• house in icon Boarding
  • house in icon Daycare
  • house in icon Pet Sitting
  • house in icon Dog Walking
  • house in icon Drop-in Visit

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs for dog owners
  • Do you have full ​Liability Insurance?

    Yes, all of the boarders are covered by a single policy which covers public liability up to £5,000,000 and employers liability up to £10,000,000.

  • How do you recruit your Home Dog Boarders?

    Steve being an ex Police Officer decided that he couldn't run a business that wasn't honest, trustworthy and reliable. The people he recruited all have the same qualities, first and foremost they are dog lovers, secondly they have nice, clean, safe and secure homes and gardens and their situation now means that they either want to look after different dogs, have a friend for their dog or it isn't practical to have their own dogs so they look after other peoples and treat them as if they were their own.

  • How do I know my dog will be cared for?

     All our boarders are licensed where required and inspected by their local council. Some boarders only have a few dogs a year and in this instance they are not required to be licensed but they are still inspected by myself, the council or both.

    If you look at the how does your service work FAQ below you will see that the main element is the visit. You will always go and see where your dog is staying and meet the boarders. You can discuss what will happen, where your dog will sleep, exercising requirements, feeding and general health and behavioural issues. Your boarder will look after your dog to your standards whilst you are away. 

    Your boarder can keep you updated whilst you are away and you will know when you return if there are any issues because dogs do not lie and their attitude and behaviour will tell you how they have been treated. 

    We ask for a review of the service after it's completion and you can read them on the boarders profile. These are genuine customers and most of our boarders get 5 stars.

    Steve also visits the boarders and dip samples on a random basis and as the owner of the business he is impartial and only wants the best for customers, dogs and boarders. If anything is brought to his attention and calls into question the integrity of the service offered he won't hesitate to take action and remove the boarder.

  • What if anything happens while I am away?

    You will be asked to complete a one off consent form which gives us your wishes whilst you are away. Anything that happens will be reported to Steve and he will ensure that you are represented and your emergency contact informed. Your dogs health and well being are first and foremost and everything that can be done will be done. It is in Lookafteryourdog's best interests to ensure that the very best service is offered at all times to ensure our integrity and reputation is maintained.

  • What do you class as small dogs for your site?

    We class anything Spaniel sized and below as a small dog. We try to keep it simple to avoid confusion.

  • What do you class as large dogs for your site?

    A large dog is anything Labrador sized and above.

  • How Do I Find A Boarder?

    New and existing customers looking for a boarder should use the search bar to browse available boarders in any location selected by them. Once you find a boarder you may like to book, you will need to register with the website, new customers who haven't registered on the website before will need to register using the button under the calendar. Customers who have registered with the new website can use the login options either under the calendar or at the top right of the website pages.

    Once registered or logged in you can make a booking enquiry with the boarder who may or may not be able to accept your booking. Either way you will be notified that either they aren't available or they will arrange a visit with you.

  • How To Book A Boarder

    Use the searchbar to browse our available boarders and then login or register and follow the instructions. (More info to follow shortly)

  • Problems Logging On

    Use the email address and password you registered with. If you forget the password follow the forgotten password link to be emailed a new one. If problems persist, email steve@lookafteryourdog.co.uk with the problem and he will be happy to help.

  • Legal and Safety

    Is my dog allowed to socialize with other dogs?

    Yes, Lookafteryourdog staff may allow your dog to socialise with other dogs, and by using our service, you accept the risks involved.

    Are you insured?

    Yes, Lookafteryourdog Ltd. maintains suitable and valid insurance, including Public Liability Insurance.

    What are my responsibilities as a dog owner?

    You must ensure your dog is up to date on all vaccinations, flea, and worm treatments. You also need to disclose any known dangers associated with your dog and provide all necessary information for us to care for your pet. You are responsible for all medical expenses and damages your dog may cause to our staff or others.

  • Payments and cancellations

    When is payment due?

    Payment for dog boarding and pet sitting is due 14 days before the service begins. For one-off daycare, dog walking, and drop-in visits, payment is due by 6 p.m. the day before the service. For repeat bookings of those services, payment is made in arrears at the end of the week and only for services delivered.

    What is your cancellation policy?

    You can cancel dog boarding and pet sitting up to 14 days before the service starts without penalty. For daycare, dog walking, and drop-in visits, you can cancel before 6 p.m. the night before the service without penalty. No refunds are given for cancellations made after these deadlines. The booking fee is non-refundable in any instance once paid.

  • What happens after I book?

    Booking Placed

    • Your booking request has been successfully sent to the boarder and to your registered e-mail account.
    • The boarder is automatically emailed by the system and a text message is also sent to notify them of your new booking enquiry.
    • They have 24hrs to review your booking and have two options, to either accept the booking or decline within the time given. If they don't see the enquiry or are away and unable to see it, it will automatically cancel after 24hrs so you aren't kept waiting and can look for another boarder.
    • If they accept the booking, you will be notified by email and your dashboard booking updated. If they decline, you will receive a polite email explaining that they are unable to have your dog on this occasion.
    • Once accepted, if you are an existing customer of the boarder, the booking will be agreed and moves to the payment phase at set times and dates (See below). If you are a new customer to the boarder, they will contact you to arrange a visit. If you aren't contacted for any reason, the booking may cancel in which case, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help.
    • Once the visit is completed to everyones satisfaction, the boarder will update the system and you will be notified by text and email of how and when to make payment:
    • Stripe account: You will be guided through a simple set up to create a Stripe account, but this allows any bank account or credit/debit card to be nominated for payments.
    • Free payment collection: All payments will be collected via Stripe in one payment and distributed to LAYD and your boarder. 
    • For boarding and pet-sitting over 14 days away: One single payment will be requested; that covers the booking fee and the boarders fee 14 days before the booking begins.
    • You can cancel the booking at anypoint up to 14 days before at no cost to you.
    • Once payment is made at day 14 it is non-refundable.
    • For boarding and pet-sitting under 14 days away: Payment will be taken immediately once the booking is accepted (or after a visit for new customers). This payment is then non-refundable. 
    • For one-off daycare, dog walking, and drop-in visits: Payment will be taken by 6pm the day before the service is due unless you wish to cancel which can be done with no charge. Once paid, it then becomes non-refundable. 
    • For repeat bookings of daycare, dog walking or drop-in visits: The customer can cancel services before 6pm the day before they are due. Payment will be taken at the end of the week, only for services actually delivered. 
    • Payment history: All payments will be recorded on your Stripe account so you will always know what you paid and when without having to keep separate records.
  • 🐶 What services does Lookafteryourdog offer?

    Lookafteryourdog provides a range of services including home dog boarding in a boarder's home, pet sitting in your own home, doggy daycare in a boarder's home, and dog walking and drop-in visits at your home.

  • 🐾 What is your experience with dogs?

    🐾 What is your experience with dogs?

    I'm Steve Dalton, the owner of Lookafteryourdog. I served as a Police Officer for 30 years and spent ten of those years working with a police dog, P.D. Max. I also trained a Springer Spaniel, Bracken, to search for explosives and helped train several German Shepherd and Springer Spaniel puppies. This extensive experience led me to create a service focused on providing excellent care for dogs..

  • 🏠 How do you choose your dog boarders?

    I hand-picked amazing people who love dogs and are committed to delivering the high-quality service I wanted to provide. Our local home dog boarders are located in Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Lichfield, Solihull, and Bromsgrove.

  • Vet Care and Emergencies

    How do you handle vet emergencies?

    In the event of an emergency, we are authorized to transport your dog to your veterinarian or an alternative if necessary. We can approve treatments up to £500 without further permission and you are responsible for all costs..

    What if my dog becomes aggressive?

    If your dog has a history of aggression or becomes aggressive and unsafe, we reserve the right to refuse to care for the dog and may use boarding kennels to safely house them until you return, at your expense. This is a last resort and should not occour if the visit and trial nights are used correctly.

  • Consent Form

    The consent form is built into the final payment process and is mandatory and payment cannot be made without it's completion or updating. The consent form contains the Vet details and owners permissions and emergency contact and needs to be checked prior to payment and kept up to date so we can carry out your wishes when looking after your dog.
    Customers who only use LAYD for dog walking or drop-In visits should still complete the consent form so that in the event of anything happening that prevents you from having your dog, we can provide a boarder or sitter to look after your dog until the situation is resolved.

FAQs for dog boarders
FAQs for how to use site
  • How do I find a suitable boarder?

    Use the search bar to find a local boarder and use the information and reviews to decide if they are suitable for you and your dog. Follow the instructions to book the boarder and they will contact you to arrange the initial visit. After the visit you can decide if you want to book and then follow the instructions to complete the process.

  • Payments and Cancellations

    When is payment due?

    Payment for dog boarding and pet sitting is due 14 days before the service begins. For one-off daycare, dog walking, and drop-in visits, payment is due by 6 p.m. the day before the service. For repeat bookings of those services, payment is made in arrears at the end of the week and only for services delivered.

    What is your cancellation policy?

    You can cancel dog boarding and pet sitting up to 14 days before the service starts without penalty. For daycare, dog walking, and drop-in visits, you can cancel before 6 p.m. the night before the service without penalty. No refunds are given for cancellations made after these deadlines. The booking fee is non-refundable in any instance once paid.

  • Is Your payment System Secure?

    We use Stripe as our payment system because it is a worldwide trusted site with top level security built in. We want you to be sure that your personal details and payment info are safe while using our service.

  • What happens after I book?

    Booking Placed

    • Your booking request has been successfully sent to the boarder and to your registered e-mail account.
    • The boarder is automatically emailed by the system and a text message is also sent to notify them of your new booking enquiry.
    • They have 24hrs to review your booking and have two options, to either accept the booking or decline within the time given. If they don't see the enquiry or are away and unable to see it, it will automatically cancel after 24hrs so you aren't kept waiting and can look for another boarder.
    • If they accept the booking, you will be notified by email and your dashboard booking updated. If they decline, you will receive a polite email explaining that they are unable to have your dog on this occasion.
    • Once accepted, if you are an existing customer of the boarder, the booking will be agreed and moves to the payment phase at set times and dates (See below). If you are a new customer to the boarder, they will contact you to arrange a visit. If you aren't contacted for any reason, the booking may cancel in which case, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help.
    • Once the visit is completed to everyones satisfaction, the boarder will update the system and you will be notified by text and email of how and when to make payment:
    • Stripe account: You will be guided through a simple set up to create a Stripe account, but this allows any bank account or credit/debit card to be nominated for payments.
    • Free payment collection: All payments will be collected via Stripe in one payment and distributed to LAYD and your boarder. 
    • For boarding and pet-sitting over 14 days away: One single payment will be requested; that covers the booking fee and the boarders fee 14 days before the booking begins.
    • You can cancel the booking at anypoint up to 14 days before at no cost to you.
    • Once payment is made at day 14 it is non-refundable.
    • For boarding and pet-sitting under 14 days away: Payment will be taken immediately once the booking is accepted (or after a visit for new customers). This payment is then non-refundable. 
    • For one-off daycare, dog walking, and drop-in visits: Payment will be taken by 6pm the day before the service is due unless you wish to cancel which can be done with no charge. Once paid, it then becomes non-refundable. 
    • For repeat bookings of daycare, dog walking or drop-in visits: The customer can cancel services before 6pm the day before they are due. Payment will be taken at the end of the week, only for services actually delivered. 
    • Payment history: All payments will be recorded on your Stripe account so you will always know what you paid and when without having to keep separate records.