Barking Blondes: Resident “house dogs”
How would you react, if, when you booked into your hotel, there was a dog waiting to welcome you at Reception?
We guess, if you read this blog, then you are a dog lover and the image of a hotel dog only gladdens your heart.
A new boutique hotel in London’s Vauxhall has appointed ‘Waggers’ a young chocolate labradoodle, to meet and greet its guests. Highlighted as part of this hotel’s friendly service, Waggers is getting guests smiling and chatting on their arrival.
For a high class hotel, this may be a publicity winner but its also a risk.
We couldn’t imagine anything better than being welcomed by a dog on arrival to a Hotel. Checking in can be a stressful process, particularly if you’re tired after a long haul flight. What could be better than on arrival receiving the undivided attention of a furry friend?
However, what if you are one of the many who are allergic to mutts, or from a culture who doesn’t celebrate pets, or completely dog phobic? There is every chance that one slobber from the resident labradoodle and the prospective guest beats a hasty retreat.
But look around and you will see that resident “house dogs” are on the increase. As domestic dogs become child or partner substitutes, so they enjoy a similar lifestyle.
The resident dog was often a familiar sight in pubs but now they can be found in hairdressers, boutiques and art galleries, all over the country.
Some even enjoying residence in cafes, making full use of the fact that its not illegal as long as they are not anywhere near the food preparation area.
In all these venues we assume the dog loving customers must outnumber those not quite so keen.
Dog lovers understand that a pooch brings personality and an identity to an establishment. Just like the cat at no:10 Downing Street, they become synonymous with a place.
These resident dogs must be trained to know their place.
Its been proved that, generally dogs boost business at a time when the ‘hound pound’ is booming. For dog owners travelling without their pooch and missing him, a resident house dog offers comfort. Non dog owners are entertained by Fido and the house dog will get tongues wagging and create a friendlier environment.
As dogs feature in all sorts on TV and poster campaigns, they’re becoming a ‘familiar’. More and more establishments are welcoming dogs, on the proviso they’re friendly, trained and on a lead.
There’s loads of science to back up that dogs are good to have around. They are positively good for our health. As a natural anti-dote to our stressful modern lives, simply having a dog in room relaxes your mood. When you stroke a dog your blood pressure drops, and happy hormones are released in your brain. It’s no wonder then that dog ownership is on the rise with about 10 million mutts living in the UK.
Scientists have even suggested that dog owners live longer than non-dog owners, so how forward thinking of the ‘Staybridge Suites’ in Vauxhall to offer a bit of doggy therapy into their hotel policy.
Woof! Woof! to them.
Barking Blondes by Jo Good & Anna Webb, published by Hamlyn, £12.99www.octopusbooks.co.uk
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