Frequently Asked Questions

In the unlikely event of an emergency, we will immediately call and notify you, using the details provided in our initial meeting. If veterinary assistance is needed, we will take your pet to your named vet or, depending on the urgency of the situation, to the nearest possible surgery.

We take security very seriously and use a range of good practices to protect you and your dog. All of our clients’ keys are safely secured in designated key cupboards in our own homes, identified only by a photo of your pet. In the unlikely event of a break in, there are no details to connect the key to your address. Dogs who are in our care through the home sitting service wear identity tags with our company name and contact details.

Your dog will only be walked by your regular walker.

However, we will provide cover for other team members in the event of holiday, sickness, or unforeseen circumstances.

We believe in walking in small groups to ensure a safe, happy walk for everyone. We carefully match dogs with similar temperaments and energy levels, so more boisterous dogs are walked separately from calmer, quieter companions.

We organise our walk to minimise the amount of time your dog spends being transported in our vans – particularly during periods of warm weather. We carry water and bowls as a matter of course to ensure that the dogs are comfortable.

Dogs are pack animals, and like the comfort of knowing that the pack is close by. However, if your dog is out of sight for longer than usual, we have a protocol in place which ensures that all available Homes & Hounds walkers make their way to the location.

Homes & Hounds only accept sociable dogs to ensure that they are happy in one another’s company. Usually the dogs become comfortable with and enjoy the socialisation, and sharing their walk is not a problem. We can, of course offer one to one walks if this is more suitable for yours dog requirements, however this does incur an additional charge.

Our experienced house and dog sitting service provides you with peace of mind whilst you're away. With team members who have cared for everything from cosy flats to large country properties, we understand the unique requirements of different homes and their features.

Many of our sitters, including Mary Allen who has over seven years' experience with Homes & Hounds, offer this service from their own homes. Mary has cared for five different properties across the UK and has experience living in diverse environments – from a reed hut in South Africa to a 32-acre property in New Zealand. This breadth of experience means she's comfortable with homes of all sizes and complexity.

Our team brings varied professional backgrounds to the role. Before working with animals, Mary ran nursery schools of various sizes, giving her extensive experience in caring for people's most precious belongings. She holds a BTEC qualification in Animal Management at Distinction level, covering nursing and first aid, nutrition, behaviour and welfare – subjects that inform her practical, common-sense approach to pet care.

All our house sitters are fully insured, with cover including vehicle and public liability insurance for complete peace of mind across all aspects of the service.

Once Mary has assessed each dog’s recall skills – initially rewarding them with small treats to reinforce continued good recall – dogs are usually off the lead. Visiting dogs also wear a tag containing Mary’s Homes & Hounds contact details for the duration of their stay.

Mary is able to look after as many pets as you have!

In your initial meeting, Mary will record full details of your pet’s medical history. Should any of your pets require veterinary attention whilst in Mary’s care, she will take them to your own veterinary practice.

Most pets will be very happy in the safety of their familiar environment, but as further peace of mind, Mary is happy to send text messages to let you know how your pets are doing and what they’ve been up to.

Your dog will be welcomed to live in our home as part of our home boarding service. Your dog will not be penned or caged and your dog is welcomed as part of the family.

Rest assured, your dog will be taken care of as if it’s one of our own. Our intention is to ensure that your dog’s holiday experience is as good as yours, and this is very obvious seeing how excited returning dogs are when arriving for their next holiday.

We encourage new customers to come and visit us prior to your dog’s first stay; please contact us to arrange an appointment.

Dogs need to arrive with their own food, which maintains dietary continuity, and any current medication with clear dosage instructions. We also ask you to bring your dog’s own bedding – whilst we have plenty of spare beds, sleeping in their own will help them settle more quickly.

We will ask you to complete a Homes & Hounds information form and need a copy of your dog’s vaccination card.

We firmly believe in the importance of providing a safe home boarding environment and are licensed and inspected by those local authorities that provide this service.

Each of our homes is suited to a different number of dogs under the terms of our boarding licenses. It is important to us that your dog is comfortable and secure during their stay.