We know that many owners grapple with the idea of accepting pets at their vacation rental. If you're the type of owner that doesn't think twice about bringing your dog in the back seat of the car when you visit your cabin, then sure, making the decision to turn your vacation rental “pet-friendly” might be an easy one. But, if you're not a pet-owner or you prefer not to travel with your pets, the decision of whether or not to allow pets in your vacation home might not be as clear. Below are three perspectives from the Owner Community team. We might share a common point of view when it comes to marketing and renting vacation homes, but as travelers we're fairly different. And when it comes to pet travel, we're on three ends of the spectrum. So, will allowing pets attract or alienate travelers? Will it expose your home to excessive damage? Here's what we think.

Christine Karpinski
Owns 2 Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retrievers Enjoys taking on the role of alpha and bragging about her dogs' flawless behavior Seeks out pet-friendly vacation rentals Whenever we go on a driving vacation, we always look for pet-friendly vacation homes to rent. A vacation without our dogs, who are members of our family as much as our own son, is just not much of a vacation.
Our dogs are perfectly behaved, thanks to my husband who could give Cesar Millan (AKA The Dog Whisperer) a run for his money. We trust our dogs to listen at all times, and because they will retreat on command, we feel very comfortable to walk them off-leash. Our dogs are not aggressive; I can give them a steak bone and take it right out of their mouth. Because they are so well-mannered, we don't hesitate to take them on vacations with us. Our dogs don't ever go to the bathroom in the house, and I can guarantee that they would never chew up your furniture or anything else in your home. We never crate our dogs but do bring our own dog beds. We also bring along dog toys, leashes, pooper-scooper bags and food bowls, but it would be great if pet-friendly vacation rental owners provided some of these necessities too. (I must confess, we once forgot their bowls and used a “people” bowl out of the cupboard…but I promise we carefully washed and sanitized it before we left.) And while I'm confessing, I may as well be 100% honest with you - yep, we allow our dogs to get on the bed with us, so they'll probably do it in your home too. While some may claim that their dogs don't shed, mine do! However, we'll take extra measures to clean your home upon departure, vacuuming and even mopping, but you might still find some fur balls under the beds or sofa. Before you say no way about renting to us, let me entice you with this: We only look at pet-friendly homes when we travel. And in exchange for bringing our dogs along, we willingly pay any non-refundable pet fees that you would impose upon us for this luxury. So if you'd like to attract pet owners like us, then make sure to advertise your home as pet-friendly, and maybe even include a photo of dogs in your listing. Since our dogs are considered medium-size, around 30-40 pounds, please let me know if you have a weight limit. Don't forget to list your pet fees in your rates fields, and once we book, please tell us your pet policies and we'll adhere to your rules. If you still say no, that's fine. We'll just find another home to rent.

Kristin Dorsett
Owns 2 Siberian Huskies Enjoys sitting on the floor while her dogs take up the couch and telling stories about the household items they've eaten Would never inflict her dogs on someone else's home A vacation with my two huskies in tow wouldn't be much of a vacation at all.
For one, while they're house-trained and will sit when commanded (if they feel so inclined), their obstinacy wins most head-to-head challenges. They don't come when called, think they belong on the furniture, and have a sneaky way of snatching items off of bookshelves and tabletops for later obliteration. Which is point number two: It's a rare day when I don't end an anecdote with “… and then my dogs shredded it into a thousand little pieces.” My two “best friends” are fiercely clingy and tend to act out when left alone. Fact: They can de-stuff a sofa cushion in less than 15 minutes. And lastly (as if the destruction wasn't enough of a reason to leave my dogs at home), they shed, furiously, all year long. I wouldn't task any housekeeper to try to vacuum all of the hair they leave behind in one weekend. I say “try” because it's a hopeless feat, you see. Husky hair is regenerative: You leave one strand and come home just hours later to four million. Why is this relevant? Because as a traveler, there's no way in Hades that I'm bringing my dogs with me on vacation-- whether you allow pets or not. So, rest easy; I may still book your pet-friendly home, but it's safe from my unruly beasts (and probably other ones like them). I'd generalize that most owners of dogs like mine would much rather board their pets than spend their entire trip cooped up in the vacation home keeping an eagle-eye on their canine friends. The best way to guarantee that pet owners like me won't bring our pets to your pet-friendly home: Charge a pet fee. Wrangling my dogs and having to pay for it? No thanks.

Leah Carroll
Doesn't own pets Allergic to most domesticated and farm animals, especially horses Somewhat dog-tolerant but prefers animal-free environments As a vacation home renter with allergies, would I be thrilled with the idea of staying in a pet friendly rental? Probably not. But it doesn't mean I would rule it out entirely. First and foremost, if the house is spectacular and the photos convey that, I'd probably be willing to overlook the pet-friendly aspect.
However, if the photos are chock-full of dogs playing in the backyard and lounging on the sofa, then I know this house is probably not for me. It's all about the image conveyed in the listing – if the pet-friendliness of a particular home seems to be its major selling point, I will likely move on to another option. Secondly, I would look to see whether big dogs are accepted. While there are some big dogs that I'm not allergic to, and some small dogs that I am allergic to, there is still some degree of comfort for me to stay in a place that has only allowed small dogs. Somehow in my head I'm thinking small dogs = “small” allergies (although, believe me, I've been around some rat-like critters that made me feel like my chest was caving in.) Either way, it's all about perception, right? As I'm writing this I had to stop and think whether or not the rentals I've stayed in have allowed pets. It turns out that none of them have accepted pets, and perhaps I wouldn't have rented them if it was blatantly featured in the listing or I had seen that pet-friendly icon. But it goes to show that it's not the top priority for me when selecting a vacation home to rent. Because all the vacation homes I've stayed in have been so clean, I'm not too concerned about the leftover allergens. The bottom line is: if you're considering accepting pets and you think it might boost your rentals, you can probably test the waters without losing too many renters. Allergies and travelers come in all shapes and sizes and you can't satisfy everyone, but your top priority is to determine your home's main selling points and then market your home to the appropriate audience.

As a traveler, what's your take on pet-friendly properties?

The Pros and Cons of Allowing Pets at Your Vacation Home  Some considerations when deciding whether to make your vacation rental pet-friendly. Guidelines for Charging Pet Fees at Your Vacation Rental Home   If you choose to accept pets in your vacation rental, here's a guideline for pet fees. Operation Off-Season: 12 Tips For Attracting & Accommodating Guests  Quick tips and advice for keeping your vacation rental home booked during the off-season. How to Market Your Vacation Home to Travelers with Pets  Learn how to equip your home and advertise your vacation rental to pet-friendly travelers.

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