The Roch Society

I have been very quiet this week because we are working on our new v3 dog-friendly certification process for Ranked By Roch. We are just about to add a new D and F rank, so some hotels are in for a surprise shortly. We are moving to an A+, A, B, C, D, and F ranking system, removing the existing B+ and C+ ranks in the process to simplify. This means lots of rank movement across our whole body of certified hotels. It's better we do this now before we scale up; ranking and certifying 100,000 hotels costs $$$,$$$. Our certification process will undoubtedly evolve over time, but I believe that this v3 version will carry us to a global scale; we have ironed out all of the kinks and added quantifiables to the process to rank more accurately. I am confident that over the last seven months, we have bulletproofed this certification process in the real world, working in partnership with some of the best dog-friendly hotels worldwide to ensure that it is both fair and balanced. We are working with brilliant academics and data scientists like Dr. Lori Hoy, PhD, and Harry Backhouse to ensure that we gather, interpret, and analyze data correctly to build a solid foundation for a new global standard. I want to thank all of the hotels and people who have participated in this process so far. Thank you to the Staypineapple group, the InterContinental Miami Hotel, Ovolo Hotels, CN Hotels, and Hotel Haya for tolerating my incessant questions. Also, thank you to Casey Barks, Gina Genna, Danielle Dorilio, and Colin N., whose advice has been invaluable. I sincerely appreciate all of your help; it has meant that we are now closer than ever to being able to certify every last pet-friendly hotel on earth. 🙏 Cheers everyone!

We just published our analysis of an academic research study by Dr. Lori Hoy, PhD into dog-friendly accommodations and dog-friendly OTA's. It contains actionable insights and practical insights for the hotel industry. A must-read if you are a dog-friendly hotel operator trying to stand out in a cluttered pet-friendly market, it is based on solid research into dog owners who regularly travel with their dogs and makes for a deeply interesting read. https://lnkd.in/dksMHTD5

When dogs are trained to mimic the natural roles wolves used to play, wonderful things can happen to the biodiversity of your local natural ecosystem. Learn about how dog owners are strapping bags of seeds to their dogs in Chile and the United Kingdom to rewild areas devasted by forest fires and overpopulation. https://lnkd.in/d6KS7a8C

In our latest episode of 'Interesting Journeys Into Petpreneurship', our founder, Guise B., spoke to Mark Bordo, the CEO, and co-founder of Vetster, to learn about his interesting startup journey. Mark is a pioneer in veterinary telehealth, and Vetster was the first company anywhere to deliver animal health services remotely. Since launching, Vetstar has become North America's largest animal telehealth provider. https://lnkd.in/dkgNRTcG

If you have ever wondered about testing your dog's DNA, here is what you need to know. Writer Erin Shea dug down into the subject to take a closer look at canine DNA testing and its use in detecting health risks. https://lnkd.in/dy5yU9zj

In our latest article, Guise B. fondly remembers his mother giving him lectures about sleeping with dirty dogs in his bed, and we take a closer look at the benefits and risks of sleeping with your dog. https://lnkd.in/dkva8crr

Treats, Not Sweets! Our latest article from writer Cyrus Jackson explains why chocolate can be highly toxic and poisonous for dogs, it contains a chemical called theobromine. Never feed your dog chocolate! Even small amounts of ingested chocolate can poison your dog and require urgent veterinary treatment in cases of canine chocolate poisoning. https://lnkd.in/df4ZjXTq

In our latest episode of Interesting Journeys into Petpreneurship, our founder, Guise B., spoke to James Bygate, the Founder of Dewkes, to discuss his interesting journey into the pet industry and the story of his startup. https://lnkd.in/da6Wx5Bz

Puppuccino is a fancy name for whipped cream in a cup, and while it may seem harmless, feeding your dog one is harmful to your dog's long-term health, leading to tooth decay, diabetes, and pancreatitis. Learn more about the Puppacino Problem in our latest article by Guise B.. #caninehealth #caninediet #caninenutrition https://lnkd.in/dMKXYnmR

Our Woof Advisory returns with some commentary on the raw dog food diet, and advises us that it's crucial to reevaluate this diet with a balanced perspective because it is frequently propagated emotionally while being presented as a cure for diseases, problems, and abnormalities. Words of caution from writer Erin Shea. https://lnkd.in/dGd67hGg