BY SHEILA ABRAMS
Contributing Writer
Is it putting the cart before the dog, so to speak, or the
more usual dog before the cart?
We aren’t sure if the recent proliferation of dog-friendly
lodgings is a response to an increase in the number of
people who vacation with their dogs; or if it’s a case of if
you make them welcome, they will come.
But it has been widely noted of late that the number of
travel accommodations that welcome pets has
increased, and the pet tourist population is burgeoning
along with them.
Contributing Writer
Is it putting the cart before the dog, so to speak, or the
more usual dog before the cart?
We aren’t sure if the recent proliferation of dog-friendly
lodgings is a response to an increase in the number of
people who vacation with their dogs; or if it’s a case of if
you make them welcome, they will come.
But it has been widely noted of late that the number of
travel accommodations that welcome pets has
increased, and the pet tourist population is burgeoning
along with them.
That’s one reason for looking at the series of books called Dog Friendly, edited by Trisha
Blanchet and published by The Countryman Press of Woodstock, Vt.
There are three now available in the paperbound series, one each covering the mid-
Atlantic states, New York and New England. The books are exhaustive and useful in
helping you take your pups on vacation, or for that matter, taking them along when you
have to travel for any reason.
But along with being useful, these books are a fascinating read, even if you have no travel
plans on the horizon. They are amusingly written, and contain fascinating information
about pets, especially dogs, and how people relate to them.
Also, if you happen to live in the Garden State, as we do, you may find suggestions as to
day trips you may take with dog or dogs in tow, right in the area. We also have had the
occasion of needing dog-friendly accommodations nearby for visitors of both human and
canine persuasions, and the mid-Atlantic edition of Dog Friendly would have been handy
at the time.
Blanchet has divided each book into geographic areas,
and rated each area with one to five “bones,” five being
the most animal friendly, one the least. In New Jersey, for
example, South Jersey and the fabled shore rank relatively
low, with about two bones each, while North Jersey does
very well with four bones. These rankings reflect not only
the availability of dog-friendly accommodations, attractions
and facilities, but also the kind of reception you can expect,
the ubiquity of “No Dogs Allowed” signs, the availability of
water bowls at store entrances, and even the likelihood of
passers-by asking “May I pet your dog?”
The books cover big cities, including Boston, New York,
Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., surrounding suburbs,
and vacation destinations like Cape Cod, the Hamptons,
the Adirondacks and the rocky coast of Maine. You may have a trip to the nation’s capital
enhanced if you know that the nearby Virginia suburbs are rated far more dog-friendly
(five bones) than the corresponding Maryland burbs (a measly two bones).
Accommodations covered, and these listings occupy the most space in all three books,
range from no-frills to deluxe, moderately priced to outrageously expensive. At the deluxe
end, you can stay with your dog (if it weighs less than 35 pounds) at the historic
Watergate in Washington. In New York, a fairly hefty price will get you and your dog of any
size a room at Le Parker Meridien, which boasts an “equal-opportunity pet policy” and
also welcomes cats “and other types of companion animals.” This hotel boasts the
availability of a room service menu for pets too.
The Colonnade and the Charles Street Inn in Boston are both awesome in their dog
friendly attitudes. The first offers a VIPet program, featuring dog-walking services and
gifts for your pet. The innkeeper at the second is quoted as saying, “We have
accommodated dogs ranging from 2 pounds to 100 pounds and never had a problem.”
That’s what we like to hear.
These are just a few big-city hotels. There are many, many more listed, some pricier,
some less so. The books also list B&Bs, motels, campgrounds and cottages for rent. In
some areas, realtors are listed who will help you find places for longer-term stays.
Contrary to a truism, you don’t always get what you pay for. Dog-friendly may mean that a
place will allow you to stay with your dog but many restrict the size of dogs allowed. Now,
we know a Newfoundland can be more mellow than a Jack Russel Terrier, and size
does not determine the potential for damage a dog can cause. Some places require a
deposit, refundable or not, while others charge a cleaning fee of $100 or more up front.
Dogs are generally not allowed on the furniture (though good luck trying to tell Fluffy that
what’s fine at home is not in a vacation abode). Many places do not allow dogs to be left
alone in rooms, and some require they be crated. And many so-called dog-friendly
accommodations charge a per-day fee that can be mighty steep by checkout time, while
others ask a flat fee for the whole visit.
Most places leave the pet’s state of health to the owner, but some places in Cape Cod,
where fleas and ticks are rampant in the summer, request that dogs be treated for these
pests before arrival.
Some things that make a lot of sense are covered in Blanchet’s introduction to each
book. Be prepared to clean up after Maxie makes a mess on a public path, because
nobody wants to step in it, not even you. Do not allow a handmade quilt at a B&B to be
pressed into service as Chloe’s bed, and if Rex is likely to threaten to eat the
housekeeper when she comes to make up the room, take him out for a nice walk or
hang out a “Do not disturb” sign and make up the room yourself. (We have found this last
suggestion is generally agreeable to housekeepers and you should arrange for it when
you get there.) It’s a good idea to have your pet wear an ID tag of some sort with the
phone number of the place you are visiting or, if you have friends or family in the area,
their phone numbers.
Dining With Dogs
So now you have settled into your accommodations,
made sure the television receives Animal Planet,
and checked out the facilities. What do you do next?
Blanchet provides lots of choices for food. Many of them are for take-out, something that
goes along with traveling with your dog, since we all know better than to leave a dog
locked in a parked car at any time. What we didn’t know is that many places with outdoor
tables, weather permitting, do not mind if your well-behaved pooch takes a nap under the
table while you eat. Remember that a leash is essential and never optional when you’re
traveling. If your pooch gets loose in a strange place and gets disoriented, he may never
find his way back to you.
Okay, so you’ve eaten. The dog has eaten. You have both had a “bathroom” break. You
have a water bottle for you and a water bowl for Tessie.
What’s next?
Here’s where Blanchet’s books outshine any others we’ve seen. She tells you what
tourist attractions you can visit with your dog. Did you know, for example, that you can visit
all the monuments and memorials in Washington from the outside with your dog on a
leash (getting good pictures that way too); but it probably never occurred to you that you
can take your dog inside the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, a tribute to the dog-
loving 31st president and his beloved Scottie, Fala.
The books are filled with information about walking trails where dogs are welcome, and
we agree with Blanchet’s evaluation of Two Lights State Park near Portland, Maine, as a
great place for a picnic along with your dog. We also found artist Stephen Huneck’s “Dog
Mountain” facility, in St. Johnsbury, Vt., another of our favorites, on the list. There are sea-
going excursions to watch whales and other aquatic animals, on which you can take you
dog, and Blanchet scopes out beaches and state parks, telling you what’s open to dogs
and when.
To round things out, the author lists such services as dog walkers, groomers, pet sitters,
veterinarians, pet shops and humane societies and rescue groups, in each area.
The New England book was the first to be published, with a copyright date of 2003, with
New York following in 2004 and the mid-Atlantic region this year. The New England book
is being updated for a second edition, and we are pleased to report that, when we
contacted the publisher with the names of two inns where we have stayed with our pets,
Blanchet was in touch with the owners in short order, to clarify their policies and get their
latest rates. We have not mentioned specific prices here, because, as Blanchet warns,
these are frequently changed.
If the book has one shortcoming, a very practical one for us, it is that she says little if
anything about traveling with more than one dog. We travel with three. One innkeeper,
though she had no problem with our pack, did not know how much she would charge us.
If, in future updates, Blanchet dealt with multiple-dog vacationers, it would take care of the
problem.
Dog Friendly books are published by The Countryman Press of Woodstock, Vermont,
www.countrymanpress.com. They are paperbound and sell for $18.95 each.
First published Oct. 8, 2005 in The Animal Companion.
Blanchet and published by The Countryman Press of Woodstock, Vt.
There are three now available in the paperbound series, one each covering the mid-
Atlantic states, New York and New England. The books are exhaustive and useful in
helping you take your pups on vacation, or for that matter, taking them along when you
have to travel for any reason.
But along with being useful, these books are a fascinating read, even if you have no travel
plans on the horizon. They are amusingly written, and contain fascinating information
about pets, especially dogs, and how people relate to them.
Also, if you happen to live in the Garden State, as we do, you may find suggestions as to
day trips you may take with dog or dogs in tow, right in the area. We also have had the
occasion of needing dog-friendly accommodations nearby for visitors of both human and
canine persuasions, and the mid-Atlantic edition of Dog Friendly would have been handy
at the time.
Blanchet has divided each book into geographic areas,
and rated each area with one to five “bones,” five being
the most animal friendly, one the least. In New Jersey, for
example, South Jersey and the fabled shore rank relatively
low, with about two bones each, while North Jersey does
very well with four bones. These rankings reflect not only
the availability of dog-friendly accommodations, attractions
and facilities, but also the kind of reception you can expect,
the ubiquity of “No Dogs Allowed” signs, the availability of
water bowls at store entrances, and even the likelihood of
passers-by asking “May I pet your dog?”
The books cover big cities, including Boston, New York,
Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., surrounding suburbs,
and vacation destinations like Cape Cod, the Hamptons,
the Adirondacks and the rocky coast of Maine. You may have a trip to the nation’s capital
enhanced if you know that the nearby Virginia suburbs are rated far more dog-friendly
(five bones) than the corresponding Maryland burbs (a measly two bones).
Accommodations covered, and these listings occupy the most space in all three books,
range from no-frills to deluxe, moderately priced to outrageously expensive. At the deluxe
end, you can stay with your dog (if it weighs less than 35 pounds) at the historic
Watergate in Washington. In New York, a fairly hefty price will get you and your dog of any
size a room at Le Parker Meridien, which boasts an “equal-opportunity pet policy” and
also welcomes cats “and other types of companion animals.” This hotel boasts the
availability of a room service menu for pets too.
The Colonnade and the Charles Street Inn in Boston are both awesome in their dog
friendly attitudes. The first offers a VIPet program, featuring dog-walking services and
gifts for your pet. The innkeeper at the second is quoted as saying, “We have
accommodated dogs ranging from 2 pounds to 100 pounds and never had a problem.”
That’s what we like to hear.
These are just a few big-city hotels. There are many, many more listed, some pricier,
some less so. The books also list B&Bs, motels, campgrounds and cottages for rent. In
some areas, realtors are listed who will help you find places for longer-term stays.
Contrary to a truism, you don’t always get what you pay for. Dog-friendly may mean that a
place will allow you to stay with your dog but many restrict the size of dogs allowed. Now,
we know a Newfoundland can be more mellow than a Jack Russel Terrier, and size
does not determine the potential for damage a dog can cause. Some places require a
deposit, refundable or not, while others charge a cleaning fee of $100 or more up front.
Dogs are generally not allowed on the furniture (though good luck trying to tell Fluffy that
what’s fine at home is not in a vacation abode). Many places do not allow dogs to be left
alone in rooms, and some require they be crated. And many so-called dog-friendly
accommodations charge a per-day fee that can be mighty steep by checkout time, while
others ask a flat fee for the whole visit.
Most places leave the pet’s state of health to the owner, but some places in Cape Cod,
where fleas and ticks are rampant in the summer, request that dogs be treated for these
pests before arrival.
Some things that make a lot of sense are covered in Blanchet’s introduction to each
book. Be prepared to clean up after Maxie makes a mess on a public path, because
nobody wants to step in it, not even you. Do not allow a handmade quilt at a B&B to be
pressed into service as Chloe’s bed, and if Rex is likely to threaten to eat the
housekeeper when she comes to make up the room, take him out for a nice walk or
hang out a “Do not disturb” sign and make up the room yourself. (We have found this last
suggestion is generally agreeable to housekeepers and you should arrange for it when
you get there.) It’s a good idea to have your pet wear an ID tag of some sort with the
phone number of the place you are visiting or, if you have friends or family in the area,
their phone numbers.
Dining With Dogs
So now you have settled into your accommodations,
made sure the television receives Animal Planet,
and checked out the facilities. What do you do next?
Blanchet provides lots of choices for food. Many of them are for take-out, something that
goes along with traveling with your dog, since we all know better than to leave a dog
locked in a parked car at any time. What we didn’t know is that many places with outdoor
tables, weather permitting, do not mind if your well-behaved pooch takes a nap under the
table while you eat. Remember that a leash is essential and never optional when you’re
traveling. If your pooch gets loose in a strange place and gets disoriented, he may never
find his way back to you.
Okay, so you’ve eaten. The dog has eaten. You have both had a “bathroom” break. You
have a water bottle for you and a water bowl for Tessie.
What’s next?
Here’s where Blanchet’s books outshine any others we’ve seen. She tells you what
tourist attractions you can visit with your dog. Did you know, for example, that you can visit
all the monuments and memorials in Washington from the outside with your dog on a
leash (getting good pictures that way too); but it probably never occurred to you that you
can take your dog inside the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, a tribute to the dog-
loving 31st president and his beloved Scottie, Fala.
The books are filled with information about walking trails where dogs are welcome, and
we agree with Blanchet’s evaluation of Two Lights State Park near Portland, Maine, as a
great place for a picnic along with your dog. We also found artist Stephen Huneck’s “Dog
Mountain” facility, in St. Johnsbury, Vt., another of our favorites, on the list. There are sea-
going excursions to watch whales and other aquatic animals, on which you can take you
dog, and Blanchet scopes out beaches and state parks, telling you what’s open to dogs
and when.
To round things out, the author lists such services as dog walkers, groomers, pet sitters,
veterinarians, pet shops and humane societies and rescue groups, in each area.
The New England book was the first to be published, with a copyright date of 2003, with
New York following in 2004 and the mid-Atlantic region this year. The New England book
is being updated for a second edition, and we are pleased to report that, when we
contacted the publisher with the names of two inns where we have stayed with our pets,
Blanchet was in touch with the owners in short order, to clarify their policies and get their
latest rates. We have not mentioned specific prices here, because, as Blanchet warns,
these are frequently changed.
If the book has one shortcoming, a very practical one for us, it is that she says little if
anything about traveling with more than one dog. We travel with three. One innkeeper,
though she had no problem with our pack, did not know how much she would charge us.
If, in future updates, Blanchet dealt with multiple-dog vacationers, it would take care of the
problem.
Dog Friendly books are published by The Countryman Press of Woodstock, Vermont,
www.countrymanpress.com. They are paperbound and sell for $18.95 each.
First published Oct. 8, 2005 in The Animal Companion.
| Travelling With Dogs Made Easy With Book Series |
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| For more information on Dog Friendly books visit www.countrymanpress.com. |
