Does anyone allow pets only outside?

[Justin1364]

Currently I don't allow pets in my listing, but am trying to think of ways to be more accommodating. I'm concerned about the wear and tear and damage from pets inside, but have a large yard that could easily accommodate pets. Has anyone else offered the option for pets but that must be kept outside at all times? Do guests actually follow the rules or how would you enforce it if you aren't on site? 

[Linda108]

A good rule for hosting is don't expect guests to follow the rules unless you have ample proof that is what they do, i.e., lots of good reviews.  Even then, guests or people in general, are often a bit loopy about their dogs.  Unless a dog is an outside dog at home, traveling is not a good time to separate a dog from its family.  Why do you want to host guests with pets?  If you feel able to provide a pet friendly environment, which includes furnishings that can handle dog or cat use,  there are many guests who travel with their pet and would appreciate your listing.  Is it a necessary part of your marketing strategy, for some locations, the answer is yes, especially along travel routes.  If your listing is more a destination within a destination, it might not be advantageous for you to offer pet friendly.  Back to your questions, "do guests actually follow rules...?", ah, no not always.

[Justin1364]

Thanks for you reply. That's a great point about separating a dog that isn't used to it. One thing I thought is that most likely if someone wants to travel with a dog, they are probably not an outside only dog.

Quite a few listings in my area allow pets so it would allow me to offer a similar amenity to those around me. I also have a dog that I like to travel with so I understand the benefit that it affords guests.

My main hesitations to a dog being inside is just the potential for damage and not really being that experienced of a host yet I don't know that I want to take on that risk until I get it all figured out a little better and decide if it's something I want to do. 

[Sarah977]

@Justin1364  Saying dogs outside only is unenforceable, as are most rules in entire place listings with off-site hosts. When guests break rules, you either have to suck it up or confront them, so the less rules necessary, the easier your hosting will be. 

Just because most of the listings near you are pet friendly doesn't mean you have to try to compete with that. There are guests who are allergic to dogs, so it could actually be a selling point that you could mention prominently- that it is a pet-free property. 

I've had dogs pretty much all my life, and they have all been outside dogs, but that didn't mean they didn't wander in and out of the house sometimes. They just spent most of their time outdoors and slept outside. My most recent dog much preferred being outside to inside, but liked to sleep on the cool tile living room floor under the ceiling fan during the day in hot summer weather and was terrified of thunderstorms, so always wanted to stay in my room near me at night in a storm, even though though I have a covered outdoor terrace. 

And while I like dogs, I never accepted pets in my listing. My dogs never were allowed on the furniture or bed, but I knew that was unenforceable where guests are concerned, even though I have a home share listing. If the dog is used to sleeping in bed or lying on the sofa, they will do it at your place, too, regardless of any rules to the contrary. As a dog owner yourself, I'm sure you get this- they aren't like children to whom you can say, " I know we allow you to do that at home, but you can't do it here"- a dog can't understand that distinction, and pet owners who allow their dogs on the furniture at home won't change their ways.