[Festival] How to create a pet-friendly property

[Suzanne302]

Make my property pet-friendly? Are you kidding? Never!

Maybe you've had an experience with a bad dog owner. Or maybe you aren't a dog person. Some hosts just don't want the hassle of dealing with pets. That's completely understandable. Hosting pets does not come without risks, but listing your property as pet-friendly can often increase your bookings and increase your bottom line.

I'm one of those people who loves to travel with my dog. As a matter of fact, I usually plan vacations with my dog in mind. Surveys of other pet parents show I am not alone. There is a high demand for pet-friendly listings. I'm always appreciative of those hosts who allow me to travel with my dog and that's one reason my listing is pet-friendly.

Below are a few ways you can pet-proof your home and provide amenities to traveling pet parents to make things easier on both host and guest.

• Charge a pet fee. Some pets leave no trace behind. Others
  require extra cleaning. No matter what I'm left with after a four-legged guest leaves, I always do “extra” sanitizing. Don't be afraid to charge a pet fee, but make sure it's reasonable. For homeshares, $25-$50 is completely fair. For whole house rentals, depending on the size $100-$200 is not unheard of.

• Ditch the carpet. Hardwood or laminate flooring is your friend! Accidents happen, even with house-trained dogs. Cleaning up those accidents is super easy on hardwood or laminate flooring. Not so easy with carpet. If you can't get rid of the carpet, strategically placed throw rugs are a great option as they can easily be tossed in the washer and will save the wear and tear on your wall-to-wall carpet.

• Require a crate. Even the most well-behaved dog can get anxious when staying in an unfamiliar place. Require that guests bringing dogs also bring a crate if they plan to leave the dog in the property unsupervised.

• Post clear rules. Dog rules are a must-have and make sure those rules are mentioned numerous times to your guests as well as posted in your listing as a reminder. The rules are up to you but mine require doggy guests to be house-trained, socialized, and supervised or crated at all times. I also state that any dog that becomes disruptive will need to leave the property immediately.

• Remove fragile objects and doggy temptations. Your grandmother's tea cup may look beautiful on that lower shelf, but one wag of the tail and it could come crashing down. Same thing with that beanie baby collection or stuffed animal. It may look too much like a dog toy so best to remove the temptation altogether.

• Designate a place for potty breaks. Make sure guests know where they can and can't walk their dog to “do their business.” Providing waste bags is also a nice gesture to remind guests to pick up after their pet.

• Provide extras. My reviews often mention the extra steps I take to welcome doggy guests. I provide food and water bowls, dog treats, and doggy wipes. These cost me pennies per guest, but up the “wow” factor. 

• Offer a list of pet-friendly restaurants, activities. I don't bring my dog with me so he can sit in the house or room all day! When I travel I want to know where I can take my dog. Guests appreciate this insider information.

Hosting pets isn't for everyone, but in over a year and a half of welcoming dozens of pooches into my home, it's definitely made my hosting experience that much better. I've gotten many bookings not just because I'm pet-friendly, but because I actively cater to pet parents. As long as you're prepared, opening up your property to this very active market could be rewarding for you, too.

 

[Suzanne302]

@Susan151  Haha! Love it!

I do understand hosting pets is not for everyone though. Some properties are not really set up for it, some have resident animals that just won't tolerate it, and some hosts are just not willing to take the risk, which is totally understandable. I admit I still get a bit nervous every time until I actually meet the dog!

[Cheryl-And-Bill0]

We've been in business for 2+ years and have never had an issue with pets.   We have food and water bowls, extra leashes, poop bags and dog treats for our guests.   We also have laminate flooring with rugs.   The shower has a hand held wand so their humans can hose them off after a hike or visit to the beach.    Our own pooch loves to have guests visit her!   On the whole, it has been really easy and guests remark, again and again, how much they appreciate being able to bring their dogs.   I think we have more bookings because of this.    By the way, we've also had a couple of cats, one lizard, a parrot, and a hamster (all in crates!) visit us.