I absolutely spoil my little dog. For instance, she has different sleep spots around the house to choose from. In the morning when the sun is coming through the kitchen window, she has a pet bed there. In the afternoon, the sunshine comes through the back sliders, where she has a Tommy Bahama pillow waiting. On days when she's not looking for that warm sunshine in the cool air conditioned house, there's an area in the back bedroom with a blanket in a back dark corner. This may seem excessive, but I live in Florida. Home to the country's most spoiled dogs.
Forbes Advisor compared all 50 states across 10 key metrics to find out which states spoil their dogs the most. The results are exactly what we'd expect. Florida has the nation’s most spoiled dogs.
Here's some of the way we spoil our pets, along with the runner-up states.
Florida: Florida has the highest percentage of dog owners who spend more money on their dog’s health and grooming than they do on their own (66.5%). Florida dog owners are also most likely to order a special treat for their dog at a restaurant (63%).
Alaska: Nearly half of dog owners in Alaska (49%) regularly throw birthday parties or other celebrations for their dog, the third highest amount. Alaskan dog owners are also fifth most likely to purchase outfits and accessories for their dog (62%) and to order a special treat for their dog at a restaurant (54%).
Washington: More than three-fifths of dog owners from Washington (61%) have brought their dog on vacation, the highest amount nationwide. Dog owners in the Evergreen State are also most likely to spoil their canine companion with doggy birthday parties (71.5%) and homemade dog food or treats (73%).
Colorado: Colorado dog owners are fourth most likely to throw birthday parties or other celebrations for their dog (46%) and seventh most likely to order their canine companion a special treat at a restaurant (51%).
California: California is home to the highest percentage of dog owners who have pushed their dog in a stroller (47%). Dog owners in the Golden State are also third most likely to report that they spend more money on their dog’s health and grooming than they do on their own (61.5%).
My dog has been on several flights around the country, riding in the pet carrier under the seat. Also, she has stayed at resorts such as Tween Waters on Captiva, and South Beach Resorts Fontainebleau and The W. That's her in the picture. The leather couch ottoman is positioned under the air conditioning vent so she has a cool spot to lounge after laying in the sun.
Do I spoil her? Absolutely. I have no plan on stopping, however, I do draw the line at pushing her in a stroller. I can't be that person.
8 Pet-Friendly Hotel Chains Rolling Out The Red Carpet For Our Furry Friends
If you plan on doing any traveling over the holidays, here are 8 pet-friendly hotel chains so your four-legged friends can join you.
When I travel, I love being able to bring my dog Rocket with me. He's not a big fan of air travel, so I tend to bring him the most on road trips, but not all hotels are pet-friendly. I remember when I moved down to Fort Myers from Chicago, I didn't have my stopover planned. That night, I remember being exhausted and driving to 4 different hotels looking for a place for us to crash for the night. Our pets are our babies and being able to bring them with and include them in our plans. Whether you're traveling within the state of Florida, or elsewhere, you don't need the stress of worrying where to stay.
Depending on where you're traveling, finding a place for Fido may be easier than others. For instance, in the Midwest, Nebraska and Kansas are on top when it comes to pet-friendly accommodations. According to momswhosave.com, in the U.S. overall, 41% of hotels are pet-friendly, but compared to other countries, we don't even make the top 25. High-end hotels do seem to be more welcoming with 67% of five-star hotels welcoming our furry family members.
So how do you find pet-friendly hotels? I'm constantly looking and not all brands make it obvious. I prefer to book directly with the hotel rather than using a third party booking site. BUT, sites like Expedia make searching easy. I've made it even easier though and put together a list of 8 pet-friendly hotel chains.
8 Pet-Friendly Hotel Chains That Welcome Your Four-Legged Friends With Open Arms:
Choice Hotels
There are over 3500 brands under Choice Hotels including Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion and more. All of these hotels are pet-friendly.
Motel 6
Every Motel 6 hotels welcome pets. In fact, if you're an AKC member, you'll even receive a discount.
Best Western
Not all Best Western hotels are pet-friendly but over 1600 of them are. And not only do they accept dogs, but also cats, birds and other small animals.
Marriott
There's over 1500 pet-friendly Marriott locations in the U.S. with brands like the Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Delta Hotels, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites and more. There may be fees and restrictions on breed and weight, so make sure to check on that in advance.
Four Seasons
Four Seasons is very accommodating to pets. So much so, that some of their properties offer grooming and walking services and even have a special doggie menu.
Kimpton Hotels
Kimpton hotels are very welcoming to pets. Not only do they let pets stay, but they also have lots of fun stuff for our furry friends like comfy pet-beds, pet food, water bowls, and more. Some locations even have a Director of Pet Relations-- fancy!
Westin
From coast to coast, there are 165 dog-friendly Westin properties. Weight restrictions and nightly fees may vary. But hotel guests will get, upon check-in, a doggy welcome kit with food and water bowls, an in-room sign, and a comfy dog bed.
The Peninsula Hotels
Many of Peninsula's properties allow dogs, but most do have a maximum of 2 pets. Some hotels will also provide food and water bowls and a dog bed.
