Airbnb For Dogs: What To Know Before You Go

In the past, traveling with your canine companion was difficult. Now, more hotels than ever are becoming pet-friendly. However, for individuals who want to rent entire homes and have access to amenities not offered in hotels, you might be surprised to find you can travel with your dog and stay in an Airbnb. 

Airbnb for dogs are rentals that allow you to bring your beloved pet. While not all Airbnbs allow you to bring your dog, many do for a fee. As long as you follow the rules and ensure your pet is well-behaved, you can find an affordable rental for you and your dog when traveling. 

• Can You Bring A Dog To An Airbnb?
• How To Search For Dog-Friendly Airbnbs
• Tips For Visiting An Airbnb With Pets
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Final Notes

Can You Bring A Dog To An Airbnb?

Some Airbnb rentals allow pets, but they’re few and far between. Only about 3% of Airbnbs are pet-friendly because this option is up to the host's discretion.¹ Still, having this option gives you more opportunities to stay in more affordable places with different amenities than hotels. 

If your Airbnb agreement doesn’t explicitly state that dogs are allowed, you should not bring your pet. In these cases, if your host finds out you brought your dog with you, they could charge you more or ask you to leave the property entirely. Therefore, you must do your due diligence to ensure your Airbnb allows pets and learn about the fees and guidelines associated with Airbnbs for dogs. 

How To Search For Dog-Friendly Airbnbs

Luckily, Airbnb makes it easy to find dog-friendly rentals. You can learn how to filter for “dog-friendly” on Airbnb by using the website or app the same way you’d look for any other rental. First, you’ll enter your destination and under guests, click the number of people and pets you plan on bringing. 

Next, you’ll be shown a variety of listings that allow dogs near your destination. However, Airbnb recommends contacting the host before booking the rental to confirm whether they allow pets and if there are any restrictions.² For example, some hosts may allow dogs but have breed or size restrictions, potentially preventing you from being able to bring your dog. 

In addition, pet-friendly Airbnbs will have several pet-related rules and restrictions. For example, pets may not be allowed on furniture or in certain living spaces.

You should also check to see if any pets currently live at the rental property. Hosts must tell guests whether or not animals live there to help them decide whether or not to bring their pets. In addition, hosts can have their own pets there and still not allow dogs. Therefore, even if a listing allows pets, you should always speak directly with the host to ensure your dog will be allowed to stay there under their guidelines. It may also be helpful to have this information in writing in case there’s an issue when you arrive with your dog. 

If you have a service animal, you likely know that service animals are allowed in Airbnbs. But can Airbnb charge for service animals? In short, no. Service animals are not considered pets, so hosts cannot refuse them or charge an additional pet fee.³ In addition, guests do not have to disclose the presence of their service animals before booking because hosts are legally required to allow them unless the animal threatens their safety or health.

Of course, even though service animals are not considered pets, there are still some regulations you must follow. Your service animal must be well-behaved and housetrained. In addition to being well-behaved, service animals may not be allowed in certain areas of the rental or public spaces without being on a leash.³ 

Tips For Visiting An Airbnb With Pets

When traveling with your pet, it’s essential to find pet-friendly accommodations that will allow them to stay happy and healthy while joining you on vacation. If you stay in a pet-friendly Airbnb, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are some tips to help you make your Airbnb for dogs more enjoyable for your pet and less stressful for you: 

1. Budget for extra costs

Airbnb pet fees are at the host's discretion, so you can expect additional fees ranging from $10 to $50 or more per night. In addition to pet fees, your cleaning fees may be more expensive since hosts will have to remove pet fur and odors. Meanwhile, your host will charge you more if your pet leaves behind any stains or breaks anything while staying in the rental.

Since pets can have accidents and their fur can get anywhere and everywhere, it’s a good idea to budget for extra costs accordingly. In addition, you should fully understand the types of costs you’ll incur when renting a pet-friendly Airbnb. You can get a rough estimate directly from the host to learn how much your total stay will cost. 

2. Read through pet policies

There is no company-wide Airbnb pet policy; instead, Airbnb allows hosts to decide whether or not to allow pets into the rental and set specific rules and guidelines for pet parents. If an Airbnb listing says it allows dogs but does not provide rules, you should contact the host before booking to ensure your pet can follow the rules. Of course, the rules are up to the host, so you can find easy-to-follow rules like cleaning up after your pet or strict rules like no pets on the beds. 

Always read pet policies before booking your rental because breaking the rules can result in bad reviews, fines, or being kicked out in the middle of your vacation. If the rules are too strict, it’s usually best not to book. For example, if you haven’t yet trained your dog to stop barking and are worried about noise complaints, it’s best to avoid booking a rental that requires quiet time. 

3. Ensure your pet is comfortable

Staying in a new environment can be scary and stressful, especially for dogs that are creatures of habit and enjoy their own spaces and routines. Always treat your dog’s anxiety issues ahead of time. If your dog experiences reactivity, fear, or stress in new environments or around new people or animals, consider taking them to the vet before your trip. 

Your vet can diagnose and treat your dog’s anxiety with behavioral therapy and short or long-term medication to reduce the anxiety that can contribute to undesirable behaviors like house soiling and destruction. Medication can be especially beneficial if you plan to leave your dog alone in the Airbnb, especially if they have separation anxiety. Remember, being alone can be scary, even when dogs are in their own homes. Therefore, they may be more prone to separation anxiety in a new environment, but medication can be a short-term solution to ensure your pet doesn’t engage in destructive behaviors while you’re away. 

In addition to anxiety medication and training, you can make your pet more comfortable by giving them their own sanctuary space, complete with a crate or bed. Their sanctuary space will provide them with the comforts of home to help them stay calm and relaxed in stressful situations like entering a new environment. 

The best Airbnbs for dogs will allow pets on the furniture and beds, but you should still bring your dog’s favorite pet bed and blankets to help them stay comfortable. These items smell like home, which can ease stress. 

4. Bring cleaning supplies

Even though your pet is housetrained and likely has had some obedience training, they can still have accidents inside. For example, dogs can get GI problems from stress or eating something that doesn’t agree with them. Meanwhile, your dog may urinate in the rental if they’ve had a change in their schedule or after a long car ride or flight. Therefore, you should plan for accidents, even if your dog is unlikely to go potty indoors. Always bring paper towels and an enzymatic cleaner to remove pet stains from your rental and reduce potential fees associated with bringing your dog to an Airbnb. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Airbnb’s latest policies for pets?

Airbnb doesn’t necessarily have policies for pets. Instead, hosts can choose to allow pets or not and create their own pet policies with rules and regulations for having pets in the rental. As of 2022, Airbnb has its own insurance policies for hosts that may incentivize them to allow more pets, covering pet damage and other liabilities that might prevent them from making their rentals pet-friendly.⁴

What is an average dog fee on Airbnb?

Dog fees range from $10 to $50 per night, depending on the location and the host. The average dog fee on Airbnb is around $20 per night.⁵ However, pet fees can be much more than this, depending on cleaning fees and any damage your pet causes while you’re staying in the rental. 

What happens if my dog damages an Airbnb property?

Guests pay cleaning and pet fees to cover minor damages and messes caused by pets. However, pets can scratch furniture and create stains that aren’t covered by regular pet and cleaning fees. Many hosts that allow pets use Airbnb's protection plan, AirCover, to pay for damage caused by pets. 

If your dog damages a property, you may incur additional charges. However, Airbnb will not charge you without advanced notice, and you can appeal the decision. 

Do other vacation rentals allow dogs?

Many vacation rental platforms like Airbnb, including VRBO, allow dogs. However, with any rental platform, pet policies are the choice of the host; some hosts will happily allow dogs for an additional fee, while others won’t. In addition, you may be able to find private rentals that allow pets, and there are many pet-friendly hotels available, so finding accommodations for you and your pet shouldn’t be too difficult. 

Final Notes

Traveling with your dog is easier than ever, but you should always read the pet policy before booking your stay at an Airbnb. In addition, when traveling with your pet and staying somewhere new, your dog may be prone to anxiety. Luckily, there are many options for anxious dogs. 

Talk to a Dutch vet about treating dog anxiety to help you find the right solution for your pet and make staying in an Airbnb less stressful. Dutch telemedicine for pets can help diagnose, treat, and manage dog anxiety even while you’re staying at an Airbnb.