Waterloo Woods Cabin Retreat welcomes guest dogs (a maximum of two) to accompany their owners who rent one of our cabins. We are willing to discuss more than two dogs with prospective renters on a case-by-case basis.

We are not generically “pet-friendly, as we do not allow cats or other types of pets.

We are dog owners and love their presence as much as possible. Still, we also have some expectations that others renting our cabins will share our commitment to appropriate etiquette during their visit.  We charge a non-refundable cleaning fee of $25 (recently reduced from $40), which applies to each visit, not per dog. However, should any extraordinary cleaning or damages be caused by visiting dogs, the additional costs will be assessed against the owner.  See our Rental Conditions for clarity.

Our cabins are very well maintained, and we take considerable pride in their cleanliness (10/10 VRBO scores) and overall condition with each rental.  As with children, dogs require supervision.  We assume that you will only bring house-trained, well-behaved dogs.  Beloved pets can enhance a vacation and make the photos wonderful memories.

Some warnings.  Our properties are set on over 90 acres that we own, and we’re adjacent to the Waterloo Wildlife Area and other wilderness forest areas.  We are quite isolated, and we have a lot of wildlife. If your dog is prone to chasing or running away, please keep it leashed and under control. The risk of a dog getting injured or lost is a real concern.  Tracking collars are not a bad idea if they work with satellite GPS. Additionally, consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your dogs are protected with all necessary vaccinations and preventatives, including those for heartworm and flea and tick control.  Lyme disease and leptospirosis are active threats in addition to other canine diseases.

In addition to their collar/leash, food bowls, medications, food, and toys, we suggest that you bring a Fido Kit to include:

• Dog towels and rags (to wipe dirty feet)
• Dog shampoo
• Comb/brush
• Dog waste bags
• Life Vest (unless you know your dog is a strong swimmer — this is not a natural entity)
• First aid kit including tweezers (for ticks)
• Health Records from your Vet
• Flashlight
• Long tie-out cable (if your dog is a runner)

Following are our recommendations for basic dog etiquette:

• Please wipe your dog’s wet or muddy paws before bringing them inside (bring rags).
• When your dog has been outside, please check them for ticks before bringing them indoors.  Beyond the health risks to your pets, we want to prevent an infestation in the cabin, and we’re sure you don’t want to take critters back to your home.
• If your dog(s) have gone swimming in a pond or creek, we suggest rinsing them off outside. Please ensure they are not soaking/dripping wet before bringing them into the house.  We do have hardwood floors in most cabins as well as soft furnishings. Please be careful letting your dog swim in lakes or ponds. Discourage your dogs from drinking. Standing water may contain bacteria and algae that can cause illness or severe illness in your dog if they swallow the water.  Rinsing a dog can help protect their skin from prolonged contact with potential irritants.
• Please place water bowls on mats or towels (you bring) if you have messy slurpers.  Please do not use our cabin bath or kitchen towels for this!
• Please clean up after your dog using waste bags, especially around the cabin and immediate property. Please remove any waste from walking paths out of courtesy to others.

Can dogs go into state parks with you?  Yes.  Leashed dogs can accompany you on the trails in most Ohio State Parks.  They are NOT allowed in nature preserves, including Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve or Rockbridge Nature Preserve. You can take your dog into Waterloo Wildlife Area, and in fact, there is a program there for dog training (hunting dogs/retrievers).

An important consideration is that the closest 24/7 Emergency Vet Clinic is at least an hour away by car in Canal Winchester.  We provide some Vet Clinics on our Resources | Emergency page, but local vets do not offer after-hours care.  This is why we recommend bringing a printed copy of their health records, equivalent to what would typically be provided to boarding facilities, in case of an emergency.  Again, we’re rural!