Do you accept dogs? How to say it so Google, Booking.com and AI understand (and what the rules say), 2026

Updated: 9 November 2026

More and more travellers ask Google or ChatGPT for a 'dog-friendly hotel in…'. To be found (or to avoid dogs turning up if you don't accept them), your policy has to be specific and say the same thing everywhere. This is what Google's, Booking.com's and Airbnb's help pages, schema.org and each country's rules say (sources at the end). This is not legal advice: for a specific question, ask your adviser.

Write a policy with facts, not adjectives

'Pet friendly' is not enough. A good policy answers everything a guest would ask:

Which animals: dogs only, dogs and cats, others.
How many per room and up to what size or weight.
Fee: amount and whether per night or per stay, or 'free of charge'.
Areas they cannot enter (for example restaurant, pool, spa) and whether a lead is required.
Whether guests must tell you in advance or get confirmation, and which rooms accept animals.
Example: 'We accept 1 dog up to 15 kg per room, €15 per night. Not allowed in the restaurant or pool. Please tell us when booking. Assistance dogs are always welcome, free of charge.'

Say the same thing everywhere

Google: with a verified Business Profile, edit your hotel attributes under 'Hotel details'. Google shows an amenities summary in Search and Maps that you can correct if it is wrong. Its pet fields distinguish 'pets allowed', 'dogs allowed', 'cats allowed' and 'pets allowed free', each with an exceptions note: use it for weight or areas.
Booking.com: the policy has three options (allowed, not allowed, by arrangement) and the charge can be 'free' or 'charges may apply'. Put the exact amount in the policy text so there are no surprises.
Your website: write the policy on a visible page and, if you use structured data, schema.org's petsAllowed property (on LodgingBusiness or Accommodation) accepts yes/no or a text with the details.
Your iQuota listing and every other channel: the same text, with the same figures. If one platform says 'free' and your website '€15', AI won't know which to believe.

The fee, clear before booking

If you charge for pets, guests must see the amount before paying, not at reception. How to show the total price, extras and taxes is explained in our total price guide: /total-price-accommodation-cleaning-fees-taxes-2026.

Assistance dogs are not pets

Airbnb: service animals are not considered pets; hosts cannot charge pet fees or ask for documentation, and may only ask two questions (whether the animal is needed because of a disability and what task it performs).
Booking.com: in many countries you must accept a booking from a guest with an assistance animal without extra fees or conditions; it recommends covering this even in a 'no pets' policy.
So, even if you don't accept pets, always write: 'Assistance dogs are welcome, free of charge.'

What the rules say

Spain: the 2023 Animal Welfare Act (Ley 7/2023, art. 29) says hotels, restaurants and bars may admit companion animals in areas where food is not prepared or stored and, if they don't, must display a sign visible from outside. Access for assistance dogs is not discretionary: it follows its own law.
Andalusia: Law 11/2021 (which repealed Law 5/1998) covers any tourist accommodation. You cannot charge extra or ask for a deposit for an assistance dog, and doing so is a serious offence. The dog may be kept out of food-preparation areas and pool water.
Portugal: Law 15/2018 lets restaurants, cafés and shops admit companion animals if the operator decides so and shows a sign at the entrance, never in service areas or near food; assistance dogs are always admitted.
Italy: Law 37/1974 gives blind people the right to enter establishments open to the public with their guide dog, with fines of €500 to €2,500 for anyone who prevents it.
Greece: since October 2025 there is an official pet-friendly tourist accommodation mark (joint ministerial decision 20713/2025): prepared rooms, 1 to 3 dogs or cats per room, signs for no-pet areas and rules in the room and online. You apply to the regional tourism office (€300 hotels, €150 other accommodation) and it lasts 3 years. Assistance dogs may go to all common areas except the pool and sauna.

10-minute review

Write your policy with animal, number, weight, fee, areas and advance notice.
Compare what Google, Booking.com, Airbnb, your website and your iQuota listing say, and make them match.
Add the assistance dog sentence, even if you don't accept pets.
Check that the fee is visible before booking.

How iQuota helps

AI assistants read your iQuota listing alongside your website and platforms. A specific, consistent pet policy helps them answer well when someone asks for a dog-friendly hotel. Nobody can guarantee that an AI will recommend you, but clear, truthful data is a better base.

Want an official booking page AI can read and a connector with your real prices, commission-free? The first 30 hotels join free until 30 June 2027.

See the Founding Hotels programme

Frequently asked questions

Can I charge for an assistance dog?

Not as a pet. Airbnb and Booking.com do not allow it and, in Andalusia, Law 11/2021 treats it as a serious offence.

If I don't accept dogs, do I have to say so?

Yes, say it clearly on every channel. In Spain, Law 7/2023 requires a sign visible from outside if you don't admit companion animals.

Is ticking 'pet friendly' enough?

No: add number, weight, fee and areas. That is what travellers ask and what AI needs to answer.

Sources

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