My dogs in Schnauzerl Hotel

Food - water - cleanliness ! My dog hotel  is much more than this.  The following message makes it clear that you must love the task of managing a dog hotel in order to be able to do the job.

As soon as the animal owner  entrusts his pet to me, I regard it as if it were my own.  Therefore I may refer to the hotel  guests  as “my”  dogs in the following article.  Of course they are only MINE during their stay.

What can I say -   I don’t do anything.  This is the way I am.  I know the language of the dogs and I move within the groups having a feeling of safety.  I do not want to brag but the fact is: generally I am a well-balanced, fair and firm person with a sense of humor.   In a funny way I was told that I would move around like a dog myself sometimes in private :)

Obedience is an important thing within a group.  Therefore it is of utmost importance to gain the trust of the dog.  Then when I give a command -   I have the authority that it will be carried out.  This only works with confidence!   When animal owners whose dog is here for three days for the first time want to book training at the dog school, I will have to reject in most cases.  I do not accept any orders that are impossible.

Visitors are surprised how quiet it is in my hotel.  Of course all pets will announce the arrival of a  “stranger”.  They certainly make a difference between totally strange people, strange and well-known dogs, “half-strange” people that come sometimes, acquaintances that they will see sometimes during the day -  and the people that take care of them which they like the most.  I am happy  about this.  In the course of time one knows the meaning of the barking sound.

Of course we  also have  mechanical doorbells  but they really don’t make much sense.  The greeting ceremony of my guests  just lasts a few minutes and then it will be quiet again.

It goes without saying that there must be consideration in regards to walkers, other dog owners and the many people who are afraid of dogs.

You will not see the owner of several dogs walking around with headphones while the dogs do as they   please. They are just like employees in a group of toddlers at the crawling stage: watchful and always ready to stop any nonsense.

Most of the time the largest dog acts most dominantly  but when a small dog blocks the ramp, no other dog will go up this way.  Who comes first, drinks first from the water bucket and the others will wait their turn.

The group does  not  always  have a four-legged “dominator”. It is not necessary.

It   all started with one dog.  At that time I was doing sports with my dog and I won several  cups.  But this is of no more importance to me today.  This is how the thought of building the hotel originated:  we would have liked to go on vacation with our children and we were looking for someone to take care of our big well-behaved   male dog during our absence. 

Although there were relatives and acquaintances in our surroundings we could not find anybody to take care of our dog.  I would never have given our four-legged friend to a home for animals.  I would rather have stayed at home.

A small advertisement was put in a daily newspaper.  We were looking for someone to take care of our dog vice versa.  We got many  responses from people who had the same problem.  Our home at that time was filled with more and more guests -  we ourselves did not go on vacation anymore.  So in 1996 the SCHNAUZERL association was founded and in 1998 todays SCHNAUZERL Hotel in Neumarkt am Wallersee was called into being. 

Would I build a dog hotel once more?   Without  thinking twice I say: YES.  I could not imagine my life without my many dogs anymore.

Principally I work half a day at the maximum in the mornings, the afternoons are reserved for leisure time.  We play, take walks, rake the  outside pens, take care of the fur, practice feeding by hand, run around on the large play areas, massage the tummy, learn how to follow commands, splash about in the pool, read books,  relaxing, taking excursions and much more. 

We do all this while drinking water and coffee or lemonade, we eat cookies, listen to music (preferable rock-n-roll and oldies) and we are having a good time.

Dogs are charming creatures.  Each little animal is unique, it has strong and weak features, a personality and character, in addition to the training  received by  its owner.  Dogs help each other and learn from one another.  It is interesting to watch them and lots of fun to play with them.  They run wildly through the grass, roll about  one on top of the other, tear on ropes, run fast around the area.  No human being can replace this kind of entertainment.

Exciting adventures that I was able to experience with my many dogs and the many great owners which I got to know.

And let’s not forget how cozy it is to snuggle with the pets together on the sofa and what a wonderful gift it is when the little pet will trust you completely.