When we started traveling covering poker tournaments in 1999, we had three rescued terriers and kenneled them in a nice place. We love our 4-legged kids, Kristi!
After our third 10-day trips, we returned to find another ridiculous kennel bill and, once again, three sick dogs. Even back 25 years ago, the kenneling plus vet bills was more than our lodging at resort destinations.
The result? We found the right well-used motorhome and converted it to our Rolling Kennel. I've always wondered why the RV industry ignored this potentially lucrative market.
Many of the new-build multi-unit buildings in my area (Boston) are designed with little dog runs (though some are small enough I’d hardly call them a run, more of a “relief” area) as well as washing stations, usually somewhere in the basement or off the parking garage, if there is one. Some buildings that offer social programming for residents take pets into consideration, promoting yappy hours, photo opportunities, Halloween dress up events, etc. The developers are on to you!
OMG Yappy Hour! That's brilliant! I may steal that for future use 😁
I love hearing you've got some places that are at least making an effort. I only know of ONE building in my city that allows dogs of all sizes and has a wash station in the parking garage. Oddly, it's a 55+ adult building.
My sons have both lived in Denver apartment complexes that, given the extremely dog-centric nature of that city, have dog playground & "comfort" zones as part of their common areas, complete with doggie waste stations and drinking fountains. It's entirely doable — although in the U.S. you'd certainly run into trouble requiring dog ownership as a condition for occupancy.
I'm sure that would somehow be illegal here as well lol. Given the number of unhoused or barely housed families, I don't think dogs only would work just anywhere. Dare to dream though!
There would be a waiting list as long as Central Park if such a condo or community existed. Apollo is 50 lbs and not allowed to stay in some hotels or airbnbs. It sucks because he’s clean and quiet. Plus we are responsible owners. When we had a vacation cottage and rented it out the humans were far worse than the pets that stayed there.
As a dog lover and (former) dog parent (my guy passed this year and we’re just not ready yet), I totally empathize with your frustration. As the owner of a property that I short-term rent when we’re not using it, I can tell you that it’s not you and your dog, it’s other people and their pets. There is no effective way to screen potential tenants. People can tell you that their dog is well behaved, and then you get a chewed up leg on your dining room table. Clean up can also be tricky with shedding dogs, and that can impact other guests with allergies. I don’t think that weight/size should be a factor; I’m sorry to hear that Apollo’s being ruled out at some properties based on that. (Some small dogs can be terrors! And I’ve never met a St. Bernard who wasn’t sweet as a lollipop)
Baffles me too when run into arbitrary weight limits. My dog barely knows how to bark & is generally annoyed when little dogs get up in her grill and yap and yes almost always little dogs!
Yesss! Same! Mine never barks unless people try to enter the house lol. Right now, in our new yard we have yappy dogs on both sides of the fence and Dezi hasn’t uttered a peep. She just minds her business.
100% agree with you CK. A few weeks ago when I went away, I brought my own Swiffer to clean my AirBnb lol. Oddly, when I got there I found that they already had a Swiffer AND a Dyson for my use and believe me, I used it.
This is a great idea! There are a few spaces humans spend money to build so they can ignore them most of the year, specifically courtyards and ball diamonds (almost always empty and boring.) why not build more dog- specific spaces instead?
I couldn't agree more. In my new neighborhood there are no dog parks but on every morning walkie we hit the field with the ball diamond because as you said....NO ONE uses it except the dog people lol.
Right?? I don't understand at all why it's not a thing. Is the UK pretty dog friendly? I have visions of retiring on a lush green hillside there someday 😁
Certain beaches might only allow them in Autumn/Winter for example.
Wales love and welcome dogs pretty much everywhere. I’m sure Scotland do too England is getting better - more coffee shops allow them (where I live anyway!) but there’s always room for improvement!
When we started traveling covering poker tournaments in 1999, we had three rescued terriers and kenneled them in a nice place. We love our 4-legged kids, Kristi!
After our third 10-day trips, we returned to find another ridiculous kennel bill and, once again, three sick dogs. Even back 25 years ago, the kenneling plus vet bills was more than our lodging at resort destinations.
The result? We found the right well-used motorhome and converted it to our Rolling Kennel. I've always wondered why the RV industry ignored this potentially lucrative market.
Many of the new-build multi-unit buildings in my area (Boston) are designed with little dog runs (though some are small enough I’d hardly call them a run, more of a “relief” area) as well as washing stations, usually somewhere in the basement or off the parking garage, if there is one. Some buildings that offer social programming for residents take pets into consideration, promoting yappy hours, photo opportunities, Halloween dress up events, etc. The developers are on to you!
OMG Yappy Hour! That's brilliant! I may steal that for future use 😁
I love hearing you've got some places that are at least making an effort. I only know of ONE building in my city that allows dogs of all sizes and has a wash station in the parking garage. Oddly, it's a 55+ adult building.
My sons have both lived in Denver apartment complexes that, given the extremely dog-centric nature of that city, have dog playground & "comfort" zones as part of their common areas, complete with doggie waste stations and drinking fountains. It's entirely doable — although in the U.S. you'd certainly run into trouble requiring dog ownership as a condition for occupancy.
I'm sure that would somehow be illegal here as well lol. Given the number of unhoused or barely housed families, I don't think dogs only would work just anywhere. Dare to dream though!
There would be a waiting list as long as Central Park if such a condo or community existed. Apollo is 50 lbs and not allowed to stay in some hotels or airbnbs. It sucks because he’s clean and quiet. Plus we are responsible owners. When we had a vacation cottage and rented it out the humans were far worse than the pets that stayed there.
As a dog lover and (former) dog parent (my guy passed this year and we’re just not ready yet), I totally empathize with your frustration. As the owner of a property that I short-term rent when we’re not using it, I can tell you that it’s not you and your dog, it’s other people and their pets. There is no effective way to screen potential tenants. People can tell you that their dog is well behaved, and then you get a chewed up leg on your dining room table. Clean up can also be tricky with shedding dogs, and that can impact other guests with allergies. I don’t think that weight/size should be a factor; I’m sorry to hear that Apollo’s being ruled out at some properties based on that. (Some small dogs can be terrors! And I’ve never met a St. Bernard who wasn’t sweet as a lollipop)
I’m so sorry for your loss. 😞
True. It’s hard to screen. I had people sign a contract before renting but sometimes it didn’t matter.
Awww, thanks for your note.
Baffles me too when run into arbitrary weight limits. My dog barely knows how to bark & is generally annoyed when little dogs get up in her grill and yap and yes almost always little dogs!
Yesss! Same! Mine never barks unless people try to enter the house lol. Right now, in our new yard we have yappy dogs on both sides of the fence and Dezi hasn’t uttered a peep. She just minds her business.
100% agree with you CK. A few weeks ago when I went away, I brought my own Swiffer to clean my AirBnb lol. Oddly, when I got there I found that they already had a Swiffer AND a Dyson for my use and believe me, I used it.
Haha. Love it!
Love this idea! Now if only the millionaires would listen...or care. :(
Yeah that’s the thing. I need to find some celebrity philanthropist whose cause is dogs.
This is a great idea! There are a few spaces humans spend money to build so they can ignore them most of the year, specifically courtyards and ball diamonds (almost always empty and boring.) why not build more dog- specific spaces instead?
I couldn't agree more. In my new neighborhood there are no dog parks but on every morning walkie we hit the field with the ball diamond because as you said....NO ONE uses it except the dog people lol.
I would support this if I was wealthy enough to invest.
Thanks David! I think many of us would. It' would be a dog's world! 😁
Brilliant, and then we can branch out into dog-only cruises and dog-only flights... with out furry friends in the cabin beside us!
Haha yes!!!!! I've always thought about flights like that. It would open up so many travel opportunities for dog people!
I love this idea! I don’t think it exists in the UK either!
Right?? I don't understand at all why it's not a thing. Is the UK pretty dog friendly? I have visions of retiring on a lush green hillside there someday 😁
It does depend whereabouts in Uk.
Certain beaches might only allow them in Autumn/Winter for example.
Wales love and welcome dogs pretty much everywhere. I’m sure Scotland do too England is getting better - more coffee shops allow them (where I live anyway!) but there’s always room for improvement!