Q&A
Home Dog Boarding: Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that choosing someone to care for your dog is a big decision. This page answers some of the most frequently asked questions about our licensed home-from-home dog boarding service in Chipperfield, Hertfordshire.
If your question is not answered below, please contact us. We are always happy to discuss your dog’s individual needs.
Q, Do I need to complete any forms before my dog stays?
A, Yes. All required forms must be completed, signed and returned before your dog’s 48-hour trial stay and any future boarding bookings.
These forms provide the important information and permissions we need to care for your dog safely. They include:
* Your contact details
* An emergency contact who can collect your dog if necessary
* Your dog’s veterinary and pet insurance information
* Vaccination and flea, tick and worming records
* Medical conditions, allergies and medication
* Feeding, sleeping and toileting routines
* Behaviour around people, dogs and cats
* Barking or separation-related behaviour
* Fears, triggers and sensitivities
* Details of any bite, aggression or resource-guarding history
* Exercise, recall and off-lead permissions
* Transport and emergency veterinary consent
* Permission to administer medication, where required
* Crate-use information and consent, where applicable
Please answer every question fully and honestly, even if you feel that something may affect your booking. Accurate information helps us decide whether our home is suitable for your dog and allows us to protect your dog, our own pets and every other boarding guest.
Please tell us if any information changes after the forms have been completed. We may ask you to review and update your dog’s details before future stays.
We cannot accept a dog for boarding until all required forms, records and permissions have been received.
Q, Is your home boarding service licensed and insured?
A, Yes. I hold an Animal Activity Licence for home dog boarding and am fully insured.
I am also an APDT member, an ABTC Registered Practitioner and canine first aid trained. I use kind, ethical and reward-based methods when caring for every dog.
Q, Who will care for my dog?
A, Your dog will stay in our family home with me and my partner. They will be included in our everyday life and cared for as one of the family.
This is a genuine home-from-home service, with no kennels and no large, uncontrolled groups. We are licensed to care for up to six dogs in total, including our own two small dogs.
Q, Where are you based?
A, We are based in Chipperfield, Hertfordshire, surrounded by beautiful countryside and lovely local walking routes.
Our peaceful location gives visiting dogs plenty of opportunities to walk, sniff, explore and relax.
Q, Do you have pets of your own?
A, Yes. We have two small dogs and a cat called Willow.
Willow is very independent and a little wild, so she is not often seen by our boarding guests. She generally prefers to keep herself to herself and spends much of her time away from the dogs.
However, visiting dogs must still be able to live safely and calmly in a home with a cat. If your dog is likely to chase, frighten or show aggression towards cats, our home may not be suitable for them.
Cat compatibility will be discussed honestly during the initial enquiry and carefully assessed before a boarding stay is confirmed. Willow’s safety and welfare, along with the safety and welfare of every dog in our care, must always come first.
Q, Will my dog meet you before staying?
A, Yes. All new dogs must attend an introductory meeting before their first stay.
This allows you and your dog to meet us, see our home and discuss everything we need to know. It also helps us assess whether your dog will be happy and comfortable in our environment.
Q, Is a trial stay required?
A, Yes. A successful 48-hour settling-in trial is required before a longer booking can be confirmed.
This helps your dog become familiar with us, our pets and our home before their main holiday. It also gives us an opportunity to assess how well they settle, sleep and interact with the other animals.
Q, Which dogs are suitable for home boarding?
A, Our service is best suited to friendly dogs who can live safely and calmly in a home with other carefully selected dogs and our resident cat.
We consider each dog individually, including their:
Age and health
Personality and confidence
Behaviour around people
Behaviour around dogs and cats
Play style and energy level
Feeding and sleeping routine
Exercise requirements
Medical or behavioural needs
Ability to settle in a home environment
Experience of being left for short periods
Barking behaviour
A booking will only be accepted when we believe our home is a safe and appropriate environment for everyone.
Q, Do you accept every dog?
A, No. Although we would love to help everyone, not every dog will be suited to our home or the animals living here.
We may be unable to accept a dog who:
Is unsafe around cats
Has shown aggression towards people or other animals
Experiences severe separation-related distress
Cannot settle around other dogs
Barks persistently or excessively
Regularly barks during the night
Guards food, toys, resting places or people in a way that creates a safety risk
Has a contagious illness
Has care needs we cannot safely meet
Finds a home-boarding environment too stressful
This is never a judgement on the dog. It simply means that another type of care may be more suitable for their individual needs.
Q, Do you accept dogs that bark?
A, We understand that barking is a normal form of canine communication, and most dogs will bark occasionally.
However, because boarding takes place in our family home, we cannot accept dogs who bark persistently or excessively. This includes dogs who bark regularly during the night, whenever they are briefly left, or repeatedly at everyday noises, people or animals outside.
Persistent barking can cause stress to the dog, disturb the other dogs and affect our neighbours. Your dog’s barking and ability to settle will therefore be assessed during their introductory meeting and compulsory 48-hour trial stay.
Please tell us honestly if your dog:
Barks persistently at home
Regularly barks during the night
Barks when left alone
Barks repeatedly at people, dogs or outside noises
Struggles to settle in an unfamiliar environment
If excessive barking develops during a stay and affects the welfare of the dogs or our ability to operate safely from our home, we may need to contact you or your nominated emergency person to arrange collection.
Q, Does my dog need to be vaccinated?
A, Yes. All dogs must be fully vaccinated, and an up-to-date vaccination certificate must be provided before their stay.
Dogs must be vaccinated against:
Canine parvovirus
Canine distemper
Canine adenovirus and infectious canine hepatitis
Leptospirosis
Kennel cough, including parainfluenza and Bordetella
Vaccinations must remain valid for the entire boarding period. Please send us a copy of your dog’s vaccination record before their stay.
If your dog cannot receive a particular vaccination for medical reasons, this must be discussed with us in advance and supported by written advice from your veterinary practice. Homeopathic alternatives to vaccination cannot be accepted.
q, Does my dog need flea and worming treatment?
A, Yes. All dogs must receive regular flea, tick and worming treatment in accordance with advice from their veterinary practice.
Please tell us immediately if you notice fleas, worms, ticks or any signs of contagious illness before your booking.
Q, Does my dog need pet insurance?
A, Yes. All boarding dogs must have valid pet insurance.
Owners remain responsible for veterinary fees and any other costs relating to their dog. We will request your insurance and veterinary details before the stay.
Q, Does my dog need an identification tag?
A, Yes. Your dog must arrive wearing a secure, correctly fitted collar with their own identification tag attached.
Their tag must display:
A current telephone number, which is strongly recommended
Dogs are legally required to wear a collar and identification tag containing their owner’s name and address when in a public place, even if they are microchipped.
During your dog’s stay, we will also attach one of our temporary identification tags containing our boarding contact details. This provides an additional level of security, but it does not replace your dog’s own legally required tag.
Your dog must also be microchipped, and the registered contact details must be accurate and up to date.
Q, Can my dog be left alone?
A, Dogs are given plenty of human company and are not routinely left alone.
However, there may occasionally be a short period when both my partner and I need to leave the house. Dogs may be left for up to three hours, provided they can cope comfortably and safely with this. We have a camera and do not leave the dogs together for safety reasons.
Some dogs may need a much shorter period or may not be suitable for being left at all. This will be discussed and assessed before boarding.
If your dog experiences separation-related distress, please tell us during your initial enquiry.
Q, Where will my dog sleep?
A, Dogs have access to clean, comfortable sleeping and resting areas within our home. We provide all beds and bedding, so you do not need to bring your dog’s bed or blankets.
Using our own equipment allows us to thoroughly wash, clean and disinfect every item between boarding guests. This helps us maintain high standards of hygiene and reduce the risk of infections or parasites spreading.
We will discuss your dog’s usual sleeping routine before their stay and aim to keep it as familiar as reasonably possible. Dogs are never expected to sleep outside or in kennels.
Q, Can my dog sleep on the furniture?
A, Please tell us what your dog is normally allowed to do at home.
We will explain our household arrangements during the introductory meeting and agree on a routine that is safe and manageable. But yes we love a sofa cuddly.
Q, Do I need to bring beds, bowls or toys?
A, No. We provide all beds, bedding, food bowls, water bowls and toys.
Using our own equipment means every item can be properly checked, washed and disinfected before and after use. We also ensure there are enough suitable resources for every dog in our care.
Please do not bring toys from home, particularly valuable or irreplaceable items. Toys can occasionally become damaged or cause competition between dogs.
Q, Do I need to bring my dog’s food?
A, Yes. Please provide enough of your dog’s usual food for their entire stay, with a little extra in case of unexpected delays.
Food should be clearly labelled and accompanied by written feeding instructions. Keeping your dog on their usual diet helps reduce the risk of digestive problems.
We provide clean feeding bowls, and dogs are fed separately when necessary to prevent competition and ensure everyone can eat comfortably.
Q, Do you use dog crates?
A, We do not routinely crate dogs. Our boarding guests are cared for in a home environment and have access to comfortable beds, resting areas and appropriate space to move around.
A crate will only be used when:
The dog is already comfortable and fully accustomed to using one
Crate use forms part of the dog’s normal routine at home
The owner has discussed this with us and provided written consent
We believe it is safe and appropriate for that individual dog
A dog will never be placed in a crate as punishment or simply for our convenience.
Crates will only be used when the dog is already comfortable and fully accustomed to one, it forms part of their normal routine and the owner has provided written consent.
A dog will not be confined in a closed crate for more than three hours within any 24-hour period. If a dog normally sleeps in a crate, they may sleep in one . Any crate used will be appropriately sized, secure, well ventilated and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Your dog must be able to stand, sit, turn around and lie down comfortably. Also have space for a bed and space to move off the bed. Water will always be in the crate.
Please tell us during the introductory meeting if your dog normally sleeps or rests in a crate, including whether they are comfortable with the door being closed and how long they are usually crated.
Q, Will my dog have access to fresh water?
A, Yes. Fresh, clean drinking water is available throughout the day.
We provide multiple water bowls so every dog has easy access to water. All bowls are cleaned, disinfected and refreshed regularly.
Q, Can you give my dog medication?
A, We may be able to administer routine medication, provided this is discussed and agreed before the booking.
All medication must:
Be in its original packaging
Have a clear veterinary or pharmacy label
Include written dosage instructions
Be provided in sufficient quantities for the stay
Please tell us about every medical condition, allergy, supplement and medication when making your enquiry. We will be honest if your dog’s medical needs are beyond the care we can safely provide.
Q, What happens if my dog becomes ill?
A, We will contact you or your nominated emergency contact as soon as possible.
If veterinary attention is required, we will contact your dog’s usual vet when practical or use our nominated local or emergency veterinary practice. Your dog’s welfare will always come first.
Owners are responsible for all veterinary fees and associated costs relating to their dog.
Q, How much exercise will my dog receive?
A, Exercise is tailored to your dog’s age, breed, health, fitness, confidence and usual routine.
Depending on their needs, their stay may include:
Countryside walks
Shorter or gentler walks
Sniffing and exploring
Supervised garden time
Play and enrichment
Quiet rest periods
We do not believe that every dog needs the same amount or type of exercise. Older dogs and dogs with health conditions will be given a pace that suits them.
Q, Will my dog be walked off the lead?
A, Dogs will only be allowed off the lead when it is safe and appropriate and when we have the owner’s written permission.
We consider the dog’s recall, behaviour, surroundings and ability to make safe choices. A long line may be used when this is the safer option.
Q, Will my dog stay with other dogs?
A, There may be other carefully selected boarding dogs in our home.
We consider personality, confidence, play style, size and energy level when deciding which dogs may stay together. Dogs are introduced and supervised carefully, and every dog is given space to rest.
Q, How are the dogs transported?
A, Dogs are transported safely in my specially equipped dog van, which includes air conditioning and secure travel arrangements.
The van also contains:
Fresh water and water bowls
Cooling mats and cooling coats
Spare coats for cold or wet weather
Drying coats
Interior lighting
A dog shower for muddy paws and coats
Dogs are never left unattended in the van when conditions could affect their safety or comfort. They are only left in the van for pick up and drop off for a very short time.
Q, What happens in hot weather?
A, Your dog’s safety always comes before completing a planned walk.
During hot weather, walks will take place earlier, be shortened or be replaced with supervised garden time, enrichment and toilet breaks. Cooling mats, cooling coats, fresh water and air conditioning are available when appropriate.
No dog will be exercised in a way that places them at risk of heat-related illness.
A, Will my dog be washed after muddy walks?
Q, Yes. Muddy paws and coats can be rinsed using the dog shower when needed. Dogs can also wear a drying coat to help them stay warm and comfortable.
This is a practical rinse rather than a full professional grooming service.
Q, Do you use treats?
A, Yes. We use reward-based treats for training, enrichment and reinforcing helpful behaviour—but only with your permission.
Please tell us about any allergies, intolerances or dietary restrictions. You are welcome to provide your dog’s usual treats.
Q, Will you continue my dog’s training?
A, We will support your dog’s existing reward-based training wherever practical, including recall, polite lead walking and settling calmly.
Please show us the cues and rewards you use at home so that we can remain consistent. Home boarding does not automatically include a formal dog-training programme, but separate training support may be discussed.
Q, Will I receive updates while I am away?
A, Yes. We understand how reassuring it is to see that your dog is safe and settled.
We provide photographs and updates during the stay. We will also contact you if we have any concerns about your dog’s health, behaviour or wellbeing.
Q, What should I pack?
A, Please bring:
Enough of your dog’s usual food, plus a little extra
Their secure collar and legally compliant identification tag
Their harness
Clearly labelled medication
Their up-to-date vaccination certificate
Veterinary and pet insurance details
Emergency contact information
Any coats or specialist equipment they regularly need
Their usual treats, if required
You do not need to bring beds, blankets, food bowls, water bowls or toys. We provide these ourselves so they can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between boarding guests.
Q, What information must I provide?
A, Before your dog stays, we will need accurate information about:
Health and medical conditions
Vaccinations and parasite treatment
Veterinary practice
Pet insurance
Emergency contacts
Diet and medication
Behaviour around people, dogs and cats
Separation-related behaviour
Barking and ability to settle
Fears, triggers and sensitivities
Bite or aggression history
Resource guarding
Recall and lead walking
Sleeping and toileting routines
Please be completely honest. Full information helps us protect your dog, our pets and every other guest.
Q, What if my return is delayed?
Please contact us as soon as possible.
We recommend having a nominated person who can collect your dog in an emergency. Additional boarding time will depend on our availability and may incur an extra charge. However we will do all we can to help as we know this can we very stressful.
Q, How do I reserve a place?
A, Please contact us with:
Your preferred boarding dates
Your dog’s name, age and breed
Whether they are male or female
Whether they are neutered
Their experience with dogs and cats
Whether they can be left for short periods
Whether they bark persistently or struggle to settle
Any health or behavioural needs
Your location and contact information
If we appear to be a suitable match, we will arrange an introductory meeting followed by a compulsory 48-hour trial stay.
Ready to Arrange a Visit?
If you are looking for licensed, insured and caring home dog boarding in Chipperfield or the surrounding Hertfordshire area, please get in touch.
We would love to learn more about your dog and discuss whether our home-from-home boarding service is right for them.
