23/12/2024
Open for constructive criticism please.
It's long but I would like to know your views.
"LIFE OF A BOARDER
Things owners/ clients might be thinking 🤔
-"such an easy job" ..are you sure? ...try mixing dogs who are different breeds & sizes, different training from their owners, different attitudes, have different traits and different behaviours with one another.
“such a lovely job to do”
…it sure is, but just so you’re aware it’s 24/7 ,,365 days of the year unless we book our own holiday, so we can forget going out of an evening or weekend, our social life has ended and we can’t have alone time anymore or see family. Boarding is a lifestyle and not for the faint hearted, it’s hard work so we definitely need our holidays and enjoy time off-one weekend a month is just blissful. Though one weekend isn't actually enough as winding down can take time.
Home boarding is a business however it's glossed up. It is for many a vocation, it is a passion, but it is a business. And like any business we should be respected for what we do, as we become your dogs primary carers whilst you are at work or on holiday.
-“you cuddle dogs all day how hard can it be” …let’s be clear, that’s one part of our job but we are doing a lot of other things during our day, boarding is a business which means a lot of admin, calls, emails, accounts, new dog meet process and lots of paperwork, doing courses to keep up with dog behaviour, planning & doing dog play & enrichment activities, dog walks, social media, taking videos for pup dates daily, lots of cleaning, thousand pooh pick up daily plus running our own house/garden and if we can fit it in -eating 😂 or even having a good sleep at night fir more than 7 hours without being disturbed is a blessing.
"it's an easy way to make cash"
-“it can’t cost much to run a dog boarding service”
… that’s where you’re wrong we have major overheads : licence fees, home insurance to cover our business which is increasingly gettingire difficult to obtain (because we have owners come into our homes) business insurance, accountant fees, tax pyments, websites, domain names, marketing, dog courses, toys, treats, chews, beds, blankets, leads, collars, apple air tags, car maintenance, car breakdown, car business insurance, heating house, utilities, mortgage, p**p bags, constant washing machine electric use and washing powders, special cleaning fluids, lots of cleaning products, extra bowls, first aid kits, special kit for disabled pups, security cameras/measures-i think you get it 😂
-“your prices are too high” …we boarders have our own pricing structures based on what we feel our individual time is worth. We all understand price is a big factor but at the end of the day, consider the costs to run a licenced boarding business, the personal time and care someone is putting in to look after your pup and welcome them in to their home and not a kennel especially at special times of the year like Christmas & school holidays. Each pup is not paying minimum wage but we put maximum love in to each pup guest. If you think £1.94/HR per dog is coining it in... seriously think again. And many of us are limited to the amount of dogs we are permitted. Average 4.
£1.94/HR is based on a cost of £35/night, or £2.22/HR for £40/night factoring in an average waking day if 18hrs.
-“you have too many rules”
…if we don’t have rules in our human world all H*** breaks loose, this is also the case for dog boarding as well. Rules help everyone know where they stand and gives everyone respect.
-“your process to become a client is too long”
…I am sure you wouldn’t want your pup to be put in a situation with an aggressive dog or in a situation where they can't cope being in a strange environment...therefore, a strict process makes it safe for existing and new clients, due diligence is key to dog boarding when you have different personalities and behaviours coming in to play. I won’t just accept any dog.. I am very picky to make sure all pups are safe whilst staying and enjoying their holiday.
-“why do I need to give an emergency contact”
…it’s a red flag if your boarder doesn’t have this in place, you need to know where your pup would go if there was (for example) a fire. If your boarders falls ill and needs urgent medical care. If there is an issue with your dog, or if your dog falls ill and cannot stay with the boarder. If your boarder is advising you they can deal with it without telling you how, then get nosy, find out where your precious pup will be. All clients need an emergency contact or two, and a plan in place. Don’t just accept things if your boarder is saying they will deal with it. Sorry that isn’t a good enough explanation.
-“can I bring my own dog food” …absolutely. Any boarder who is feeding the guest pups their own dog food isn’t taking into account any allergies or stomach upsets, you cannot just feed a dog a different diet, it should be a gentle transition and guests should be having their own food. It’s a red flag if you can’t bring your own dog food unless it’s agreed they eat a similar diet to what the boarder feeds their dogs. Prime example...there is a lady in Worksop who is unlicenced and insists that your dog will be given the same raw dog food that her dogs eat, regardless whether you agreed to it or not.
Be very suspicious if the business asks for a deposit before you've even met them, filled in forms, signed a contract.
There are a lot of scammers out there who want your money but have no intention of providing a service.
If the provider is using the platforms Rover, Bark, Holidog, Tailster, Petbacker, etc.ti advertise themselves..each individual dog sitter (home boarder/day care, where your dog goes to stay with them) is required to be individually licenced. Without a licence they are simply uninsured & the insurance these platforms state they have us rendered invalid ..as is your own pet insurance.
If the boarder lives in an apartment, flats, then they are definitely unlicenced!!
If your boarder lives in one address and tells you to bring your dog to them in another address it meet you in the park or in a car park to hand over your dog for boarding...they are unlicenced!!
NOTE -If your current dog boarder doesn’t have a process of a meet and greet/ dog registration, boarding agreements, terms & conditions, contracts, assessments , trial overnights, can't show you their in date licence , can't show you around their home or even on video (as many now do not want people in their homes as their home insurance won't allow), doesn't ask for your vaccination card for each holiday, or when they had their last flea or worming treatment, ask you to check through and sign their consent forms (there are a number of consents that licenced businesses are required by law to ask), sign consent to give them permission to take your dog to their business registered vet if required, then these are red flags 🚩.
Your pup is precious asj questions...be nosy.
Does the boarder have rooms to separate pups, ask them how they deal with a situation where they do need to separate pups?
Do they crate your dog?
No one should crate someone else's dog without written permission and only is the dog is habituated to one. I wouldn’t want my pup in a crate all day so check what they do. Ask a boarder their processes and be extra nosy!
Ask if they work full time. And if they go to the office how long will they be leaving your dog for?
Ask if they have other jobs, like dog walking. What happens to your dog when they go and walk others? Do they get left in the house? Or left in a van or car?
Ask if the business is registered with a vet & find out who.
I hope this insight has been helpful. Please do your due diligence for your pup and don’t just accept it if you’re not happy. As an owner I ask questions and many questions. As a Licenced home boarder I expect potential owners to get nosy & I actively encourage questions.
REMEMBER:
unlicenced= uninsured= invalidates pet insurance. Be safe. Keep your precious dog safe too.
You wouldn't get into a car where the driver is unlicenced or has no insurance...so why would you leave your dog with someone who is unlicenced & uninsured??
And equally you wouldn’t leave your child with just anyone either so don’t do it to your dog 🐶. GET NOSY 🧐"
