Get the size rule in its exact form
Dog-friendly can quietly mean small-dog friendly. Ask for the policy's precise wording: is there a maximum weight, a height at the shoulder, a list of excluded breeds, or a limit of one dog per room? If your dog sits near that line — a tall Labrador, a deep-chested retriever cross, a young giant breed still growing — ask how staff decide at check-in. Will they weigh him, take your word, or refuse on appearance? Get the answer from the hotel directly, ideally by email from a manager, rather than relying on a booking site's summary, which often shortens the policy to a paw-print icon and a fee. A written confirmation naming your dog's breed and approximate weight is the strongest protection against a doorstep argument after a long drive.
Ask where a large dog can actually go
Access rules matter more at size. Ask which entrance you should use, whether the lift fits a large dog comfortably alongside other guests, and whether stairs are an option if he dislikes lifts. Ask if dogs are allowed in the bar, terrace, or gardens, and where the nearest sensible toilet area is for a late-night outing — a large dog needing a 11 p.m. stretch should not depend on a decorative courtyard where dogs are banned. Ask where he is expected to settle in the room, whether the hotel supplies a bed and bowls big enough to be useful, and what they do if the room allocated turns out to be beside a noisy function suite your dog will bark at all evening.
Clarify being left alone, noise, and damage
Most hotel policies hinge on behaviour, not size alone. Ask whether your dog may be left alone in the room at all, and if so for how long, whether he must be crated, and what happens if he barks when housekeeping knocks — some hotels call you back from dinner, others treat one complaint as a breach. Ask what cleaning or damage charges apply and how they are assessed, so a scratched door caused by anxiety does not become an open-ended bill. Be honest about your own dog here: if he whines when left in strange places, plan to take him with you or book somewhere with a sitter arrangement, rather than testing the policy at other guests' expense.
Check the fee against what it buys
Ask what the dog charge covers and whether it is per night, per stay, or per dog, because for a large breed the fee sometimes reflects extra cleaning that is genuinely needed. Ask whether it includes bed, bowls, treats, or use of a dog shower after muddy walks — useful for a big, wet dog arriving in winter. Also ask about parking and unloading: carrying luggage past reception while managing a strong dog on a polished floor is easier if you know in advance which door leads straight to the lift.
Confirm in writing and arrive prepared
Once the policy is clear, confirm the booking details back to the hotel: breed, weight, dates, ground-floor or lift-served room if you requested one, and the agreed fee. Bring a familiar blanket, a settle mat, and chews that help a large dog switch off in a strange room, and exercise him properly before check-in so his first impression is of a dog ready to sleep, not one bouncing off the walls. Having your dog's records together in a KinsLe Pet Passport, ready to show at reception if vaccination proof or owner details are requested, keeps that first conversation short and calm.