Dogs. More vacationers travel with a dog than any other type of pet. Many vacation rentals that market themselves as being “pet friendly” are actually just “dog friendly” since they do not accept any other types of pets.

Cats. Since cat dander is the most common pet allergy (suffered by over 10 million in the US), you may want to think twice before allowing a cat in your home. Luckily, while more than 33% of Americans own at least one cat, few opt to bring them along on vacation. Why? If you don't know the answer, then you've probably never tried to travel with a cat.

Birds, potbellied pigs, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles. As a rule, travelers aren't as keen to travel with non-canine pets; however, you should probably set a policy regarding each type of pet that a guest may want to bring along. It's ultimately up to you to decide whether or not you want to take the potential risk (and smells) of accepting a canary, rabbit, gerbil, or python into your home.

Since dogs are the most commonly accepted pet in vacation homes, the following guidelines apply specifically to “dog friendly” homes:

Age Requirements
To ensure your home against unwanted chewing and defecation, consider implementing an age limit for the dogs that you allow. As a rule, a puppy becomes an adult dog around the one-year mark. At this age, they typically have control of their bladder and can resist the urge to chew and destroy. Creating an age policy for dogs allowed in your home could save you big headaches in the long run. Because even if your guest swears that their 5-month-old lab is housebroken, you never know how the pet will behave when left alone in a strange environment.

Weight Limits
Whether or not you decide to impose a weight limit will likely depend on the size of your home and your personal preference. Some owners choose to limit the size of the dog allowed to under a certain weight (i.e. 30 lbs.) while others actually prefer large dogs since they're easier to housetrain and less likely to bark, chew, and get on the furniture. And since many owners limit the size of the dogs they allow, letting your guests bring large dogs could open up your home to a wider set of travelers. If you do decide to accept large dogs, be sure to include this selling point in your vacation rental listings.

Breed Policies
Some insurance policies may require you to restrict the types of breeds that you allow in your home (specifically those categorized as “dangerous” breeds). Check with your insurance agent for more info.

Spay/Neuter Policy
You may also want to consider whether you want to accept intact dogs (i.e. dogs that have not be spayed or neutered). Such dogs could require additional housekeeping or could cause neighborhood disturbances. For example, some unneutered male dogs, while housebroken, still feel the need to mark their territory at your home, typically on the corners of your sofas and beds. And intact female dogs when in heat will not only bring every male dog in the county to your doorstep, but could also create additional work for your housekeeper. For homes in most markets, instituting a policy in which you only accept pets that have been neutered or spayed is probably a good idea. However, if your market hosts dog shows or competitions and you';d like to target travelers attending these events, you';ll likely have to allow intact dogs in your home since most show animals are not spayed or neutered.

Number of Pets
Typically the more pets that you allow, the more wear-and-tear your property will receive. For this reason, many homeowners choose to limit the maximum number of dogs allowed to either one or two.

Vaccinations
All dogs should be current on all vaccinations, including rabies.

Flea/Tick Control
Avoid an ungainly flea infestation at your vacation home by requiring all dogs to be treated with a flea and tick control, like Frontline or Advantage, 3 days before arrival. Explain to your guests that this is as much for the well-being of their dog as it is for your home. Vacation destinations tend to be located in nature-centric or warm areas where pests thrive. Let your guests know about all of the potential pests (i.e. deer ticks and sand fleas) and ailments (i.e. Lyme disease and anemia) that could threaten the well-being of their best friend, and they'll be glad to treat their pet with flea/tick control before the trip.

Pet Waste Cleanup
Want to know the quickest way to upset your vacation rental neighbors? Allow your guests to bring pets AND don't require your guests to pick up after them. Include a clause in your pet addendum that addresses what to do after Snoopy tends to his business. Further encourage this practice by stocking your home with dog-waste bags.

Leash Policy
Likewise, it's in the best interest of your guests and your neighbors that all dogs be kept on a leash when outside the four walls of your property, except in designated parks and beaches. Many HOAs and municipalities already require that dogs be leashed at all times. By including this rule in your pet policy, you're simply further ensuring that your guests are following all locally mandated rules and ordinances.

Barking
Your pet policy should also address the issue of barking. Most municipalities have strict noise ordinances regarding unattended dogs whose barking disturbs the peace. Inform every potential guest who wants to bring a dog about your local noise ordinance and warn them about the steep fines for non-compliance. This should convince those with a less-than-angelic pooch to leave Sparky at the kennel.

Local Ordinances and HOA Policies
Research any policies that your homeowners'; association or city may have regarding where dogs are not allowed (i.e. complex pools, beach, gardens, etc.). Be sure to outline any such rules in your Rental Agreement and/or Pet Addendum.

Refundable Pet Deposit vs. Pet Fee
A pet deposit is a certain amount of money that you collect from your guests before their stay and refund afterwards, as long as your property is left in pristine condition.

A pet fee is a non-refundable amount that your guest pays to bring their pet into your home. You can charge either a flat fee per pet (e.g. $100/wk per pet) or flat fee for the first pet and an incremental amount for each additional pet (e.g. $100/wk for first pet + $50/wk for each additional pet). Many owners choose to charge a pet fee instead of a pet deposit to make a little extra money and to avoid the hassle of having to refund yet another deposit. Plus, many travelers who frequently take trips with their pets in tow are used to paying a fee for it and don't mind the extra expense to bring Astro along.

In summary, accepting pets in your vacation rental is a great way to increase your bottom line. To prevent headaches, create detailed guidelines for guests who bring pets. Require all renters to agree to your rules by either including these details in your rental agreement or creating a separate pet addendum. By providing clear rules for your guests (and their furry friends), you'll be in clear agreement about what's expected of each of you.

What are your pet policies for your vacation rental?

"If pet friendly take an additional $1000 deposit against having to shampoo all carpets, extra vacuuming, and cleaning of air conditioning vents. I also suggest that the dog sleeps in an area not usually used off the pool." -Guy, Water Mill, NY (HomeAway, VRBO, VacationRentals.com)

"I accept one dog only after I have approved of it. I ask if the dog is quiet, house trained, stays off the furniture, and is 40 pounds or less. I charge a $100.00 refundable pet deposit. The reason for it being refundable is to encourage owners to leave no trace of their pet when they leave. To date, after 4 years of operation, I have been able to refund the full pet deposit without exception." -Shirley, Crescent City, CA (HomeAway #218007, VRBO #42681)