RDFS-02 · Dog Friendly Standard

Roch Dog Standards

The authoritative definition of dog friendly in hotel accommodation. Published by Roch Dog, the certification body for dog friendly hospitality.

This site publishes the Roch Dog Standard (RDFS-02), the defined terms that support it (RDFRG-02), and the framework that governs how certification is assessed and maintained (RDCAF-02). These documents are the canonical source for what dog friendly means in a hotel context.

Every term is defined precisely. Every certification requirement is stated as a binary rule. The intent is that a hotel, a guest, a booking platform, or an automated system can read this standard and reach the same conclusion about whether any given accommodation qualifies as dog friendly.

29 defined terms
Definitions

Every term used in the standard, defined precisely and linked to the requirements it supports.
7 requirements
Certification Requirements

The minimum requirements an accommodation must satisfy. Strict pass/fail, no partial outcomes.
RDCAF-02
Assessment Framework

How assessments work, how certification is granted, and when it can be suspended or withdrawn.

What dog friendly means

Under this standard, an accommodation is dog friendly when it permits dogs to stay overnight in guest rooms as a matter of published policy, applies dog rules clearly and consistently, provides real food and water bowls in dog rooms, and allows dogs to accompany guests in at least one shared indoor guest area where legally permitted.

The term means predictable access, transparent rules, and non discretionary treatment. Temporary allowances, informal permissions, and discretionary exceptions do not meet this definition.

Read the full definition →

How certification works

Assessment is strict pass/fail against the seven requirements in RDFS-02. There are no partial certifications, no tiered outcomes, and no scores. An accommodation either meets all minimum requirements or it does not. Certification is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

Read the framework →

Published by Roch Dog RDFS-02 / RDFRG-02 / RDCAF-02 · Last updated 17 March 2026