Dog owners often experience a dilemma when it comes time to go on vacation. They don’t want to leave their four-legged best friend behind, but also don’t want “no dogs allowed” policies to complicate travel plans. Luckily, there is an alternative: Mitch and Jen Frankenberg founded The Paw House Inn as a solution for like-minded dog- and travel-lovers. The Inn’s two locations are near ski resorts in Vermont—one at Mt. Snow and the other near Killington and Okemo. Both provide a 24-hour kennel where dogs can stay when guests want to go out without a canine companion. The inns also offer its pet guests custo
10 Tips for a Dog-Friendly Home
1) Create a walkway. Making a path for your dog to use before entering the house can help get rid of some of those muddy tracks. The Frankenbergs made The Paw House Inn’s walkways using different kinds of gravel. Mitch says, “We made it so that anything on their feet from the grass would work its way off.”
2) Opt for wood. At the Paw House near Killington and Okemo, Mitch and Jen eliminated carpets to make the inn cleaner and healthier. “The point is to have a nonpermeable and easily cleanable surface,” says Mitch. “We made the place basically hypoallergenic.”
3) Vacuum daily. If you’re sticking with carpets, help keep them clean and odorless by vacuuming every day. The Frankenbergs also advise using throw rugs that are either machine-washable or can be hosed down.
4) Keep up with brushing. Catch the problem at its source by brushing your dog’s coat regularly. Mitch and Jen recommend the FURminator, a de-shedding tool that gets underneath fur and removes dead skin. “Not many people know that it’s the decay of dead skin that causes odors in the carpet—not the fur,” says Mitch.
5) Keep the “fur” out of furniture. The Frankenbergs recommend doubling the vacuuming frequency for furniture. The Dyson line of vacuums is their sweeper of choice: “it has great attachments to remove pet fur and dander.”
6) React quickly to spills and accidents. “If a tail knocks over a glass of wine—which happens a lot—be able to handle it quickly,” says Mitch. “We have a carpet cleaner, but you don’t need a big, fancy one. The key is to act on a stain as soon as possible, before it seeps into the subfloor.”
7) Keep the decor practical. “As an overriding philosophy, we design with furniture that is pleasing, functional and easily cleanable.” The Frankenbergs make sure end tables, lamps and vases are all above tail height. They also use easy-to-wash slipcovers on chairs and couches.
8) Give them chew toys. Jen advises giving your dog chew toys to keep him from gnawing on a chair leg or other pieces of furniture.
9) Make your home a place of comfort. Being calm and comfortable is one of the best ways to help your dog feel the same. Mitch says, “Dogs are so in tune to human behavior. So if the owner becomes anxious, the dog becomes conflicted because he wants to protect you.” Make your home a place where you want to spend your time and your dog will feel just as at home, too.
10) Build a dog bed. Dogs do experience a touch of luxury when they stay at The Paw House Inn. All rooms provide custom-made raised-platform dog beds, complete with a fitted pad and cutout for dogs to rest their chins. The beds are sanded down and finished with a nontoxic, low-odor stain and they’re designed in a colonial style with either a pawprint or bone carved into the headboard. But before you say there’s no way your dog is getting his own bed at home, consider that it may be your best bet for keeping the dog out of your bed. Try a small raised bed designed just for dogs. Mitch notes the importance that “they really see it as something for them.” If you do have an open-bed policy with your pet, use a microsuede duvet cover that is machine-washable.
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