Among the surprising delights a traveler to Wuhan, Hubei province, experienced recently was a 5-month-old golden retriever she rented from a local hotel to keep her company during her stay.

"I was initially concerned that the puppy might be too energetic," said the traveler, who asked to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. "But he turned out to be gentle and well-behaved. The moment I called his name, he came running to me."

She is one of over 300 customers who have taken advantage of the dog companion service launched in early July by the Country Garden Phoenix Hotel in Wuhan.

For 499 yuan ($69.60) per night, guests can book a pet-themed room and select a dog to spend the day with after signing an agreement with the hotel.

The hotel's general manager, surnamed Dong, said that the hotel currently employs 10 "canine staff members", including golden retrievers, West Highland white terriers, or Westies, and Siberian huskies.

"Some of them are owned and raised by the hotel, while others are provided by professional training institutions or private owners," he said, adding that some working dogs will receive 100 yuan's worth of foods and snacks in return per day.

Dog breeds that are known for being gentle, stable and friendly are preferred. Before being "hired", each dog will undergo health examinations, including checks on their vaccinations and parasite control records, Dong said.

The hotel's trainers will also evaluate each dog for undesirable behaviors such as aggression or anxiety. Those that pass the assessment will receive systematic training to follow basic commands and adapt to a structured daily routine.

"Our guests are typically pet owners or animal lovers who can't keep pets due to personal constraints," Dong said. "Currently, weekends are especially busy, so we recommend booking in advance."

The hotel has also installed pet-friendly amenities, including dedicated dog elevators, slides and swimming pools.

Fang, owner of a 14-month-old Samoyed named Naicha, enrolled her dog after seeing the hotel's recruitment notice. "Naicha has been with me since it was 40 days old. I used to send Naicha to pet cafes so it wouldn't get lonely when I am at work," Fang said.

Naicha began the job on Aug 5, and the hotel staff usually sends Fang videos of her dog interacting with guests. During downtime, Naicha also gets to play with hotel workers and other dogs.

Fang said that she plans to bring Naicha to the hotel on weekdays.

"Left alone at home, Naicha would get restless, chew furniture and need an energy outlet," she said. "This program is perfect for us."

With China's booming pet industry, Dong said that the hotel expects to provide opportunities for pet lovers, especially those who are unable to own dogs, to enjoy quality time with them, as well as explore novel services catering to customers' demands.

He added that after each work session, dogs will undergo mental and physical health evaluations and guests who are found to harm animals will be blacklisted.

Du Xingyue, a lawyer at Shanghai Yingdong Law Firm, said that the hotel will bear full liability for any harm caused by the dogs unless the guest acted intentionally or with gross negligence.

She advised hotels to enhance staff training, hire professional trainers for temperament assessments and desensitization and ensure employees are sufficiently trained in pet first aid and emergency protocols.

Li Bo contributed to this story.