Did you know that Ward Realty manages over 80 dog-friendly vacation rentals? 

If you have ever traveled with your dog, you know how exciting it is to find a place where your dog is welcome! Not only are you thrilled not to have to find a pet sitter, your dog loves being with you and is definitely excited to explore dog-friendly Topsail Island! 

It's important to be a great doggie guest. Today we are going to tell you exactly how to be an AWESOME dog-owning guest in a vacation rental home. We will also give you some great tips and advice about how to get the most out of your pup-centric time here on Topsail Island. So, leash up, grab some treats, and let's go! 

1. Obey the rules of the vacation home you rent. 

Each pet-friendly home in our inventory will have specific instructions and guidelines for you to follow! While some will be the same across the board (clean up after your pet, for example), certain homes might have extra rules. 

Each of our Topsail Island pet-friendly accommodations has limits for the number of pets allowed, restrictions on pet size, and usually, only dogs are allowed. Please click on a vacation rental's description page to view these requirements. Also, a non-refundable (per pet) fee is required.

2. Scoop the poop.  

If you are reading this blog, you are probably already the type of person who has a roll of "poop bags" in every pocket. Always, ALWAYS clean up after your pet, and if you forget a bag... go grab one and pick it up later! This is so important for the health and beauty of our island. Oh... and burying pet waste in the sand is NOT an option. Thank you for keeping Topsail Island clean and beautiful! 

3. Use crates and gates as necessary  

You know your dog best. If she travels with you often, she probably knows to lie in her bed, not chew the furniture, and is 100% house trained! But, if you have a younger dog, or one who is known to cause some trouble now and then, please be respectful and use a crate, pen, or baby gate to keep her (and our rental home) safe and intact. 

Please do NOT use our deck furniture, dining room chairs, or couches to block off areas of the house! We have actually seen people take indoor furniture out to the deck to block off stairways and we must ask you to never do that! Some of our dog-friendly homes actually come equipped with gates, which you can determine when you make your reservation. 

4. Keep the barking to a minimum  

If your pup is a barker, that could be a tricky problem on vacation. After all, there will be times that you will need to leave the dog at the rental. Especially if your rental home is close to others, please do everything you can to keep her quiet and happy! 

Here are some tricks that work for us: First, get the doggo super tired before leaving him alone (a nice long walk or run on the beach should do it!). Next, leave him with a puzzle toy (like a Kong) stuffed with frozen peanut butter and treats. Lastly, many of our local establishments are dog-friendly, so you can bring him with you to get ice cream or grab a beer on the deck of a local bar. 

5. Wash those paws  

Most of our rental homes have outdoor showers (or at least a hose), which comes in very handy when you bring your pup to the beach! Our homeowners would really appreciate if you would wash and wipe those dirty paws, and maybe have your pup stay out on the deck for a few minutes to dry off before coming into the house. Sand sure likes to stick to wet fur! It's a good idea to bring a dog brush on vacation so you can really get the sand out. 

On a related note, please be sure to wipe up or sweep up any spilled water or dog food to prevent damage to floors and avoid wet, slippery spots on the tile or wood. 

By cleaning up spilled food, you will also help us prevent bugs from entering the home and cleaning up for you! 

Hey - this all goes for the kids, too! 

6. (Try to) stay off the furniture

We know, a lot of pets are used to resting on the couch or sleeping in bed with you at night. But, when you are on vacation, this isn't always advisable. After all, you are a guest in this home. You are encouraged to keep your pet on her own bed, but if she simply must be on the couch with you, please bring a large sheet or blanket from home for her to use during that time. It will protect our homeowners' investments, and prevent you from dealing with any damage that might be a liability after your trip! 

Want more advice about having the BEST dog-friendly Topsail Island vacation? Check out our previous blog: 

How to Have the Perfect Dog Friendly Topsail Island Vacation

Topsail Island loves dogs. We have a dedicated dog park, lots of local businesses allow pets, and as you have just learned, many rentals that accept four-legged friends. 

Maybe ... leave him home

If our advice above has you worried that your dog might not be able to follow the rules and be a good doggie guest, it might be better to leave him home with a pet sitter or at a trusted boarding facility. Some dogs simply don't travel well, and it might cause you (and him) more stress than it's worth to bring him to your vacation rental on Topsail Island. 

• Dogs are never allowed to be off leash on Topsail Island. 
• Dogs should wear ID and be microchipped in case they are lost on vacation. 
• We have two local vets to help with emergencies: Surf City Pet Hospital, (910) 329-4700 and All Pets Animal Hospital, (910) 327-1100
• There is always a non-refundable pet fee (usually between $150-$200 per dog). 
• Most homes have a 2 dog maximum. 
• Some homes only allow pets under a certain weight. 
• When you book a pet-friendly home, our system will charge you for 2 dogs even if you only have one. Please call our office at 910-328-3221 and we will adjust it manually for you.

• Looking for a cat-friendly rental? We have a few of those, too! Click here, and then select the option for "Dogs/Cats Allowed".