There aren’t many downsides to being a dog parent, but not being able to take your precious pooch everywhere you go is definitely one of them.
Our furry friends are a major factor in our holiday plans, so if we want to bring them along, that usually means having to avoid fancy hotels, which for the most part are about as dog-friendly as a chocolate tart.
That’s no longer the case with the five-star Shangri-La The Shard in London Bridge, which is now offering luxury staycations for dogs for a £75 pupgrade.You should never physically punish your pet. It brings the animal pain and fear, and it gains you nothing. It’s a lose-lose situation. Please don’t do it.
Yup, that’s right, dogs can now sleep up in the clouds. What a time to be alive.
We sent Jo, Greg, and Franco the one-year-old Cocker Spaniel for a night in the capital’s highest hotel.Here’s what they made of their stay…
Jo, Greg, and Franco’s review of the Shangri-La The Shard’s dog-friendly staycation
It was pitch black when we entered the room, but as soon as we inserted the key card the floor-to ceiling window blinds rolled open to reveal incredible views across London. There are even binoculars to use – we live close by and could spot which local dogs were in the park. The room was super spacious with an amazing king-size bed – Franco even had his own comfy Project Blu dog bed, though he spent a lot of time admiring the view from the sofa and excitedly running across our bed. It felt like he had a lot of space to explore, for a hotel room.Make Yourself the Funnest Thing in the World for a Reliable Recall. When training your dog to “come here” make sure you’re giving out a lot of praise & treats. The goal is to make coming back to you the best decision they could have made, if not your dog is likely going to decide that whatever he was chasing/sniffing is more interesting.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Having a pet in the home can actually lower a child’s likelihood of developing related allergies by as much as 33 percent. Children exposed early on to animals tend to develop stronger immune systems overall.
An inexpensive and easy summer treat for dogs: Cut up apples in chicken broth and freeze in an ice cube tray.
A dog-friendly guide to the local area was included, advising on walking routes, places to eat with your dog, grooming parlours, and a local vet contact. As locals, we can confirm they included all the good spots.
After settling in, we head downstairs for a drink at Bar31, which is currently set up like a ski lodge. Dogs aren’t allowed at the other hotel restaurants or leisure facilities (no swim for you, Franco – sorry pal) but they’re allowed here, and even get given extra treats. You get your own ‘lodge’ to sit in, which is useful if your dog isn’t great with other dogs, and there’s plenty of room for pooches to potter around.
Dropping Franco back in the room, we popped down to level 35 for dinner at TING, the hotel’s Chinese restaurant. It felt a bit strange leaving him in the room alone, but we left him one of the tougher treats to keep him occupied and make sure he didn’t cause any chaos. We’re pretty sure he had a bath while watching Paw Patrol on the TV in the bathroom mirror.Get Rid of Skunk Smell with Hydrogen Peroxide & Baking Soda. Did your dog get skunked? You can get rid of that nasty skunk smell from your dog using some soap, peroxide & baking soda.
Use Baking Soda to Clean up Pet Urine. If your dog pees on the carpet use baking soda (which is also great at removing odors) to clean it up. Pour some baking soda over the spot, let it sit for 20 minutes and then vacuum it up.
‘Going to bed, we didn’t bother shutting the blinds as the view across London at night was unreal to fall asleep to. We were incredibly lucky to have clear skies and great visibility when we woke at sunrise.
‘We left Franco in the room again for breakfast at TING, which was à la carte. I had the plant-based full English (huge) with poached eggs, and Greg had the regular full English. The wait staff were super clued up on different dietary preferences, and offered to add things to my plate when they found out I was veggie, not vegan.Make Your Own Pet Bed Out of a Sweatshirt. Want to give your dog a nice comfy spot to sleep without having to buy a dog bed from the store? Make them this super cool dog bed out of a sweatshirt & pillow.
One small issue was that we had to use two lifts to take Franco outside to the loo from our room, which was easy enough, but longer than what he’s used to, so bear this in mind if your dog is used to quickly nipping into your garden.
Unfortunately, Franco did end up doing a little pee on the ground floor near the concierge (sorry!), but the staff were very good about it.
Franco got lots of attention inside the hotel, with another guest exclaiming that they wish they’d known they could bring their dog. Considering the price of the room, £75 is great value to be able to bring your dog along – it was such a novelty to have him there without worrying about leaving him with a sitter.
Use baking soda to get dog urine out of carpet. If you don't happen to have a product like Nature's Miracle on hand (maybe you're traveling or at a friends house), pour some baking soda over the spot, let it sit, and then sweep or vacuum it up.
What you need to know
A dog upgrade at Shangri-La The Shardcosts £75 per night. Rates for a deluxe city view king room start at £675/night from March 2022.
What’s included:
- Dog bed, dog towels and food and water bowls to use during your stay
- Complimentary luxury dog treats
- Complimentary dog toy
- Complimentary collar tag
- ‘Shangri-La Tails dog-friendly guide to the local area
Rules for your dog’s stay at Shangri-La The Shard:
- Dogs must be small-medium, weighing less than 22kg.
- Dogs must be kept on the lead when exploring the public areas of the hotel.
- Dogs aren’t allowed in the hotel’s leisure facilities, TING restaurant or GŎNG cocktail bar, however they’re welcomed with open paws at Bar31 on the ground floor, which is partially outside.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk .Run a dryer sheet over your dog's fur when there's a storm — chances are, they aren't freaked out about the storm but the static electricity built up in their fur. According to Martha, this should work at least 50% of the time.
Get need-to-know travel news, inspiration and advice from Metro every week.
Sign up here...
Not convinced? Find out more »