10 TAIL WAGGING TIPS FOR MANAGING A PET & DOG FRIENDLY HOLIDAY HOME

Roughly 40% of all households in Australia live with a dog, one of the highest number per capita in the world. Good quality pet & dog friendly holiday homes are in high demand as more and more dog owners are including their furry family members with them on holidays. But how to make your holiday home pet & dog friendly? You can obviously simply tick the box on Airbnb or Stayz that says “Allows Pets” but we believe there is much more to it. Here are our TOP 10 TIPS and things to consider when setting up or advertising your property as pet / dog friendly.

1. Doggie Essentials

Essential dog items such as bowls, bedding or towels to use before entering the house make your property more welcoming for your furry guests. But more importantly, they help pre-empty many questions from your guests. Some dog owners are happy to bring their own dog bowls and bedding. Others might not have the space in the car to carry their dog’s bedding and therefore would be keen to know if there is one in the property. Furry Features such as fenced yard, covered outdoor area and number of dogs allowed are some of the most commonly asked questions. At Pupsy, we don’t believe in one size fits all but in stead encourage all property owners to highlight furry features in detail to ensure there are no disappointments at the arrival. To find out more on how to list your dog friendly property on Pupsy >> CLICK HERE <<

2. Dog friendly places in your area

Probably one of the most important and often forgotten part when promoting dog friendly accommodation is the area guide. Where are the closest dog friendly beaches, hikes & walks, cafes, bars, wineries etc. Your guests are in a destination they might not know that well and therefore finding information about dog friendly places in the area is extremely valuable. Dog owners can find thousands of dog friendly places on Pupsy together with Dog Friendly Travel Guides to popular destinations. Every time new dog friendly accommodation is added on Pupsy, Dog Friendly Travel Guide to the area will be created (if it does not exist already).

3. Welcome rather than allow furry guests

Everybody loves a personal touch and dog owners are surely no different. Furry friends are part of their family and therefore small gestures for their pups such as leaving a treat or a soft toy for them increases the value of the stay. Every booking made on Pupsy will receive a free V.I.Pooch Travel Kit send to their home ahead of the holiday to ensure furry travellers are in a tail wagging mood when arriving at their holiday destination.

4. Should I allow breeds of any size

This is of course entirely up to you as some apartments or smaller cottages might not have the space to cater for larger breeds. Having said that, our experience is that most large breeds are generally more chilled in new environments and actually the size of the property does not matter at all. Having no restrictions in terms of the size creates more positive and welcoming feel about your property, even for owners with smaller dogs.

5. Should I charge pet fee

Many properties charge a specific pet fee (or increased cleaning fee) due to the fact cleaning may take a little longer when pets have been in the property. Most dog owners understand this and are happy to pay a little extra when travelling with their pets. However, extra charges should be reasonable and not double the cost of the stay.

6. Clarify your dog policy

Although vast majority of dog owners live by certain dog etiquette anyway, it is good to remind everyone already before arrival about your specific dog policies. We highly recommend to highlight things such as “no dogs allowed on furniture or beds” and “dogs not to be left alone in the property” to remind of good behaviours expected from respectful guests. See an example of a furry features and dog etiquette >> CLICK HERE <<

7. Instant booking

Not everyone is keen on instant booking, however based on our research and experience, dog owners in particular are expecting to be able to book their holidays without lengthy email discussions or waiting for their enquiries to be answered. According to Airbnb, hosts with instant bookings normally receive double the amount of bookings compared to others.

8. Pet proof your home

Wear and tear as well as occasional accidents happen with every holiday home. With years of experience renting multiple dog friendly holiday homes in Australia, we have witnessed significantly less damage to the properties with dog owners than with other guests. Dog owners who involve their pets on holidays are generally in very good control of their dogs. They know it is not easy to find dog friendly accommodation and therefore look after places they stay in fine detail. To minimise the risk of accidents, we recommend to remove any easily breakable items from snout height!

9. Dog Safety

Generally dogs will stay away from plants that are poisonous for them but sometimes curiosity gets the better of them. We are not recommending you to rip off half of your garden but in stead highlight if any particularly poisonous plants for dogs grow in the area. Also some weed killers might be harmful for dogs and should not be used in your lawns. There is a great article about dog friendly weed killers here!

10. Acknowledge your furry guests

When sending a booking confirmation / welcome message to your guests ask for their dog’s name (unless you know it already). Address any future communication to the entire family by name (including their furry friend) as this creates a very warm and inclusive feel for your guests.

List your dog friendly accommodation on Pupsy for free!

There are no set up or advertising fees and your listing will even be created for you by our 100% Australian team. With more than a million annual website visits, Pupsy is a Trusted Advisor for dog owners to find and book dog friendly places. Every booking for your property receives a free V.I.Pooch Travel Kit (worth $70) with essential travel items from premium doggie brands to ensure your furry guests arrive in a tail wagging mood. Find out more below or bark at us at [email protected]