Large Dog Lovers Question

[Cil]

We moved from Denver to Port St Joe with 300 lbs of mastiff (and an ancient cat). The drive (Volvo wagon) took something like 3 days, maybe 4. We had their dog and kitty beds, food bowls etc. The only difficult part was when we discovered that Rosie was terrified of elevators. (We did the stairs instead.)
We stayed in dog-friendly hotels. (Dogfriendly.com or something like that.)
Just recently, we took Elwood to Tallahassee when we took the kid back to school. Taking a dog on vacation is certainly doable. Our next goal is figuring out how to take Elwood out on the boat, he has never done this before (we're new to it ourselves.) ;-)

 

[DD]

Awwww Cil-they're precious!!

 

[Smiling JOe]

I have traveled with my 85lb dog a good bit. La Quinta Inn and Suites take dogs. Most campground cottages will allow them. Once we took him on a road trip and could not find a petfriendly place so we just kept him with us all day and when we went to bed that night he slept in the car. He really likes our car though...it is like his little cave, some dogs would hate that. It may sound cruel but it beats being in a cage for a week. Just make sure he has water and the car is in a VERY shaded place. Also, get up early to get him out. As far as meals, we did take out and had picnics with him. It was nice because it forced us to stay outside alot.

I know Smiling Joe is probably going to lecture me about this but it really was fine.

not at all, and in the winter, i've done the same.

I'll add to the list, Holiday Inn Sunspree is also on the list of dog friendly.
I will remind you as a courtesy to other dog peeps, please remember to keep your flee medicine for your dogs up to date, so as we dog people don't stir up trouble for other dog peeps. My dogs love sleeping in hotel rooms, because they get a big @ss bed all to themselves. It is like a kid with a new toy.

 

[CJ]

Also, every town has a kennel or at least a vet who will board your dog for a night. You just have to get them in before they close. This was never a good option for us because those places really stress our pooch out and he would not sleep at all but it is an option almost anywhere in a pinch.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Also, every town has a kennel or at least a vet who will board your dog for a night. You just have to get them in before they close. This was never a good option for us because those places really stress our pooch out and he would not sleep at all but it is an option almost anywhere in a pinch.

I never kennel my dogs. I think it would add too much stress for me and the dogs. I occasionally hear horror stories from people who kennel their animals, even with reputable vets. Not going there.

 

[Minnie]

I never kennel my dogs. I think it would add too much stress for me and the dogs. I occasionally hear horror stories from people who kennel their animals, even with reputable vets. Not going there.

Have to agree which is why I asked. We don't board ours over night. I don't like the thought of them being there from 6pm to 7am alone. I have considered Pet Smart Doggie Hotels. You can private suites that are soundproof, with TV and a doggie cot and individual air control and the hotel is staffed 24/7. However due to safety they have an indoor doggie potty room and not sure how that would go over and if she would then think it is ok to potty inside. They have an indoor exercise facility, etc. But this can get very expensive.

My mom kept her when we went to Orlando and Destin this summer but I miss her when I am gone and now that Dad has passed, I felt guilty leaving with Mom. Even though Mom loves dogs and Sadie loves going to the "country" to see Mom, I just did not want to add to her chores.

She is has a small house dog and mine is pretty low maintance for a lab but it is still another dog to tend to.

Are there places in SoWal and the vicinty that will allow larger dogs.

 

[jodiFL]

My dogs love sleeping in hotel rooms, because they get a big @ss bed all to themselves.

:roll: Mine would only get on the bed when we left the room, but he loved looking out the window at people walking by. We would come back to find all over the windows and window sill.

 

[NoHall]

My allergies are having an anxiety attack. Do the pet-friendly hotels segregate their rooms, like the smoking/non-smoking hotels? What if I come in the next night and die of an allergy-induced asthma attack? I'm skeered...

More importantly, will these hotels discriminate against the people who want to bring in a 100+ lb. cat?

 

[Smiling JOe]

My allergies are having an anxiety attack. Do the pet-friendly hotels segregate their rooms, like the smoking/non-smoking hotels? What if I come in the next night and die of an allergy-induced asthma attack? I'm skeered...

More importantly, will these hotels discriminate against the people who want to bring in a 100+ lb. cat?

Typically, the hotel rooms for guests with dogs don't get rented to guests without dogs. The rooms are usually located at the end of the hotel, opposite from the front desk. I'd bet that just like they have a certain number of handicap parking spaces, they have a limited number of rooms that they reserve for guests with dogs.

 

[CJ]

Yeah, I think most hotels do segregate because I have been told they are out of pet friendly rooms before when they still had human vacancies.