foot traffic that prevented the dogs from settling well. Stick to this general location or try somewhere different?

[Donkaloosa]

My friends who haul multiple dogs to shows don’t hesitate to bend the truth a little — but the dogs are well trained, don’t cause problems, and they normally don’t walk more than 1-2 at a time. You have to play innocent and no one will suspect a thing. Most hotels/motels near a dog show facility know that no one comes with just one dog, so they are used to it. Some of the ones by us even have dog bathing areas, dog play areas, etc.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=Bells;7793146]
We have one dog that fits in a duffle bag. He is yet to be discovered when we bring the others.[/QUOTE]
Before our first hotel stay, I taught ~8lb Timber to get into a bag. I never did tote him in it because we never walked through the lobby.

We are going with La Quinta. They’ve been decent, as far as dog hotels go, and accommodating in the past.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=Donkaloosa;7793465]
Most hotels/motels near a dog show facility know that no one comes with just one dog, so they are used to it. Some of the ones by us even have dog bathing areas, dog play areas, etc.[/QUOTE]
Gasp! That is awesome!!!

[TBPONY]

Bring the 3rd dog and don’t make a big deal out of it. I personally never leave the dogs unattended and will bring crates. If you walk all 3 at a time and they ask, which I cannot imagine they ever would, say your friend is staying with their dog as well and you’re pottying it for them. I’ve stayed at all kinds of hotels - some very fancy and others sketch city - with upwards of 3 German shepherds who are always over the weight limit as well as my house rabbit who travels with me too, and I’ve never had a problem. I don’t tell them about the rabbit LOL. I just show up, use side doors if possible to potty the dogs, and stack the bunny carrier and his playpen on the cart with my luggage like it’s totally normal. Which for me, it is

One time at a smaller hotel in NC we arrived really late at night and the receptionist was terrified of GSDs. There was no side door so I had to bring the dogs and rabbit in through the lobby right past her and since she was already freaked out I didn’t want to make it worse. Soooooo I shoved the bunny in my pillowcase until we were safely in the elevator :lol: We still joke about it.

At a hotel KY when my male was young he was bouncing around on the bed and somehow knocked over a pottery-type lamp and it shattered all over the place. I called housekeeping and told them truthfully what happened and offered to pay for it. The guy laughed and said it was no big deal, much worse has happened and that’s why there’s a pet deposit because accidents happen.

Have a fun trip! Don’t ask extra questions or act suspicious and they won’t even notice your additional friend. When in doubt do the “I’m so sorry, I truly had no idea!” and all is forgiven.

[Houndhill]

Not directly related to dog limits, but I just got back from a trip to our regional specialty in PA, where we stayed at a Holiday Inn. They had a laundry cart full of clean old sheets when you checked in, so you could put them on the floors and beds. I had requested but didn’t get a first floor room, and it was Tori’s first elevator experience, with a glass wall. If there were other people on the elevator, I always asked if they were OK with the dog before getting on, then had Tori sit in the elevator, and wait until given permission to get up. There were about 100 Irish Wolfhounds staying in that hotel, and I heard someone exclaim “Those dogs are so polite”! Which made me proud of our hounds and their owners, who are as a group very responsible about their hounds, picking up after them, making sure they are quiet, etc. I know some had three or more to a room. Before we checked out, the hotel management had to look at the room and make sure it was OK, but they were prompt and pleasant and all went well.

On my way home, I stopped at a hotel where I hadn’t been, and they asked me if my dog was “big” or “small” before applying the pet charge. I said, “Well, I guess I’d have to say big”, but added that she was very well behaved, quiet, and clean, and I guess they believed me as they only charged me the “small” dog rate!

[jetsmom]

If people would be honest up front, and offer to leave an extra deposit that could be refunded upon them checking the room before checkout, you might actually get some hotels to redo their policies.
In addition, you wouldn’t have to worry about sneaking around with the 3.

[Horsegal984]

Not a hotel story, but when we lived in our last apartment they asked how many cats we had. I said two, hubby looked at me funny but thankfully kept his mouth shut. We had four, all black and white tuxedos. They’d never see all of them at once anyway. Lived there three years, nobody ever knew :lol:

OP- I think most hotels have those limits as a CYA, it has always seemed like the ones near large dog show venues don’t mind more show dogs, as they tend to be crate trained and better behaved than most of Joe Schmo’s pups.