Host dog boarder

Froglet

Has anyone any eperience of looking after a dog in their own home whilst the pwners go on holiday,arranged through a pet boarding agency? Have replied to an ad and the chap is coming round next week to vet out home.

Just wondered if anyone knows of any pitfalls,and what they have been paid,as the amount we have been offered does seem quite low compared to the amount of work you would be putting in! However it's not all about the money,we have had dogs in the past and though having a break do miss having one on walks.

Sally_A

Surely the pet boarding agency have given you guidelines.

As a rule, I'd say keep them on a lead, make sure you know the name of the regular vet and that they've agreed payment up front should something go pear shaped, also make sure you can get there. Also check on the food type they are given, and if it's special food ask the owners to give you 2 weeks supply.

Other than that, go for it.

bagginslover

All the placves I have boarded my dog (both kennels and private homes) have had some level of insurance. Both to cover emergencies with visiting dogs, and their own properties. I have no idea where you'd find such insurance, but I thought it worth mentioning.

The lady who has our dog in her house also has a policy set out for if you fail to collect your dog at the end of its agreed stay. She will keep them an additional week, then they are turned over for rehoming (she actually helps run a local rescue for sighthounds, and only boards sighthounds, so they would be rehomed that way I'd imagine). Its worth thinking about what you'd do if an owner never came back for their dog.

Froglet

Yes i have asked some questions already over the phone.They cover the insurance and the owner supplies food,bed,lead,bowls etc,even delivers the dog to your house.

If they didn't return for the dog,and i think thast highly unlikely! as the agency must surely have their contact details,then surely you would just let the agency deal with it.

I remember a tragic post on here quite a long time ago,about a person whose dog walker lost her dog.I don't think she ever got it back so no i would never be tempted to let it off the lead.

I shall obviously have a list of questions ready but i would still like to know the going rate if anyone does this already.

gettingready

A friend of mine does home boarding, £25 per day.

EDIT - just caled them to check, confirmed, £25 per day (24 hours)_ with the dog owner supplying dog bed/bowls/food/vaccination/worming certificate.

zaksmum

gettingready wrote: »

A friend of mine does home boarding, £25 per day.

That seems expensive...£175 per week - if you have two dogs as I do, that's £350 a week to get the dogs minded.:eek:

gettingready

They do discounts for multiple dogs and regular clients - and we are talking London.

Dogs are in the house as part of the family, never in kennels.

lostinrates

gettingready wrote: »

They do discounts for multiple dogs and regular clients - and we are talking London.

Dogs are in the house as part of the family, never in kennels.

My dad has started dog and cat sitting for friends and friends of friends within central London, simply to have rent free weeks and weekends in town. I keep telling him he should set up as a business and charge.

gettingready

http://www.dogsandthecity.co.uk/price-list/

http://www.preciouspet.co.uk/home-boarding.php

elsien

Midlands, the woman who organises the boarding charges £20 a day. However as she has to take her cut from this to cover costs such as insurance and her own salary I would guess the hosts themselves get a fair bit less, But they don't provide any of the food etc, I have to take that along.
THB all the hosts I've used aren't in it for the money, they do it because for various reasons they don't have a dog of their own and they miss having a dog around, so for example my last host lived abroad for 6 months each year.

As far as I'm aware, the franchisee checks that you really do like dogs and are prepared for the unexpected. So she's turned down hosts who expect well behaved dogs with no problems on the basis that even the best trained dog can lose the plot slightly with strangers. So they'll probably ask your expectations around behaviour, chewing, doggy housetraining accidents, separation anxiety, illness etc. Also what dogs you are prepared to look after - some prefer big breeds, others won't take staffies, rotties etc. Also the ground rules such as not leaving the dog for more than 2 hours a day. Medication - are you prepared for chucking tablets down a strange dogs throat, all that sort of thing.
You and the dog owner should also get the chance to meet up first to see how you get on and to give you the chance to suss the dog out.

zaksmum

gettingready wrote: »

http://www.dogsandthecity.co.uk/price-list/

http://www.preciouspet.co.uk/home-boarding.php

My dogs would cost £35 each per day on that pricelist as they're large dogs, and it needs to be 3 or more dogs for discounts...wouldn't fancy having to pay £490 to get them minded for a week! Or am I not living in the real world??