F.A.Q.
How many dogs do you walk at a time?
Is my dog walked from home?
What happens in bad weather?
What security, safety and insurance measures do you have?
How long do you spend with my cats/pets on each visit?
How many visits per day do you recommend?
What happens regarding my keys?
What happens on each visit?
If I need you at short notice do I still need an initial consultation?
How many dogs do you walk at a time?
Most dogs have more fun if they can play and interact with other dogs. Whilst I am insured to walk 6 dogs at any one time, I aim to keep the maximum number to 4-5 dogs per walk as interaction, attention and therefore safety, is greater in smaller groups and you can be assured your dog will get the attention they deserve. I will walk slightly larger group walks depending on the location of the walk and should some of the dogs be from the same household, or the dogs become extremely used to each other through regular walking. When walking dogs together, I always assess their compatibility and obedience both prior to walking them with each other and on an on-going basis.
Is my dog walked from home?
Depending on your locality to myself, your dog will be collected either on foot to be walked in the local area or on occasion your dog maybe transported for a short journey by car to a suitable location for walking, meaning that they may be away from your home for longer than their allotted walking time. Transport is comfortable, clean, safe and secure.
What happens in bad weather?
Walks will go ahead in all weathers unless conditions are severe or too bad for me to drive to collect your dog safely.
Once your dog has been walked, I will return your furry friend to your home leaving him/her secure and satisfied in your home with muddy paws wiped and water refreshed.
What security / safety / insurance measures do you have?
I am fully insured for public liability and accidents as well as key cover. Your key will be kept secure and away from personal information and no key can be identified to any property. I am also DBS (CRB) checked. All dogs that come to my home or are walked by me have a temporary "tag" so I am the first point of contact should they happen to stray when off lead.....although thankfully this has never happened as yet and hopefully never will!
Feel free to ask to see a copy of my insurance or DBS certificates.
How long do you spend with cats/pets on each visit?
This can very much depend on your pet(s) and whether they're happy to be cuddled, fussed, or enjoy playing as some can be quite timid and discerning to new people.
A standard visit is 20-30 minutes depending on the interaction of your cat/pet. This gives me plenty of time to feed your pets, clean out any litter trays/hutches and give them lots of attention as well as carrying out any other tasks such as watering plants etc. If you require me to visit for longer periods this can be discussed at the free consultation.
How many visits per day do you recommend?
A pet needs a minimum of one visit per day, as they can get ill if they do not have fresh food and water for 24 hours. Whilst ultimately, the frequency of visits is down to the individual owner's choice, I recommend 2 visits per day for both feeding purposes and to provide attention - younger cats, playful cats and those cats who demand a lot of attention can get agitated or lonely and older cats are more prone to health problems and depression when left by owners. This can also be the case for other caged pets.
What happens regarding my keys?
Keys are usually collected at the initial consultation and are tagged and kept safe until required. For one off bookings, keys are returned at the end of the service agreement period. For more regular bookings, keys are retained for on-going use. Some clients who use me for holiday cover, often prefer me to keep a set for future use.
What happens on each visit?
My pet sitting visits include feeding as per your instructions, refreshing and replenishing water, cuddles, fuss and play time, litter tray/hutch/cage cleaning as well as any medication given if needed. In addition, and as an added security for clients away from their home for periods of time, I ensure mail and newspapers are brought in, plants are watered, lights are switched on and off, curtains opened and closed, and refuse bins put out/brought back in.
If I need you at short notice do I still need an initial consultation?
Unfortunately, an initial consultation is a pre-requisite to looking after any pet, whether it be a one off dog walk or week of cat feeds. This consultation is vital to meet both owners and pets to understand more clearly their requirements and needs as well as completing the all important booking forms and agreements.