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Dr Pauline Taylor on doggy etiquette during a staycation

It’s so important your dog learns what they should and shouldn’t do from you. Dogs long for commands and to be told what to do in their lives. They don’t look at discipline as cruel, but good discipline should always be friendly. Dogs need reminders to be good rather than punished for doing wrong. Good doggy manners matter because a wellmannered dog is welcome anywhere.

Here are some things to consider when staycationing with your dog:

• Dogs can be polite guests but only if they know what to expect. A bellboy arriving with a suitcase may cause your dog to erupt in a fit of barking that wakes up the whole floor. If dogs bark at home they are likely to bark twice as much in a hotel. • Even very well-behaved dogs get anxious when they visit new places and

especially when they spend time by themselves. They may resort to barking, scratching at the door or on carpets and chewing table legs. • Dogs are sticklers for routine. If they are used to a “pee walk” at 7am they will expect their pee walk at the same time on their staycation, even though you may want to snooze longer. • At home dogs take their jobs as protectors quite seriously, barking to alert family members that new scary things are around. In hotels just about everything is new to a dog so it may be a good idea to teach your dog “No-bark” at home a few weeks before your trip.

Praise your dog after a few barks to stop, make your dog focus on you, and as he stops you reward with a treat. The treat should fill his mouth keeping it occupied so your dog can’t bark. • Leave music on, a TV playing or put on a doggy channel. My own dogs love watching TV and especially animal programmes. • Bring along their own bed or blanket to make them feel at home and depending on where he sleeps at home, be happy to share your hotel bed. • Make sure you brush your dog before you arrive at your hotel and take a hair remover or some masking tape with you to help pick up some shedding hair.

Taking a dog to a hotel is always a challenge, not only for your human companion but for the hotel staff too. Imagine the thoughts of the concierge at The Rosewood seeing your dog lift its leg on the potted plants in the lobby. Enjoy your staycations but please never forget good doggy manners matter and enforce them as you have fun.

Got a question for Dr Pauline Taylor? Email us at editor@saikung.com