Basically what I do is take dogs in to my home for their holidays. Drop off is at an agreed appointment time from 8.00am to 4.00pm latest, and collection time is at an agreed appointment time after 10.00am and before 5.00pm latest.
If you have booked a long stay it is a good idea to book in for day care or a ‘sleep over” to get used to the place first. Walkies is usually twice daily (weather permitting) – this is, of course, optional. I do ask for a meet and greet first to make sure everyone is happy and gets along and that I think the dog will be ok.
This usually takes about half an hour (to calm the Hooman down . . . they can be a bit excitable sometimes) by which time I’ll know everything will be fine and the Hooman can complete my registration form etc. I really appreciate Hoomans who are honest with me and dob their dogs in, as knowing their naughty habits in advance helps me to avoid problems.
Fore-warned is fore-armed! There is nothing that your dog does which you need to be embarrassed about telling me, as having owned dogs for the last 40 years or so, means there isn’t much I haven’t had to deal with, in one form or another, from my own dogs at some point!
I am licensed to board 10 dogs (which includes my five) which means there is only a maximum of 5 places. As all the dogs are living in my home this means the places available are very limited so I’m finding I do get very booked up – especially over the holiday seasons – so early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
“The Best – not very – Exotic Doggy Hotel” has now been established officially since August 2015, but have been pet sitting for considerable longer on a casual basis for friends . . . and then friends of friends etc. It really started when I left my job at the vets (where I had worked for 16 years) a few years ago now, to renovate my cottage and do my artwork.
I am obviously a dog nut to start with, have a lot of experience with dogs both medically and training wise (especially gun dogs my old boy was an Open dog and a bit of a champion in his day). I am a qualified Canine First Aider and I did a Pet Nutrition course when I worked at the vets so first aid and feeding is covered! I have a Certificate in Canine Care and Welfare SEG Award Level Three and in Canine Care and Behaviour with the Cambridge Institute of Behaviour and Training.
My original career was as an artist and I qualified as a wildlife illustrator about 40 years ago now. I love doing pet portraits and I have found that doing my artwork mixes nicely with my Doggy Hotel business giving me an interesting balance. The visiting dogs stay with me and my pack all the time and they have the run of the house and garden. I also have a room which I have now dedicated as a ’dog’ room – it’s very snuggly – and can be made available for any visiting dog(s) who prefer their own company and need their own space or just in case somepawdy feels poorly and needs a quiet rest.
Generally all the dogs that have stayed here at the Hotel all seem to have settled in well once they get to know the place. Dogs love routine so once they know what happens when they generally start enjoying themselves. They usually find the first day or two a bit exciting and nerve racking as they are not sure what is going on but, once they get the hang of it, I find they begin to relax and their appetite – if it has been repressed by initial nerves/overexcitement – returns to normal (or even increases if they are having more exercise!) I think I should mention I have found that the guest dogs are usually very tired when they get back to their own home as all the excitement tends to catch up with them and they may well flop for a day or two.
This is particularly noticeable if they only stay for 3 or 4 days as they usually spend the first couple of days of their stay being overexcited and learning the ropes, so by the time they go home that haven’t had enough time to settle in and chill out properly. They then get excited to see their owners all over again and, as a result, go splat and sleep for the next two days. Please bear this in mind if you have children who may be very excited themselves to see their beloved pet again and want to play with them – your dog may need a bit of a rest to recover first! The more often or longer the dog stays, the quicker they settle in and rest whilst they are here, which mitigates this somewhat.
I am often asked if they have missed their owners which is difficult to answer – yes I think they do a bit and certainly some seem to more than others – but dogs live very much in the moment so still have fun and generally make the most of their immediate situation. They are always very happy and excited to see their Hoomums & Hoodads however I still think their owners suffer more from the separation than their dogs! . . . I know I do. Because of this I like to send texts and photos occasionally to reassure the Hoomans that their mutley is having a good time.
Please be assured that if I have any problems whatsoever – especially where a dog’s health is concerned – I will contact the dog’s owners or their nominated representative and inform them, especially if I feel veterinary advice or attention is required. I know that leaving a much loved pet and family member in my care requires quite a bit of trust and I am fully appreciative of the responsibility that this entails. In short, I will look after and love your dog as if it were one of my own whilst he or she is a guest in my home.
