Luxury hotels for dogs? Crazier things have happened

That bougie doodle on your block already wears a designer coat and eats organic food out of a sterling silver bowl — so it’s not surprising he’d turn his nose up at getting shoved into a crate at a boarding facility.

But sometimes even the most devoted pet parents have to leave their four-legged companions behind.

So, as designer breeds mutate and evolve, so too does the dog boarding industry. And luxury dog “hotels” are rising to the occasion, per The New York Times Magazine.

• K9 Resorts in Stamford, Connecticut, bills itself as an upscale hotel for dogs and has luxury suites with special bedding, decor, and dog TV programming for $129 per day.
• Olde Towne Pet Resorts with locations in Maryland and Virginia offers visiting pups private rooms, activities, and a spa menu that includes treatments like a “pawicure,” blueberry facial, and mud bath; a luxury room goes for $120 a night.
• Wag Hotels has locations nationwide and offers five-star grooming and spa treatments, themed events, and suites outfitted with queen-sized beds, TVs, and 24/7 camera monitoring for owners. A deluxe suite ranges from $95 to $128 per day depending on location and includes room service for three meals.

And for those who can’t bear the thought of their dog in a cage — even when it’s billed as a luxury suite — Paradise Ranch Pet Resort in Los Angeles advertises itself as America’s first cage-free boarding facility, complete with a doggie water park.

Five stars for Fido

It makes sense that people are splurging on their dog’s overnight trip: Dogs are the most popular pet in the US, and total spending on pets rose 50%+ between 2018 and 2022 to $137B.

And it’s not just hotels — our love for our pets has infiltrated our homes with “barkitecture” interior design trends.

There are dedicated bakeries, cafes, and restaurants (like this one in San Francisco that has a $75 tasting menu); normal human restaurants are also increasingly offering dog menus (your pup can slurp chowder on this Boston patio).

Plus, there’s now a full-blown event industry for pet parties, and Americans spend $500m+ a year on pet Halloween costumes alone.

It’s no wonder that doodle in the apartment next door is barking all day — he’s got it made.