Keeping a Dog in a Hotel Room

[analise]

So…I have to go out of town for work. I have to bring my dog with me. Work has already reserved me a room at a hotel that allows pets, so that’s not the problem.

Here’s my issue. I am going to be staying in the hotel for four weeks (crazy, huh?) and while my roommate here is okay with looking after my cat, she would not be okay with also looking after my dog (and I don’t blame her, her schedule really isn’t conducive toward looking after a dog). However, because of the long term nature of my trip, I can’t put my dog in a kennel somewhere as not only would the cost be prohibitive, I don’t think it’s fair to my dog (especially seeing as she’s a rescue).

There’s no one I could really ask to keep her for me as she has issues with (human) strangers and the only folks I know that might possibly be interested/able to manage her either already have lots of pets, territorial dogs, or no fencing (Miss Inari would just love to get lost chasing squirrels, I’m sure).

So, she comes with me. I’m okay with sharing a room with her (heck, it’s what I do at home, right? ) and I’m planning on bringing her crate to keep her in during the day to minimize any damage she might do to the hotel room. She hasn’t shown herself to be overly interested in destructive activities at home but…I’ve never really given her the opportunity. And taking her for a long drive to another state and asking her to adjust to a completely new situation…I figure I shouldn’t tempt fate.

She does have a thing about strangers, as I mentioned. I worry that if she hears people walking in the hall outside our room, she’ll bark at them. Or when I leave the first few times, she’ll get extremely vocal (she’s a Samoyed mix. She “sings”. ). I don’t know what I’d do if the hotel took exception to that (since, remember: I’m there for work. I can’t just pick up and go to a new hotel).

I’m hoping to mitigate that particular problem by asking for a room at the end of the hall (preferably near an exit stairwell/door so we can just skip in and out for walks without having to bother anyone).

I also worry because I’ve read that some places…housekeeping won’t come in to do the room if a pet is in there. I don’t know if that includes the pet being confined in a crate or not. I mean, I guess I could just leave my garbage can in the hall for them to empty or whatever and they could leave fresh sheets/towels for me (I don’t mind making my own bed ) but it is something to consider. I did have someone suggest that I could request housekeeping come in the evening when I’m there to remove the dog from the room.

Anyway, anyone have experience traveling with pets want to lay some advice on me?

[Lone]

I’ve traveled with my dog a fair amount. He’s a good guard dog and doesn’t like the people walking back and forth outside the room- he usually barks. As a result, he usually has to stay out in the car.

I used to work in a hotel at the front desk. I’m sure the policy varies by place, but we were very quick to kick people out if they had a pet that barked. Just imagine how you’d feel if you were the person in the room next to/above/below the room with a barking dog! We also never had housekeeping go in a room with a pet (even if it was crated). If you think your dog will bark, I’d start thinking up a Plan B. Can she stay in your car during the day? That might not work depending on the climate you’ll be in. My lab looooves hanging out in the car, he has a big bed in there and is very happy, so I never have to feel guilty about leaving him in there.

[Kryswyn]

I travel with my jacks A LOT because of all the trialing we do. Mostly they stay in the car because they don’t like people walking down the hallways either. The problem with being near the stairs is that you’d be amazed at how many people use them after 10 pm.

With a Sami, I imagine a bark collar might not be as effective. I’d get on the phone with the hotel and ask specifically about their pet policy. Because many places say no dogs left unattended in room; must be crated, must be crated on top of owner provided plastic sheeting, have daily pet deposits.

You could ask them for recommendations either for local pet walkers, or even doggie day-care. Otherwise, I’d set about making my car comfortable for my dog. Can you park at the worksite, off the street? Be sure to check what the local ordinances are for allowing a dog to be alone in a car. Some places have gotten very strict, to the point of seizing dogs that were on their way to or from vet appts, or training classes when their owners stopped for a few minutes (in non life threatening weather conditions) to run into the store.

What about leaving her home and having a pet sitter come in? Less expensive than a kennel, dog stays in her own surroundings. Great pet sitters are out there and will always do a home visit to get acquainted with their new charges.

Good luck!

[analise]

Leaving in the car is a no-go, I think. We’re going to Georgia and the temperatures forecast for the next week from what I recall are already up in the 80s. I imagine it’d get pretty stifling hot in the car, even with the windows down, during the day. Google mapping the location doesn’t show me any convenient shady spots to park under, either.

I don’t think I could find a pet sitter at this late in the game (leaving this weekend) but it might be worth it to look for a dog walker or day care down in GA.

[jetsmom]

[QUOTE=Lone;5555159]
I’ve traveled with my dog a fair amount. He’s a good guard dog and doesn’t like the people walking back and forth outside the room- he usually barks. As a result, he usually has to stay out in the car.

I. Can she stay in your car during the day? That might not work depending on the climate you’ll be in. My lab looooves hanging out in the car, he has a big bed in there and is very happy, so I never have to feel guilty about leaving him in there.[/QUOTE]

Be aware that the interior of a car can cause a dog to overheat/die, even when outside temps are in the 70’s.

OP- Look for doggie day care for when you won’t be there. Or find an inhome petsitter.

[BabyGreen]

You might check the cost of day boarding your dog at your out of town location. It’s a lot cheaper than overnight boarding. Alternatively, leave your dog with a trusted friend or relative, or hire somebody to come in and care for him. I would not leave a dog alone in a hotel room, ever.

[Long_Spot]

[QUOTE=BabyGreen;5555386]
You might check the cost of day boarding your dog at your out of town location. It’s a lot cheaper than overnight boarding. Alternatively, leave your dog with a trusted friend or relative, or hire somebody to come in and care for him. I would not leave a dog alone in a hotel room, ever.[/QUOTE]

I was thinking the same thing. Doggy Daycare is all the rage now in some areas. You could just drop your pal off at daycare on the way to work.

[analise]

[QUOTE=BabyGreen;5555386]
I would not leave a dog alone in a hotel room, ever.[/QUOTE]

Why not? Even crated?

Seriously considering doggie daycare. There are a few affordable options in the area.

Anybody in Augusta have recommendations?

[Phaxxton]

I, personally, would NEVER leave my dog alone in my car all day, regardless of the temperature. Also, in many places, it is illegal to keep your dog in the car unattended for long periods of time.

I think doggy daycare would be great - but you have to be certain you’ll be done with work early enough in the day to pick her up. When I traveled for work, we were working long hours, and most doggy day cares require pick up by 6PM the latest. If you can’t do doggy day care, you need to make sure you have things that will keep her mentally stimulated while you are away during the day. You also want to make sure she is tired when you leave for the day.

What I would do if you have to leave her in the hotel room while you’re away(which is what I do whenever I need to be away from my dogs for several hours) is exercise her in the morning until she is tired. See if there are any dog parks nearby where she can run off leash. If not, plan on a long walk or run in the morning before you leave. Then, instead of feeding her in her bowl in the morning, feed her in kongs only. You may need multiple kongs for this, and you will need to provide water in the crate, too. Feeding her this way will keep her occupied and mentally stimulated during the day while she is in her crate. You may need more than one kong to get all her food in there, and I would mix it with more exciting things and freeze them overnight, too. (Make sure there will be a mini-fridge with freezer in your rooom.) If I’m going to be away for several hours, I put my dogs’ food in their kongs, along with cut up cheese and hot dogs and sometimes other things like chicken, peanut butter, mashed potatoes, etc. It’s mostly dog food, with some exciting stuff mixed in to entice them and keep them interested. I really stuff it all in there, so it is packed tight. Then I plug the opening with a piece of hard cheese and freeze it. This will keep her busy for hours. She’ll be interested in them because, if she wants to eat, she’ll have to use the kongs. My dogs weren’t so into the kongs when I only put a few treats or just peanut butter. When I stuff them this way, they LOVE them and stay occupied.

Then obviously in the evening, make sure she gets lots of exercise again.

Another thought… When I used to travel for work, I was expected to go to dinners with colleagues and other events after working hours. I was also working even MORE hours than usual (and I was working a LOT of hours normally) and weekends. I would make sure that you get some idea of what you’ll be getting into while you’re away, just so you can plan for the dog’s needs, too.

You might also want to look up dog walkers in the area to see if you can get someone in during the day to take her out for half an hour or so…

[analise]

The Kong idea is a good one.

I’ve already got a bowl attached to her crate for water (we’re already in a routine of her being crated when I’m not home).

No worries on the scheduling, there shouldn’t be any after hours events. It should be a pretty normal 8-5 schedule.

I was figuring I’d leave the TV on too, to give her something to look at and listen to (as opposed to listening for people walking by outside).

[LuvMyTB]

We lived in an extended-stay hotel for 4 weeks with our two (!) dogs. It was a bit interesting at times because the dogs (understandably) got a little stir-crazy.

Both dogs were crated during the day. The hotel did have a policy that 3 complaints about barking/noise would result in the dogs getting evicted, so I also worried quite a bit about the dogs barking at people walking by during the day. I got a prescription for Ace from my vet in case they really went crazy–only needed it a couple of times.

The hotel had no housekeeping for rooms with animals, so we did our own–just like living at home. The dogs were walked several times a day and we also took them out for car rides to change up their routine a bit.

We all survived the hotel stay just fine, and I’m sure you and your dog will too.

[analise]

Oh, that reminds me! I’ve got Rescue Remedy! I figured I’d see if that would help her.

[BabyGreen]

[QUOTE=analise;5555420]
Why not? Even crated?

Seriously considering doggie daycare. There are a few affordable options in the area.

Anybody in Augusta have recommendations? :)[/QUOTE]

Most hotels won’t allow it, for one. Even the ones that allow dogs.

[analise]

[QUOTE=BabyGreen;5555500]
Most hotels won’t allow it, for one. Even the ones that allow dogs.[/QUOTE]

That doesn’t even make sense to me.

(think I’ll need to call and double check on their policy, eh?)

[Phaxxton]

@BabyGreen;5555500

Most hotels won’t allow it, for one. Even the ones that allow dogs.

[quote=analise;5555515]That doesn’t even make sense to me.

(think I’ll need to call and double check on their policy, eh?)
[/quote]

For whatever it’s worth, this hasn’t been my experience. I’ve traveled a lot with my pets (dogs and even the cats a couple of times). Every hotel we stayed at had a policy that the animals had to be crated when alone in the room. None said they could never be left alone in the room…

Definitely check the policy to be safe, though.

[Boomer]

When I moved from SC to MS I had to start my new job before I’d found a place to live. So the company put me up at a hotel for 30 days - with my 40 lb aussie shep.

I only had room service every other day and on the days they came into the room, I crated my dog. I made sure everyone working the desk and the managers knew I had a dog not-friendly with strangers. If I had “no room service” on the door it was for this reason.

Fortunately work was close enough that they did my room in the AM and I could come to the hotel at lunch to walk her and let her out of the crate.

[Chester_s_Mom]

OP, if you are still in the same area you might check for temp foster arrangements with the rescue you adopted your Sami from. I know I’m currently “baby sitting” an IG from our rescue that the owner is on vacatin and the pup couldn’t go with her…

the rescue gets a donation, so good for us, and its lots cheaper than boarding so good for the owner too!

[ladybugred]

I took my rescued Collie/Shep mix with me on vaca once, I’m not a big vac-er. I spoke to the manager and got everything squared away. I didn’t want HK in the room, dog could be iffy with people, got a room at the end, they had set rooms for pets and put no one next to them if poss when in use ( ask if that is poss, its not exactly vaca time in Augusta, and the Masters is over)

I also told them he would be alone every now and again, and that he might bark, so I gave them my info to contact me if ness.

Try to make it as easy for them as poss, and they’ll be easier on you.

LBR

PS is there anyway you could get a Motel room as opposed to a Hotel room?

[ladybugred]

You could also try PMing Silvercrown90, she travels with two LARGE mastiffs on a pretty regular basis for work.

LBR

[analise]

[QUOTE=ladybugred;5555760]

PS is there anyway you could get a Motel room as opposed to a Hotel room?[/QUOTE]

It is, actually, a motel room, from the pictures (doors opening to the outside instead of a hallway). I went and double-checked after I made the original post. Not sure why hotel was in my mind.