We take no more than four client dogs per walk.

Small groups allow us to give each dog proper attention and maintain a steady, well-supervised environment so they can enjoy the walk without chaos.

These small groups keep us within any local bylaws and council restrictions on numbers of dogs walked at one time. And in turn this maintains a good balance with other members of the general public.

How many dogs are walked at one time?

Before starting, we ask you to complete a short questionnaire so we understand your dog’s routine, personality and preferences. This helps us tailor your dog’s care properly from day one.

We offer trial walks and trial day care sessions. For some dogs, building up day care hours gradually helps them settle confidently without overwhelming them.

Trial sleepovers are mandatory under council regulations. Before any longer stay, we make sure your dog feels comfortable and secure with us. Their emotional wellbeing matters just as much as their physical safety.

What happens before my dog joins your services?

Yes. Dogs booked onto pack walks are collected and returned from your home or chosen address.

For day care and sleepovers, drop off and pick up take place at The Dog House. Alternative arrangements may be available by request depending on location.

Do you offer pick up and drop off in Cheltenham?

Muddy dogs are part of British life.

We carry towels and cleaning equipment, including a dog friendly power washer, to remove the worst of the mud before heading home. Dogs are towel dried, but after a proper countryside walk, they might not come home immaculate - but very happy.

What if my dog gets muddy on walks?

Yes. Dogs are supervised at all times during walks, day care and boarding.

At The Dog House, a team member is always onsite so dogs remain safe, settled and supported throughout the day.

Are dogs supervised at all times?

For the safety and comfort of the group, female dogs are unable to attend pack walks while in season. We’re happy to discuss alternative care options during this time where possible.

Can female dogs attend pack walks while in season?

All dogs must be up to date with vaccinations, including Kennel Cough, flea and worming treatments and wear a collar with an ID tag.

Female dogs cannot attend pack walks while in season for the safety and comfort of the group.

We also ask you to complete a questionnaire so we understand your dog’s routine and personality.

What are your requirements for dogs in your care?

On arrival, we carry out a brief wellbeing check to look for any cuts, rashes or concerns and report anything unusual back to you.

We are fully canine first aid trained and equipped with professional-grade supplies, with direct contact to Madra Vets should any issue arise.

If we notice anything that may indicate joint discomfort, allergies or other concerns, we will always let you know. Many owners appreciate that extra level of observation and care.

Do you provide welfare checks?

No. All dogs eat only food provided by their owners due to allergies and specialist diets. 

Do you provide food for the dog’s?

No. Dogs are never left alone during walks, day care or boarding.

Will my dog be left alone?

Always. Dogs are treated as part of our household and given calm, affectionate attention alongside structured care.

Dogs will be regularly brushed and groomed to maintain their coats.

Will my dog be cuddled and cared for?

Yes. Where possible we will keep to your routines and house rules. 

From feeding preferences and bedtime rituals to training commands and boundaries, we aim to replicate your home routine as closely as possible so your dog experiences consistency.

If you’re working with a trainer, we’re happy to support that guidance. What you practise at home, we respect and continue.

Will you follow our dog’s routine and house rules?

Dog safety always comes first.

In hot weather, walks are adjusted or avoided during peak temperatures. Our vans are air-conditioned, fitted with fans and cooling mats, and dogs will not travel if temperatures exceed safe limits. At The Dog House, we provide shaded garden areas, paddling pools, fans and air-conditioning units.

In cold or wet weather, dogs are properly dried and kept warm and comfortable.

How do you manage extreme weather?

For the safety and wellbeing of all dogs in our care, we cannot accommodate aggressive, extremely anxious dogs or dogs experiencing severe behavioural distress in a group environment.

If we feel your dog would not be happy or settled with us, we will always be honest and discuss alternative options.

Can you care for aggressive or extremely anxious dogs?

No. Day care and boarding take place in our family home, rather than a traditional kennel or large facility. Care is intentionally intimate , calm and home-from-home.

Do you offer day care in a kennel environment?

Yes. All boarding dogs complete an initial trial night, in line with council regulations. This ensures your dog is comfortable in our environment and helps us maintain a calm, settled routine for all dogs in our care.

Is a trial night required for boarding?

We recommend booking as early as possible, especially for day care and sleepovers, as spaces are limited to keep care personal and manageable.

How far in advance should I book?

Yes. We are fully licensed with Cheltenham Borough Council, insured and canine first aid trained. Documentation is shared with clients once bookings move forward.

Are you licensed and insured?

Clear, honest communication is part of professional dog care.

If we are delayed due to traffic or weather, we will let you know. If your dog shows signs of being unsettled or unhappy, we will always have that conversation - however difficult.

Our priority is always your dog’s wellbeing and the safety of the group. Many clients value our photo updates and regular check-ins.

How do you communicate with owners?

We do consider dogs under the age of 1 year (but over 4 months) for boarding and day care. However, due to certain behaviour patterns, considerations to other dogs and staffing we insist on a 4 week settling in period to assess and determine whether your dog will be suitable to continue with us. 

We will update you after every visit and all behaviour will be recorded. Please bear in mind that on occasion we might not be able to continue our care due to unwanted behaviour.
 
As part of our license condition we do not take entire male dogs over the age of 1 year. This is due to behavioural patterns which do not suit large groups of dogs.

Do you take entire males?

No. We're flexible with bookings. Every Friday we text active owners for their service needs for the following week, and Saturday we build the schedule.

That said, we recommend regular attendance so dogs can build routine, form friendships and bond with our team. Irregular visits can be confusing or stressful for your dog and our regular customers. 

Do I have to commit to a fixed amount of walks or day care sessions per week?

Unfortunately these times are strict to maintain a good structure for the dogs. We understand that life is not always straight forward and unexpected events do happen - we ask you to always clearly communicate with us if there is an unforeseen circumstance that we need to react on and support you with. 

Can we drop off or collect earlier or later than 7.30am and 6.00pm?

If your dog is crate trained and you use one at home for your dog to have timeout in or sleep in then we will also use them in the same way.  

We have a selection of bespoke, handmade, wooden crates and standard council approved metal crates. We NEVER hold dogs in crates for long period of times - they are for use within safety protocol, for emergency’s, for dogs struggling to settle, for sleeping in or as a support tool to rest after meal times.

Do we use crates?

Dogs in a free-roaming environment may occasionally experience minor bumps or strains. Rest assured that our team is well-prepared to handle thsese situtations calmly and appropriately.

We are all trained in canine first aid and are equipped to deal with any emergencies that might happen. We will always notify you immediately to discuss next steps and a course of action after the immediate situation has been dealt with satisfactorily.

What to expect if my dog gets injured on a walk, within day care or during boarding?

When filling out our booking form we ask you to provide an emergency person and contact number. This should be a person you trust implicitly as we will have to talk to them if you are not immediately contactable. Failing this we will take your dog to our trusted vet Madra on the London Rd, Charlton Kings.

What happens if you can’t get hold of me during an emergency situation?

An invoice will be sent to you at the end of each working week for the previous week’s services. In line with our credit arrangement we require prompt payment within 7 days please.

How do I pay?