Hi there,
Just wanted to know how others manage when the necessity to stay in a hotel arises. We're staying at relatives on the way up to Scotland (from London) but can't do this on the way back so will have to book us into a hotel. I'm terrified that Millie is going to wreck the room - we're going to a function so she'll have to be left for a couple of hours. I know I won't enjoy myself cause I'll be panicking that she'll wreck the place. So, apart from getting her a lovely marrowbone and leaving other assorted toys with her does anyone else have ideas? She'll be seven months and although she isn't that destructive at home I'm worried that the change of environment will upset her (and me!).

thanks
A

Take a cage.

tohme ..do you not think the dog might bark in a cage if she is in a stange place and not used to one? :-)

Hi
We did consider a crate - she was puppy trained in one but of course is way to big for it now so we'd have to get a new one. Do the metal cages dismantle easily as I don't think one of a decent size would fit in the back of our car without folding the seats down (and I don't think sis in law would appreciate sitting in the foot well for the journey!!  We might just have to rethink our plans, I really don't want Mills to get upset and start launching the tv out of the window!!

Thanks all
x

Try here http://www.bedding.demon.co.uk/Products.htm
The crates have 2 doors and fold up and down in seconds.  As your pup is only 7 months, it will be useful for such instances for the rest of its life, whether you're staying in hotels or visiting relatives, so a good investment.  And you can enjoy the function without worrying!
If you get it asap, then you'll have chance to use it at home before you go.

Cages do fold up ok.

Travelodges allow dogs in rooms (£5 extra) many hotels etc prefer dogs to children check out Smooth Hound accommodation, is brilliant for accommodation all over the country and tells you if they accept dogs; or of course there is Pets Welcome book.

I`ve stayed in lots of hotels with my dogs with no probs, as your dog is used to a cage as puppy hopefully she`ll be fine :) Leave the hotel your contact no. before you go, if there is a prob they can get in touch with you.
I have seen the fabric ones used with Labradors with great success, don`t know what breed you have. Start using it at home before you go so she`s more used to it. The first link are the ones I prefer.
http://www.doghealth.co.uk/
http://www.petplaypads.co.uk/Portable_Pet_Home.htm
Christine. Spain.

I use the fabric crates, though for a puppy that will be left unattended I would opt for buying one of the metal ones, as obviously they are more secure.  Once the dog is well used to staying in a crate when owners aren't around and is a steady more predicatable adult the fabric ones are great.

The weight of the meatl crate compared to the light fabric ones shouldn't be as much of an issue in this case where it will be in the car and in the room and folded in the car again.

Those of us who take crates top shows and have to carry them a fair distance find the light ones such a boon, but for safety I would say the matal crate.

What breed is your dog, so that we can advise the best size for you.

Hi B/less I crate mine at all the shows over here & the weight of the metal ones is just to much when you have 3/4 of them Thats the reason I`m changing over to the fabric ones, my friends have them, hope to have mine by Autumn :) Which ones do you have?

Christine, Spain.

I have the light and easy ones, and have the 42 x 27 x 30 inches tall one.  I can comfortably get 3 Elkhounds in one, and two can really stretcvh out.  Originally they were only available her in Beige, and now there is Dark gren, which I would have liked better, and they have gone down in price :(

They are great if you have dogs like mine that once put somewhere will happily stay there without fretting.

I advised the poster on the metal one purely as in the pet situation with a young dog, that won't have been used to using one in the same way we do at shows, that it would be safer.

Yes thats the ones I`m going to get :) Friends have 2 labs in theirs,(green ones) very comfy as well. Mine love being in them at shows, watch the world go by nice n safe & even go to sleep on their back with all 4`s in the air :D Only times I`ve used them at home tho is after operations or when not well. The metal ones with a cover on top make good table tops ;) :D

Christine, Spain.

She's a lab...not a dainty little girl either! I've often wondered about the fabric crates and whether she would like a life under canvas! She's not a big problem - I'm really worse case scenario thinking here. I'd love to have something to put her in when we visit my inlaws but their place is really small I'm not sure where we could put a crate without people falling over it. Wouldn't life be much easier if we could just all stay at home  :)

Well the space a crate would take up is no more than the space she would need to occupy when lying down.

You could get away with the crate in matal that is 36 inches long x 24 inches wide by 27 inches tall.  The ones with two doors give you extra flexibility as they can then be placed wither way against a wall and still be accesible.  Also the door in the long end means that it will probably fit erected in the boot of most estate cars long ways across the back, and be able to get dog in and out.  It could also be left up in the car for her to slepp in at the inlaws if they have somewhere secure to park the car so windows can be left open. 

That's the size that I use use for adult Rough Collie bitches and they have plenty of room.  When the door is left open, two will squeeze in there!!
The crates with two doors can be used either sideways or longways - does that make sense?  So that you can fit them into wide or narrow spaces, depending on what's available.

That is why if for nothing else it is good to get them used to a crate.  Mine have never been shut in a crate at home, but have been in them at Open shows.

Went to Holland in 2002 and the girls were as good as gold in the crate while we had our meals, not even barking when the rooms were bing cleaned, and of course they were safe from getting loose when the staff were doing their job.

Hi Alic :-) had the same problem myself in the past, even if you are not staying with the relatives on the way back could they book you in a hotel near them and have your dog at their place during the function? Other than that look for a dog friendly hotel, they list this in hotel guides and contact the hotel owner, explain the problem and ask if they can help (they might offer to keep an eye on your dog) note even dog friendly hotels tend to say you must not leave the dog in your room alone. Last time this happened to me the function was in the evening and it was cool enough to leave the dog in the car, after a good walk with water and windows open. There were two of us and son was not fussed about the function so we took it in turns to go back to the car and and see the dog  and stay for a bit... not ideal but it was the only way to go to the reception at all and I could not have left the dog alone in a strange place anyway without having a panic attack :-D ..it was also a good excuse for son to go back to sit in car and listen to trance music avoiding the dreaded aunts and we were only there a couple of hours:-D Good luck and enjoy the event .

ive stayed with my dogs at hotels & travel ldges, if i was on hols id leave my dogs alone in room by end of week when they were settled but if it was just a over nighter id leave them in the car if i went out,rather than in the room alone

Why not hire a babysitter to look after pup at the hotel.Most hotels offer babysitting services i'm sure minding a pup would be a welcome rest,and any damage pup may do in the room can be blamed on the poor sitting service.