The Essential Handbook on Proper Dog Etiquette for Visiting Family

How to Make Your Dog a Good Houseguest

One of the hardest things about growing up is not being able to see your friends and family as often. It’s difficult enough to find the time and money to travel as it is. But coordinating vacations when you’re a pet parent can feel impossible! 

If you are lucky enough to have family who will let you bring your pup during your visits, you might be wondering about proper dog etiquette for visiting family. Is your dog allowed in the kitchen or on the furniture? What do you do if they make a mess or break something? 

Knowing how you and your canine companion can be good houseguests is key to having an enjoyable visit and maintaining a great relationship with your hosts. As a frequent traveler with my pups, we often stay with family and friends. Get ready to learn how to navigate the social graces so you and your canine companion will be welcome visitors. 

Dog Etiquette for Visiting Family

If your dog-friendly travel plans involve staying with family members or friends, it’s important to know proper dog etiquette before your visit. This will help your visit go smoothly and show your hosts that you appreciate them letting you bring your furry family member with you. A good first visit will help open doors to future visits with other friends and family once they see what good guests you and your doggy can be!

What to Do Before You Bring Your Dog To Visit Family 

Now, the most important part of being a good houseguest with your four-legged friend is to make sure you BOTH have permission to stay!  Even if you’ve been allowed to visit with your furry best-friend in the past, you should always verify that your pets are still welcome. House dynamics may have changed since your last visit, making it difficult or dangerous to bring your animals into the home. 

Find Out What To Expect During Your Visit

Once you’ve confirmed that your canine companion is welcome to stay with you in the house, it’s time to discuss the rules and expectations you AND your host will have concerning all animals involved. This is important because even though you and your dog can stay, it doesn’t mean you should. 

As a responsible guest and dog parent you need to find out the following: 

• What are the house rules for pets? Will your dog be allowed on the furniture? Can they be left unattended? Are there areas or rooms that your dog should avoid?
• Do they have any pets? Are there other animals that may be visiting? Are all animals up to date on vaccinations and spayed/neutered?
• Are there any wild animals or neighbors to be concerned about?
• Where will you and your pup be sleeping? 
• Is there a fenced-in yard?
• Who else will be there? Will there be small children, anyone with allergies, balance issues, or uncomfortable around dogs?

These are things to be aware of before you agree to visit. That way you can decide if your doggie can follow the rules. It’s important that everyone involved feels safe and comfortable. This is especially important when other animals and small children are involved. 

Share What You and Your Dog Will Need During Your Visit

As responsible dog owners, we need to communicate what our pets will need in new and strange environments. You should let your hosts know:

• Your rules for your pet (are table scraps allowed, is it ok for them to jump on people, etc)
• Your furry friend’s likes and dislikes (hats, balloons, children, loud voices, etc)
• Any behavioral concerns (Do they play rough? Do they take treats gently? Are they shy?)
• If they have any medical issues like allergies, injuries, etc. (Don’t forget to find out where the nearest vet is)

Remember, that your dog will be around new people who won’t know their cute and weird quirks. So to set your dog up for success, you need to advocate for them. Never put your dog in a position where they may get hurt or scared. 

Deciding Whether You and Your Dog Should Stay With Your Family or Friends

Once you have discussed everyone’s expectations about your upcoming dog-friendly stay with your host, you can decide whether or not you SHOULD stay there. If you don’t think you and your pup will be able to enjoy your stay without straining your relationship with your host, that’s completely okay! 

Now is the perfect time to make alternate plans. You can always stay with your dog at a hotel, a private rental, or hire a pet sitter. If you still plan on staying with your family, you will have a good idea of what items to bring for a successful visit like:

• A crate
• 1st aid kit
• Handsfree leash
• Sound machine
• Extra sheets and blankets
• Poop bags

Proper Dog Etiquette During Your Visit with Family

Once you arrive at your family or friend’s house where you and your pup will be staying, it’s time to show off your dog’s manners. To put your best paw forward, here are a few helpful tips for your visit.

What to do When You and Your Dog First Arrive

To get your visit off to the right start, you should take your dog on a walk before you enter the house. A nice walk will allow you and your pup to see the neighborhood and yard where you’ll be staying. It will also help greatly lower the chance of any indoor bathroom accidents. 

Once your furry friend has had plenty of chances to mark their new territory, it’s time to start settling in. If there are other pets in the house that your dog will be around, you’ll want to do introductions as soon as possible. The meeting of the animals should be done slowly, calmly, and outside if possible. This way they can get to know each other in a neutral place with plenty of room until they are comfortable.

When you take your dog into the house, keep them on a leash while they explore the different rooms. This is your chance to watch and find out if there may be any issues with certain decorations, or spots in the house. 

Navigating Social Graces During Your Stay

It’s always a good idea to make the best effort to be a respectful and polite house guest- even if it’s your family’s house! After you’ve settled in,  there are still things you should do to show your hosts that you appreciate the chance to bring your well-behaved pup. 

• Be present for all introductions involving your pet. Explain how you want people to interact with your pup and make sure your furry friend doesn’t get overwhelmed or stressed. Pay attention to body-language.
• Immediately remove your dog from any situation that they find overwhelming and stressful. Be comfortable and confident when saying no- you are your dog’s advocate.
• Clean up after your canine companion. Whether it’s crumbs, a knocked-over plant, or bathroom messes, always clean up after your dog inside and out.
• Check-in with your host after the first day or two to see if there is anything you should do differently and make adjustments if possible. 
• Keep a close eye on your dog the entire visit. This will keep your dog safe and prevent most accidents like your dog getting loose or breaking something. Personally, I love using a hands-free leash especially when there are small children, and people going in and out. 
• If your dog breaks something, own up to it and replace it. Your hosts were kind enough to let you and your doggie stay with them. If something gets damaged, take responsibility for not watching your dog closely enough. 
• Keep your pup’s household disruptions to a minimum. If your puppy is getting too worked up, it may be time to take a walk to get some energy out. Remove them from the room if they are bothering other guests. If they are barking a lot, try a sound machine in the room at night so they don’t wake up the household during the night.

Common Issues When Visiting Family and Friends with Your Dog

Wouldn’t it be great if being a good pet owner and house guest was enough to guarantee a perfect visit? Even with the best-behaved pup, you can run into issues out of your control. Well, you know what they say- forewarned is forearmed. 

Here are some of the most common issues you may run into when you and your pup are staying with friends and what you can do to offset future unwanted problems:

• Are you finding breakable objects or human food left within your pup’s reach? If the concern is that might start eating or chewing something they shouldn’t- you can always use a muzzle. Muzzles are a great tool when you have a dog that puts things in their mouths that they shouldn’t. If you are worried about breakable items, make sure your dog is always supervised or in a secure area when you can’t watch them.
• Worried about your dog getting out of the house? Most people aren’t used to playing linebacker to a dog in doorways. This makes it easy for your dog to sneak by people and run out the door. It’s even easier if small children are involved. If there’s no way to set up additional barricades to the outside doors, a hands-free leash is the perfect fix. If your dog is attached to you, they can’t go missing.
• Are you noticing that some people seem uncomfortable around your dog? Not everyone is a fan of dogs and that’s fine. If you notice that someone is uncomfortable, quietly make sure that your dog stays away from them. No need to draw attention to it, just respect other people’s boundaries and consider investing in additional dog training.
• Is your dog not getting along with the other dogs or pets? You can’t force friendships. In this case, you and your dog are guests so remove your dog from the situation as soon as possible to avoid potential dog fights. Then you can work with your host and/or alter your plans to keep all dogs and animals safe.
• Is your dog getting overwhelmed?  Take your pup to a quiet space to decompress or calm down. Figure out what may be causing your dog to stress out so you can avoid it in the future.
• Are other people stressing your dog out or teaching them bad habits? Patiently and politely explain what you are seeing, why it’s not okay, and what they can do differently. It’s not cute to let others scare or tease your dog. This could lead to injuries or long-term anxiety issues for your dog. It’s also hard to get your dog to unlearn bad habits. 

During your visit, if you are encountering issues that continue to cause problems for you, your pup, or your host, the first step is to have an open and honest conversation about it. Be honest, firm, and polite when talking to your friends or family about the issues you are seeing. 

If staying at the house with your dog is not working for whatever reason, have a backup plan ready. This could be going home early, or booking a nearby hotel or vacation rental. The most important thing is the safety of everyone involved and the health of your relationships. 

Maintaining Good Dog Etiquette After Your Visit 

After your trip, there are still a few last steps you can take to get the prize for having the best furry house guest. Take a moment to check back in with your host to see if there’s anything you and your dog could do better at in the future. This is your chance to get constructive criticism and increase your chances of being invited back. 

Sending a nice thank you note or gift for hosting is another small gesture that shows how much you appreciate them. Don’t forget to sign it from both you and your pup!

The Secret to Navigating Social Graces When Visiting Family with Your Dog

The biggest secret to a successful dog-friendly stay with your family isn’t a secret at all! Like any successful furry adventure, it just takes preparation and communication with a side of respect. These three things are the foundation for a safe, fun visit and that you leave with all relationships intact. 

Remember that you and your pup are guests in someone else’s home and keep a close eye on your pup during your stay. Think of several small ways to show your appreciation to your host and get excited for the opportunity to visit your family and friends more often with your furry sidekick!

If you want to return the favor, check out our post on how to prepare your home for dog guests!