Heated pools, massage salons and a-la-carte menus are de rigueur at luxury hotels across the world but in one exclusive Paris establishment the difference is the guests: they have four legs, and enthusiastically wagging tails.

Actuel Dogs bills itself as France's first luxury hotel for dogs, and founders Devi and Stan Burun, a dog behavior specialist and lifelong dog-lover, also offer training programs unruly hounds and dog walks in the woods.

As well as a dip in the pool, or a massage, guests including Ulysse, a bumptious yellow Labrador sporting a smart red collar, enjoy "doggy jogging," or simply relax on cushioned couches in their luxury suites. Their tiled-floor rooms smell fresh and clean and are adorned with framed prints of dogs and equipped with televisions so dogs can watch their choice of DVDs.

Owners pay between 26 euros and 35 euros ($36-$48) to leave their lucky hounds for a full day and while the luxury touches appeal to owners, the key difference with traditional kennels is that dogs are not locked up in cages.

"People think we serve the dogs' food from silver platters but this is not pointless, extravagant luxury," Devi said, as Clifford, an English bulldog, Cocker Spaniel puppy Floyd, Golden Retriever Cleo and miniature Schnauzer Belle bounded around the hotel's games room, equipped with a treadmill for training.

The concept works partly because of its location, in the chic suburb of Vincennes, on the outskirts of Paris, and close to the woods. "People live in small apartments in Paris, they work, they don't have time to walk their dogs. We respond to those needs," Devi said. Devi and Stan also have an advantage over hoteliers who have to worry about human guests trashing rooms and stealing bathrobes -- they evaluate their canine clients before their first stay, to weed out aggressive behavior.

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via Doggynaire

As a human, flying is sometimes one of the most nerve-wracking experiences, even when you know it is safe, efficient and generally pleasant. If flying can be that troubling for humans, you can only imagine how tough it is on our pets. Both dogs and cats can be transported by plane, as can many other types of pets, providing they are in the correct and approved crates or cages.

Preparing your pet for a safe airplane journey does require some advance preparation that can help minimize the stress that your pet experiences. The tips that follow will work with dogs, cats and most other types of pets. Prior to the trip, a trip to the dog groomers is a nice way to begin

Food and Exercise
It is important to restrict both food and water for approximately 12 hours before a flight. This means that the pet should be fed normally and on schedule and then kept from food or water for approximately half a day. If you only feed once a day in the morning and if you are not flying out until the next afternoon you may wish to adjust the feeding schedule to the evening at least a week before the flight to avoid the pet going for over 24 hours without food or water. Withholding food and water for 12 hours will prevent messes in the carrier and will also prevent vomiting and possible choking concerns while the pet is in the air.




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Toyota Venza is taking its love of pets to an all new level, em-“barking” on a blitz of fun-filled events and promotions centered on everything pets – and, of course, their owners too. Designed for those with active lifestyles that often involve pets, the Venza offers a full line-up of canine-friendly aftermarket pet products through Toyota dealers that are already generating howls of approval from pet lovers everywhere.




says Bob Zeinstra, national product marketing manager for Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., “and more than half of all dog owners consider their pet’s comfort when buying a car. Our goal is to inform these on-the-go pet owners that Venza is a great choice when it comes to creature comfort and pet travel safety options.”

The Venza, which officially went on sale last month, offers more than a dozen pet-friendly creature comforts, the most ever available through Toyota dealerships. Venza’s large cargo capacity and rear hatch allow for easy entrance and loading of pets. Available products include: a rear hatch pet ramp for easy loading and unloading, a leash tether for securing pets in the vehicle, a pet booster seat with harness, a first/second row or cargo area pet barrier, pet seatbelt buckles and rear seat zipline-style harnesses. Waterproof and removable hammock-style seat covers are also available to fit Venza’s bench and bucket seats. Venza, which combines the best features of a car and SUV, is also the first Toyota passenger car to offer Star Safety as standard equipment for all models.

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by John Chandler

Even before Men’s Health magazine announced in 2007 that Portland is “park heaven with the most dogs per resident,” and before Forbes the same year ranked us No. 2 among pet-friendly cities in America, we knew Portlanders were crazy for their four-legged friends. Evidence of our affection is everywhere: consider William Wegman’s dog-bowl art installation in the North Park Blocks or the Oregon Humane Society’s “Pet Cam,” which lets cat-deprived cubicle jockeys peek in on the antics of frolicking felines. In fact, according to our recent online pet survey, Portlanders simply don’t skimp when it comes to lavishing attention on their companions.

Take a look at some of these luxury canine activities Portland has got to offer  including pet-friendly boutique hotel suites, hydrotherapy treatments, deep tissue massages for your pooch, canine four-Star meals, and more.

Extravagant? Perhaps. But the unconditional love of a cat or dog? Priceless. Read more...



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It’s not just people who enjoy the good things in life; pooches too sometimes need a little pampering. For those feeling a little ‘ruff’, launching in August at the award-winning Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel in the Lake District, man and his best friend, can enjoy the ultimate in luxury with the Designer Doggy Package.

Celebrated as one of the Lake District’s finest country house hotels, Holbeck Ghyll promises exquisite luxury in a picture perfect setting. With clients including Hollywood actresses, footballers, singers, politicians and royalty, Holbeck Ghyll is used to catering for all needs, tastes and requirements and four-legged friends are no exception.

Priced from £150 per person, per night on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis (based on two adults sharing with one dog) the Doggy Designer Package is guaranteed to put a wag into any tail and includes:

-Stylish accommodation in a choice of rooms, many with ground-floor access
-A Michelin-star dog food menu with such delicacies as rabbit, beef and pork
-A tailor-made doggy bag with delicious treats and chews
-A special bowl for mealtimes
-A blanket for bedtime and a special gift for dogs to take home and treasure

With masses of woodland and beautiful Lake District countryside on the doorstep, Holbeck Ghyll will advise on the many walks that both owners and dogs will enjoy exploring and will also supply disposable bags for those necessary pit-stops along the way. A selection of the Lake District’s dog-friendly establishments can also be provided for those who want to go further afield.

After a day of discovery and canine capers, owners are invited to enjoy a gastronomic experience in the hotel’s coveted dining venue, Windermere’s only Michelin Star restaurant. Whilst canine friends, revel in their own equally exceptional Michelin-meal in the company of hosts, Brook and Solie, the hotel’s friendly Labradors.



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According to Streets.com, Travel Industry Association that "Some 29 million, or 14%, of U.S. adults brought the family pet with them on at least one trip in the past three years. Most travel with a dog (78%), while a few hardy souls traveled with cats (15%).

A few folks even travel with birds, ferrets, rabbits or fish. As the number of non-human guests is substantial, luxury hotels are catering to these animal guests in ways that many people won't experience at more budget-friendly accommodations".

Hostelries around the country are chomping at the bit to cater to pet toting customers whose demands range from standard, if extravagant requests such as a bed that "is fitted with an orthopedic pad, topped with a down-filled cushion" to the nearly farcical.

This includes something called "The Hound of Music," in which a dog is limo'd to a professional recording studio, with a voice coach, to "howl along with a musician or bark to their favorite karaoke beat," with the results preserved forever on a CD with a personalized CD case"! Competing offerings include the Arizona Biltmore's "Zen-Yo" where both cats and dogs get to order from the room service menu that has a hearty vegetable stir-fry with poached eggs & steamed rice, developed especially to help pets adjust to jet lag and altitude".




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Call them the dog days of summer - literally! Pets are on the go like never before as doting pet owners pack 'em along for summer vacations everywhere.Your pet is your best friend! Who wouldn't want to share your best times with your best friend.According to celebrity dog trainer Daniela Sodero, some people are even building vacations around their dogs.

While canoeing will have some dogs howling, others will howl with delight for the Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico, which offers a pets' luxury program, including special spa food, massages and even pet cabanas.  In fact, an increasing number of hotels and travel destinations are opening their doors to our four-legged companions. 

Taking along Tux spares owners the stress of finding a kennel or friend who can dog-sit, as well as worrying about how their pet is doing without them. Most dogs love exploring new places, and their enthusiasm on trips can be infectious. Dogs need vacations too, and exposing them to different sights, sounds and smells boosts their confidence and mental stimulation.

However, not all vacation destinations lend themselves to pets, including cruise ships or tour groups; and not all pooches travel well - one in six dogs suffers from motion sickness.

Planning is key to smooth sailing ahead. While some countries are simple to travel to, for example, the United States only requires that dogs to be in good health and have a current rabies vaccine to enter, some other countries, such as the U.K., have stringent policies, including mandatory quarantine periods.

Safety Tips

- Restrain dogs, either in a crate or harnessed in a seatbelt.

- Don't allow your dog to stick their heads out the windows of a moving vehicle -- they could jump or fall out, or suffer eye or ear damage.

- Always leash a dog before opening the car door to avoid it rushing out into traffic.

- Never leave them in the car alone temperatures can reach dangerous levels.

- Proper I.D. is crucial: List your contact information, including cell number, on a custom dog tag attached to a secure dog collar. Add a city dog tag so info can be accessed if someone calls in the tag.

- Be prepared with vets' contact info along your route.

- Don't let your dog drink from dirty water - such as from puddles, ponds or water in parking lots.

- Be sure your dog is up-to-date with shots. If canine motion sickness is a problem, check out a new treatment called Cerenia.

- Look for hotels that are dog-friendly while planning your vacation together.



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