I know I'm probably being super paranoid for no reason but...I figured some of you here may be able to make me calm down and cover my bases.

I'll be attending a convention over the New Year (picture a scifi or gamer convention, not a gathering of business men). Originally my dog was to be kenneled, then my father volunteered to watch him (so I cancelled the kennel reservation), then as of last week he's been called away for a business trip that weekend so I'm left with no where to put my dog. As it turns out the hotel that we'll be in for the duration of the con is dog friendly so I decided to bring him with me. He'll be staying in the hotel room only (not in the con space, I wouldn't subject him to a bunch of drunken geeks celebrating the New Year) and I'll be bringing his crate. I trust him to be quiet in the room after an intial adjustment period (which I'll time to be around miday to avoid disruption) and I plan on taking him outside for 2 hours for a walk and scooter each morning of the con so he'll be tired.

However what should I bring for a hotel stay? I've never had a dog in a hotel before and I'm not sure about things like housekeeping, etc. I did talk to the hotel, they require no vaccination records or other paperwork (is this odd?) and insist housekeeping will not enter a room with a dog without the owner present but I'm wondering if I should bring my "Beware of Dog" signs anyway in case they forget? He will be crated when I'm not in the room. Anything I should be careful of? This isn't a fleabag motel (it's a Hilton Hotel) so I'm assuming that the room won't be a health hazard or anything but still, anything I should watch or be aware of when it comes to dogs in hotels?

Any Advice is Appreciated

also, because I know this'll be brought up. I make a good deal of my income at these conventions, I'm a freelance artist who takes commissions and sells artwork at events like this. This convention is already paid for, canceling the trip would really really set me back. My part time "real life" job isn't enough for me to get by on it alone and I'm finding it difficult to get a third job with my class schedule (not to mention...art pays 5X more than cashiering and I make my own hours XP)

A few things to bring.

A small radio to make/cover noise, water and food dishes, crate, crate cover.

A simple do not disturb sign on the door should be enough to satisfy housekeeping.

The bigger problem at dork cons is noise in the hallway. If you can ask for a room at the end of a hallway away from noisy corridors. Also if there is a concert at this thing ask for the furthest floor away from the concert hall. Noise from these stupid things bleed through hotel floors like water.

I took two of my dogs to PAX a couple years ago. Went very smoothly compared to years prior when I attended Nan Desu Kan with Booker which sadly had a room on a very busy hallway next to an elevator. I ended up taking him with me into the con because the noise in the hallway with the weird squealing noises, laughing, etc was driving him mad.

A large beach towel to rest the crate on ( saves the carpet and makes the Hotel folks happy ).

Paper towels and trash bags...you can't have too many of them, ever!

For some dogs...a bark collar ( although I can see how that could go wrong...house keeping enters the room, the dog barks as it should, and it gets a correction. Possible bad outcome, and not fair to the dog ).

I bag my dog's food in individual zip lock bags for each day to save time/confusion on the road.

A folder of current photos of you dog for the possible need of making "lost dog" posters if something really went wrong.



I've become picky after so many years of seminars and trials with my dogs, I pretty much only stay in motels that have a door to the room that leads directly to the outside so that I don't have to haul a serious dog down a hotel hallway that always seems to be inhabited by idiots....
And first floor rooms only....why haul crates up stairs?

A couple of gallons of water from home or pick up some spring water once you get into town unless he's already used to drinking city water.

I had "I'm traveling' tags made for my dogs to wear when I travel with them. I put 2 cell numbers on them, mine and a friend or family members.

This may have been obvious and therefore not said, but don't forget stuff to do! Kongs with peanut butter or other things that will keep him entertained are excellent. That and the exercise should make it pretty enjoyable for him.

I like to bring a favorite 'something' from home, like a blanket that smells familiar. I also like non-messy things to chew like beef tendons or any of the "everlasting" treat toys.

I'm also one of those slightly neurotic (or not so slightly) people that looks into where the emergency vet is in the area that I'm visiting, just in case, and keep that info handy.

I have a flash drive that I hook to my dog's collar that has TONS of information on it. I like the flash because the info can be updated before each trip and should the aforementioned emergency trip become necessary, all my dog's vet record are on the flash too.

I like the bark collar idea, but if you use one put a 'do not disturb' on the door so housekeeping doesn't come in. Like Will said, that would be a not so great situation otherwise.

If you are feeding raw, the Honest Kitchen blends are a good travel subsitute. Ed sells them on this site.

While on the road, I keep a 'travel tag' on their collar. It's a luggage tag that says, "I'm Friendly!!" in big bold letters on one side and "REWARD" in bigger, bolder letters on the reverse. Contact info is in smaller type. Be certain to include your destination contact info.

The contact info should include your cell, email or other method to get to someone while you are traveling or at your destination. Someone calling your home number while you are a 1000 miles away is not going to be helpful.

I always take a sheet or two to toss on the floor or bed just to control where the shedding happens when the dogs are out of their travel crates.

Bottle of Febreeze to spray liberally in the air in the room.

Hanging the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door should be sufficient. Check with house-keeping though. It will be less stressful for the dog if strangers (housekeepers) do not come in the room when you aren't there.

Have fun at the con.

I was going to post a similar question about hotel lodging, so I will just tack it on to this thread (hope it is OK). The only difference is we are going skiing...

How long is reasonable for the dog to be crated in the hotel room for any one period?

Marcia, do you crate your dog at home? If so, he should be able to go the same amount of time. I try to keep my dogs' (feeding/potty) schedules as close as possible to their regular schedule.

How long to crate depends on the dog's age, breed (size), and what his regular schedule is like.

Make sure you post the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door.

She's 9 months old. I crate her at home, but not during the day anymore since she can spend the day out in the yard when I am at work. She's great at night from about 9:30 to at least 6:00--but that's at night...

She is in her crate for short periods during the day when I am at home.

I guess that I have just never stretched out those daytime periods.