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Articles tagged “dogs”

Hard Rock Hotel Chicago goes to the dogs

by Melanie Nayer on Jul 19, 2010

You want to see the Windy City but you don’t want to leave behind your furry friend. No worry – the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is going to the dogs, literally, with their new “Party like a Rottweiler” pet package that allows visitors to the hotel to bring along their best friends (of any size!) without worry.

Why they chose a Rottweiler we don’t know, but it does add a certain edge to the fun. The hotel is offering the following to four-legged guests:

Travel-ready collapsible bowl
Natural, grain-free treats and meals from Companion Natural Pet Food
Doggy “clean up” bags and dispenser
Hard Bark Hotel guitar dog toy
Signature Hard Rock Hotel Chicago dog tag

Also, guests staying at Hard Rock Hotel Chicago are permitted to leave their pet in their room, as long as a cell phone number is provided to the hotel’s concierge. Concerned that your precious pup is wreaking havoc in the hotel? No worries if you’re an iPhone or SmartPhone user – borrow Hard Rock’s ‘Pet-Cam’ (free of charge) and keep an eye on your pet while you are out. This camera keeps an eye on your room, and allows guests to access the video feed from anywhere on their laptop or handheld device.

In addition to the above perks, dog-walking, dog sitting and doggie day-care services are also available.

Luxury travel for pets: Jumeirah Essex House offers canine turndown service

by Melanie Nayer on Jun 21, 2010

Humans aren’t the only ones to get treats on their pillows at fancy hotels. The Jumeirah Essex House in New York is throwing candy to the canines with the launch of the iconic hotel’s first ever Canine Turndown Program.

But this is no ordinary pet-pampering service. The Jumeirah Essex House has partnered with doggie designer to the stars, Amy Kizer of the highly-acclaimed Wagwear New York City boutique, to create luxurious five-star canine amenities for the hotel. As part of “A Dog’s Delight” package, your pooch will be treated to:

A Wagwear dog bed or Wagwear “Tee Pee Hound Lounge” – a miniature pop-up tent with fleece-lined bed
Homemade dog treats created by the hotel’s Executive Pastry Chef
Wagwear food and water bowls accompanied by a matching placemat
An exclusive gift bag complete with a plush Jumeirah Essex House logoed fleece blanket (monogramming is available upon request)
Wagwear collars and leashes will be on loan for guests who may have forgotten theirs, or who just want their pup to have a new, chic look while they’re visiting New York City

With Central Park across the street from the hotel, there’s no excuse for your pampered pet to lay around all day in the hotel. Specialized doggie hospitality attendants will treat your dog to freshly-drawn water throughout the day and lay out their beautiful fleece blanket on the doggy bed should they desire a much deserved nap after a romp through the park. In the event you’re too busy to take your pooch out for a day in the city, the hotel will happily recommend dog walkers for hire and pet boutiques who deliver to the hotel.

Travel Trends: Pet travel

by Gadling Staff on May 19, 2010

From doggy daycare to feline pampering to gourmet food and beyond, pet owners in the United States shower their furry companions with a healthy dose of attention. Although this affection is shown through lots of play time and generous ear scratching, it’s most easily recognizable by the billions of dollars spent every year in the pet industry.

Since 1994, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) has kept track of just how much Americans spend on their pets. The data verifies that with every new year, U.S. pet owners have spent increasingly more on their four-legged counterparts. In fact, within the 10 years between 1994 and 2004, the spending literally doubled from $17 billion to $34 billion. Fast forward to 2010, a mere 6 years later, and that number has skyrocketed to approximately $47.4 billion.

While money spent on pets includes vet fees, food and other typical expenses, a large chunk of that is devoted to leisure-related activities like pampering and lodging. This increased amount of spending is partially due to a growing trend in the pet industry that has owners toting their pets along with them on vacation.

The Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) released data in January of 2009 that said the most popular animal that pet owners bring with them on vacations is a dog. This is likely due to the canine’s happy-go-lucky attitude and ability to adapt to new environments quickly. Coming in at second place are felines at 15 percent, followed by birds at 3 percent and “others” at 2 percent (other includes ferrets, fish, rabbits).

As for how pets travel, transportation via cars is by far the most common. And, according to a the same travel poll conducted by TIA, only 6 percent of animals travel with an airline and 10 percent travel in a recreational vehicle.

Once a pet and its owner have finally reached their destination, finding a place to stay is the next detail to figure out. As of 2009, 32 percent of travelers stay with someone who they already know, such as a friend or relative. Twenty nine percent stay in a hotel, 16 percent opt for a recreation vehicle or tent and the final 10 percent stay in a cabin or vacation home. This information is also based on data gathered by TIA.

This discussion “begs” the question: do you travel with your pet(s)? No? Then be sure to check out “Ask Gadling: How to prepare for not traveling without your dog.”

Data Sources:

See more Travel Trends.

Ask Gadling: How to prepare for traveling without your dog

by Mike Barish on May 19, 2010

This week’s question comes from Quincy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin:

“I have always taken my dog, Jasper, on camping trips and road trips. But my girlfriend and I are going to Bermuda for our anniversary and need to leave Jasper home. I’ve never left him behind and don’t really know what to do. How do I make this comfortable for my dog and less stressful for me?”

This is a fairly common dilemma and one that causes nearly every dog owner stress and anxiety. Thankfully, we have a game plan for traveling without your pooch.

View more Ask Gadling: Travel Advice from an Expert or send your question to ask [at] gadling [dot] com.

Gadling: Pet ownership is a wonderful thing. Several of us Gadlingers have dogs, cats or wives – and we all travel – so we can relate to this problem. While leaving your dog behind can be stressful, you can make things easier for everyone (including your dog) by planning well in advance.

Your dog is not your only best friend

The best case scenario is having someone you know and trust dogsit for you. Hopefully, you have a friend or family member who lives close by, knows your dog and can watch him for you. In advance of leaving, spend extra time with your friend and your dog so that they can bond and get used to each other. This will make the transition easier when they are alone together.

If your friend can stay at your place while you are away, even better. Your dog will feel comfortable because he’s in his own home. If having your friend stay at your home is not an option, be sure to bring your dog to your friend’s home a few times before you go away so that it becomes a comfortable space.

Details, details, details

Write down everything that you can think of that will make watching your dog easier. This includes:

Your contact information and itinerary
When and how much food to feed your dog
His walking schedule
Any behavioral quirks (he’s scared of the vacuum, he chews shoes, he hates the sound of Lady Gaga’s voice on the radio, etc.)
Your vet’s name and contact information
Any preexisting medical conditions and instructions on how to deal with them

Boarding

What happens if you are traveling with all of best dogsitting options or no one is available to watch dog? In a pinch, you can find a boarding facility. The upside is that you dog will be staying in a space specifically designed to keep dogs safe and comfortable. The downsides include the cost and potential for illness.

Boarding is never cheap. If it is your only option, seek recommendations from your vet or friends so that you know that it will be money well spent. Visit the kennel before your trip to meet the staff and allow them to interact with your dog. Ask for a tour of their facility to make sure that you are comfortable with the cleanliness. Ask questions, listen to their answers and build a rapport with them.

Creature comforts

Be sure to give your friends (or the boarding facility) some of your dog’s favorite toys, more food than needed in case your return is delayed, the dog’s bed, leash and poop bags. It may also help to leave a shirt or other article of clothing that smells like you. This has been said to comfort dogs in their owners’ absence. For your friend’s sake, refrain from leaving underpants. Your dog shouldn’t be comfortable with that smell anyway.

No matter who is watching your dog, it’s your job to ensure that they have all the supplies that they need. They should not have to go to the pet store to pick up anything unless there is an emergency situation.

Accidents happen

Changes in routine can cause dogs to get anxious. Even the most well-trained dogs will urinate in the house, vomit or chew on things if their owner disappears for a few days. Explain to your friend that you will replace anything that is broken or stained by your dog. Then be sure you actually do so if that happens. Let your friend know how your dog has reacted to stress in the past so that they aren’t caught off guard.

Help your friend prepare their home for your dog’s visit. Spend time assisting them with tidying up, hiding any fragile or treasured items and creating a comfortable and safe space for your dog.

Check in

While you’re away, give your friend a call, shoot them an email or send a text message. Something to let them know that your trip is on schedule. Don’t be a pest and call several times a day, though. Just check in enough to make you comfortable and let them know that you’ll be home soon.

Say thank you

Watching your dog may be a joy for your friend (they get to play with your pup, have a companion and maybe even pick up women) but it is also a burden. The best thank you is a gift from your trip to let them know that you were thinking of their generosity while you were away. Find something that properly thanks them for their efforts in easing your mind and making your dog happy. That means buying them something more substantial than a souvenir spoon. Taking your friend out for dinner after you return is also a wonderful way to say thanks.

Leaving your dog behind will always be somewhat stressful. You can mitigate that stress by properly preparing yourself, your friend and your dog well in advance of your trip. Hope you all come home to wagging tales when you return home.

Hold the dog, please. China’s proposed ban on sale of dog and cat meat

by Laurel Miller on Mar 12, 2010

Most people will agree that dog is man’s best friend. In parts of Asia, however, it’s also what’s for dinner. The consumption of dog and cat meat by humans is practiced in parts of China, Vietnam, Korea, and the Philippines. Cat is eaten in parts of China and South America. The times they are a-changin’, however, because the Chinese government is considering legislation that would make eating dogs and cats illegal there, in part because of how the practice negatively impacts overseas tourism.

The Chinese government has signaled a willingness to take the meat off the market. To avoid upsetting international visitors during the Beijing Olympics, officials ordered dog meat off the menus at local markets. Officials in Guangzhou have warned vendors to stop selling it ahead of the Asian Games, which will be held there later this year.

Professor Chang Jiwen of the Chinese Academy of the Social Sciences is one of the law’s top campaigners. “Cats and dogs are loyal friends to humans,” he said. “A ban on eating them would show China has reached a new level of civilization.” Anyone else finding irony in that statement, considering 2007’s massive pet food recall — the result of melamine-tainted exports produced in China?

While inconceivable to most North Americans and Europeans, these animals have been used as food for thousands of years, usually for purported medicinal purposes, although poverty also plays a role in some countries or regions.

While owning dogs and cats for house pets isn’t the norm throughout Asia, it’s certainly common in China. But the roles of ingredient and animal companion never cross: special meat markets exist that cater exclusively to the sale of dogs and cats for the meat trade. Chang cautions, however that there is always a chance they’re someone’s lost or stolen pet.

Regardless of how you feel about dining on dog, the most critical issue regarding this “specialty meat” trade is animal welfare. The animals can be kept in horrifying conditions until they’re sold at market, and subjected to cruel, inhumane treatment. And before you condemn certain cultures as barbaric, take a second to think about the conditions in puppy mills and factory farms in the United States. Livestock sold at auction for the commercial meat market, and live meat animals and poultry at slaughterhouses may also be subjected to inhumane treatment. The U.S. government is cracking down on these abuses, but factory farms don’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

The ban on eating dog and cat meat is part of a larger proposal to toughen laws on animal welfare. Individual violators could face up to 15 days in prison and a small fine. Businesses found guilty of selling the meat risk fines up to 500,000 yuan ($73,500.)

The legislation is gaining support from China’s growing number of pet owners. With living standards rising and disposable income growing, more Guangzhou residents are investing in house pets.

Meat vendors and specialty restaurants, however, see their livelihoods at stake.”The dogs you raise at home, you shouldn’t eat,” says Pan, a butcher who also declined to give his first name. “The kind raised for eating, we can eat those.”

According to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the law prohibiting cat and dog meat could take as long as a decade to pass.

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