Puttin’ on the Dog at Fancy Hotels

Well-heeled dogs expect as much luxury as their owners, some hotels figure, and they are out to provide it.

One of the plushest puppy programs is run by San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito. Dogs can stay in the ranch’s $499 (plus tax) free-standing cottages for $75 extra per stay (to handle the hopefully minor cleanup). Your pet gets its own bed; a nightly turndown with dog biscuit; and a welcome kit of food bowls, toys and “Pawier”--which an employee described as a “special kind of bottled water for dogs,” purified, with vitamins. Doggie menus range from New York steak ($17.95) to canned dog food ($3.95).

For those travelers unable to bring along Fido, one hotel, at least--the London Mews Hilton--has an emotionally comforting solution. It offers the hotel concierge’s 8-year-old springer spaniel, Pierre, to guests for walking excursions--free of charge.