12 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Dog Hotel gives you one consistent checklist to use when contacting dog hotel businesses. Record each answer for the same dog, dates, and requested care scope so the comparison stays practical.
Petkonak does not take reservations or payments. Confirm current price, availability, and acceptance rules directly with each business using these 12 questions.
Keep the answers in writing and mark any item the business cannot confirm. The list is designed for service handoff and commercial terms; it does not provide medical advice or assume that every business follows the same policy.
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1. Which documents and vaccination records should I provide, and when?
Ask the business for its current acceptance list in writing. Confirm the required document format, the deadline for sharing it, and whether the records will be checked again at arrival. Do not use another business's procedure as a substitute. Document and vaccination rules can differ by business and stay date, so record only the current answer from the business you are considering.
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2. Which animal species do you accept, and what limits apply to age, current health, or behavior?
Go beyond a general statement that dogs are accepted. Share your dog's age, size, current health notes, and relevant behavior notes in a short, factual form. Ask the business to state its own acceptance limits and whether it requires an additional conversation or assessment before arrival. That keeps the suitability decision tied to the business's actual scope instead of an assumption.
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3. May I bring my dog's own food, and how should I hand over the feeding notes?
Confirm whether owner-provided food is accepted, how it should be packed, and who receives the feeding note. List the current food, usual portion, meal window, and foods to avoid in a format that is easy to scan. Do not assume that the business supplies food or can follow a particular feeding arrangement until it confirms the service for your stay.
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4. Who receives, follows, and records an existing medication or care instruction?
Share only the current written instruction without changing it. Confirm whether the business can accept the task, who receives and carries out the note, where completion is recorded, and who contacts you if a step cannot be completed. Do not ask the business to reinterpret the instruction. This item is for checking whether existing care information can be handed over clearly, not for creating a new care plan.
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5. How do you manage the daily feeding, toilet, and rest routine?
Request a sample daily sequence and compare it with your dog's established routine. Confirm the time windows for meals, how toilet breaks or toilet-area access are organized, and when uninterrupted rest is planned. A concrete sequence that can be followed during the stay is more useful for comparison than a broad statement that routine care is provided.
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6. Do dogs stay in groups or separate areas, and who makes compatibility decisions?
Ask about sleeping arrangements and shared-area use separately. Confirm whether group participation is required, whether a separate option is available, and who decides that dogs can spend time together based on observed behavior. Include the separation process if compatibility changes. The name of an area alone does not confirm that your dog will always be in a group or always be housed separately.
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7. How often and where do exercise and play happen, and what supervision is provided?
Ask about frequency, approximate timing, setting, and staff supervision together. Confirm whether activity can be arranged in a group or individually and how you will be told if the plan changes. Do not treat a reference to outdoor space, play, or walks as a complete service description. Confirm the actual routine the business can provide for your dates.
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8. Can you make individual adjustments for stress, mobility, or an established routine?
Write down the stress signals you have observed, practical details that make movement easier, and parts of the normal routine that should remain consistent. Ask which adjustments the business can accept, which requests fall outside its service scope, and how agreed details are handed over between staff shifts. Add the confirmed answer to the handoff note instead of assuming every request can be accommodated.
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9. Is transfer available, and what areas, times, and terms apply?
If you need transfer, provide the full pickup and drop-off locations, dates, time windows, and any equipment you can supply. Ask the business to confirm its service area, timing limits, pricing method, and contact process for a schedule change. Do not treat a profile note or an earlier response as confirmation that transfer is available for your current dates.
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10. How will you reach me in an emergency, and what is your veterinary escalation flow?
Provide primary and backup contacts, reachable phone numbers, and the order to follow if you cannot be reached. Ask the business to explain who manages an unusual situation, when it contacts you, how it escalates to veterinary support, and how actions are recorded. The flow can differ between businesses, so do not assume a particular arrangement without a direct answer.
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11. What are the current price, inclusions, and availability for my dates?
Send every business the same arrival and departure dates, acceptance details about your dog, and requested care scope. Ask for the total current price, included items, separately charged services, and availability for those dates in one reply. Do not treat an old quote, listing text, or a price given for another dog as a current or binding offer.
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12. How do I confirm booking, payment, cancellation, and change terms directly with you?
Ask the business to state which channel confirms the booking, who receives payment and when, any advance-payment terms, the cancellation window, and the process for changing dates. Before deciding, check that the business name, stay dates, service scope, and stated terms appear in the same message thread. These transactions are handled directly with the business, not through Petkonak.
Complete the shortlist with direct business answers
Start with the dog hotel listings and narrow a location-based shortlist through Istanbul dog hotels. Use the pet hotel decision guide for broader comparison criteria and the dog hotel and boarding overview for related accommodation terminology.
Petkonak does not take reservations or payments. Confirm current price, availability, and acceptance rules directly with the business.