Finding the right home boarder for your dog!

“You wouldn’t leave your child with an unlicensed nanny, so why would it be okay to leave your dog with an unlicensed dog boarder”

We wanted to talk to you about what you should be looking for from a Home Dog Boarding service.
All too often you may come across an advert in your local paper or on a notice board that offers home dog boarding. The poster may look the part and they may even sound lovely on the phone but do you know what questions you need to asking and considerations you need to take into account prior to leaving your beloved pooch in their care?

Here at PetStay we pride ourselves on our fundamental aim of ensuring the welfare of the dog is at the forefront of everything we do. As leaders in the field, PetStay were the first to be licensed in many areas when the business was started in 2005 by Carole Davy. An avid dog lover, Carole has instilled these beliefs in each of our 32 franchisees throughout the UK and it’s these strong, unwavering beliefs that are the basis of the loving alternative we offer to kennels.

Below we’ve highlighted a few all important things to ask and consider when looking to leave your dog with a home dog boarder:Dog Sitting

• Ask to see a copy of their Home Dog Boarding license from their local council. Every carer with PetStay has to be licensed by their local council before a dog can stay in their home. It is a legal requirement and anyone who wants to board dogs should have one!

• If using a dog boarding service, such as PetStay, you should be invited to see where your dog is staying and meet the carer with whom you will be trusting the welfare of your beloved doggy! EVERY dog owner and of course dog who comes through PetStay meets their dog’s carer at their home before any booking fees are taken.

• Ask to see a copy of the carers’ public liability insurance. Once again, at PetStay, EVERY one of our carers are insured before they can take a dog into their home.

• Will your dog be walked on a lead at all times? This is a necessity and is a requirement of many public liability insurers. As much as your dog may be trained in recall, no dogs under the care of PetStay are walked off their lead.

• Ask to see the garden when visiting the dog boarder. Is it secure, is the garden clear of any waste that could prove a hazard?

• Will your dog be the only dog? Many Council Licenses and Public Liability Insurers state that different household dogs should not mix, unless the dog is owned by the carer and the dogs MUST meet before and deposit has been made.

• And finally, trust your gut instincts! If for any reason you don’t feel comfortable with the dog boarder or there is something that is niggling you…or even your dog…take it as a sign and walk away!

Dog Sitting

We hope that helps give you a bit of an idea as to how important we think it is that the welfare of your dog is of the upmost importance…not only to you and us here at PetStay but to other dog boarders in the area.

That’s why we use the analogy a lot of “you wouldn’t leave your child with an unlicensed nanny, so why would it be okay to leave your dog with an unlicensed dog boarder”!

Have a PAWsome Bank Holiday weekend everyone!