How much outdoor access do the rooms have?

Every room has both an indoor and an outdoor area, and dogs have access to both throughout the day. That means if your dog wants to go out to toilet, they don't have to wait for a designated break, they can go whenever they need to.

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What exercise will my dog get?

Dogs exercise in our secure, enclosed paddocks rather than on lead walks, giving them much more freedom to move than they'd get on a lead. Dogs are taken out either individually for 20 minutes a day, or for an hour a day in our Yappy Hour sessions if they enjoy socialising. We like to keep a fairly strict routine to the day, as this keeps the dogs calmer and happier, new dogs settle into it quickly and our regulars just slot straight back in. We also provide enrichment inside the kennels itself, which varies day to day.

 

Can my pet bring their own bed, toys or treats?

Yes, we think it's a good idea to bring in something that smells of home for your dog's stay. If your dog has any special toys or treats then by all means bring them in. We provide trampoline style beds and bowls. We can't be held responsible for any loss or damage to items left in the kennel during your dog's stay.

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Will I get updates while my dog is staying with you, and can I call?

Yes, we send email updates every few days to let you know how your dog is settling in. You're also welcome to email or call us anytime during opening hours if you'd like to check in, and we'll always let you know how they're doing.

 

Do you offer trial stays?

We recommend a trial stay for most dogs, especially before a longer holiday. It gives us a chance to properly understand your dog's needs and any quirks they have, and gives your dog a chance to get used to us too. It isn't always necessary, every new customer is asked a set of questions so we can judge together whether a trial makes sense for your dog.

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How many staff do you have, and what's your staff to dog ratio?

We only employ full time, experienced staff, we don't take on seasonal or part time workers. This means the same familiar faces look after your dog throughout their stay. We work strictly to a maximum ratio of one staff member to fifteen dogs, though in practice we usually run closer to one to ten or twelve. Staff are on site from 8:30am to 4:30pm, and the owners live on site 24/7, just 100 yards from the kennels.

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Boarding is the only thing we do. We used to offer grooming and training alongside it, but we made the decision to stop, because every hour spent on those services was an hour taken away from the dogs actually staying with us. That focus is exactly why we can commit to a ratio this strict, and give the same level of attention to a two night stay as we do to a two week one.

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What and when do you feed?

We recommend all owners bring their own dog's food with them, we cater to all diets, whether that's dry, wet, or raw. We try to stick to the same feeding times your dog has at home, so if you feed once, twice or three times a day, that's what we'll do, though this always has to fall within our opening hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm. If you don't bring food with you, we do have our own to fall back on, but bringing your dog's usual food helps keep their routine and diet consistent.

 

Do you mix dogs from different families in the kennels?

Not in their rooms, each dog has their own kennel and run with their own bed, water bowl and food, and are not mixed when exercised in the play paddock unless they are signed up for our Yappy Hour service. We will allow dogs from the same family to share a kennel and be in the play paddock together at the same time.

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What happens if my dog needs a vet while staying with you?

If your dog has a pre existing condition and their own vet is nearby, we'll always try to take them there first, since their vet already knows them. For emergencies, we use Armac Veterinary Group, our designated emergency vet, who we can reach within ten minutes and availabile on call 24/7.

 

What vaccinations do you require?

Before we can accept your dog for boarding, we need to see evidence of up to date vaccinations, these will be on your dog's vaccination card from your vet. All pets must have had their annual booster against Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Leptospirosis. Kennel Cough vaccination is recommended but optional for boarding generally, should you choose not to have it, we won't be held liable if your dog contracts it during their stay. However, if you'd like your dog to take part in Yappy Hour, the Kennel Cough vaccination becomes required, since this involves closer contact with other dogs.

 

Will you take my bitch in season?

Yes, all of our kennels are cut off from each other and we will ensure she is kept away from our male boarders.

 

Do you have cameras in the kennels?

We have CCTV and security cameras around the building and facility, but not inside the individual rooms themselves. We find our staffing ratio and regular communication with owners give better peace of mind than footage would.

 

How far in advance should I book?

As early as you can, especially for busy periods. Summer months can fill up to eight to twelve months in advance, and school holidays including Christmas get booked up quickly too.

 

Can you administer medication?

Yes, medication is given within our opening hours only, so we can properly supervise your dog afterwards in case of any reaction. We're unable to administer epilepsy or insulin medication, as these require constant supervision, and our building is unmanned overnight from around 4:30pm until a check in the evening at around 9 - 10pm. We don't feel this is a safe environment for a dog needing that level of ongoing medical supervision, so if your dog needs either of these, please get in touch and we can talk through whether there's a way we can help.

 

Can I see where my dog will be staying before I book?

Our Pethouse Suites are designed for dogs who thrive on a calm, home from home environment, and many of the dogs who stay with us can be nervous around new people. We used to offer viewings before Covid, but when we had to stop, we noticed a genuine, positive change in how settled our dogs were. Limiting access to our experienced full time staff, rather than a steady stream of visitors, made a real difference to their wellbeing. You're always welcome to come and see us at the business itself, we just don't bring visitors into the rooms to disturb our guests. If you'd like reassurance beyond that, we're happy to share photos and videos, and a trial stay is a great way to get a feel for how we work before booking a longer holiday.

 

Are there any breeds you can't accommodate?

To keep every dog in our care safe and comfortable, we're unable to accept new bookings for Akitas, Belgian Malinois, Cane Corsos, or XL Bullys. For XL Bullys and any breed on the dangerous dogs list, this is because our insurance doesn't cover us to take them. For the other breeds, our own experience over the years has shown that dogs of this size and temperament often don't settle well in a kennel environment, and we'd rather be upfront about that than take a booking that isn't right for your dog. German Shepherds are welcome through our new dog assessment process, which includes a trial stay. Please get in touch to discuss this before booking.

 

Is my dog insured during their stay?

All dogs staying at Pawprints are covered by our kennel liability insurance, included in the price of their stay. This protects against rare incidents of negligence or issues arising from the kennel environment itself.

What our kennel insurance covers: injuries or illness directly caused by staff error, such as incorrect handling or medication; accidents from defects or hazards within the facility; emergency vet treatment where the kennel has been at fault.

What it doesn't cover, including but not limited to: pre existing or ongoing medical conditions; illness or injury not caused by kennel negligence, such as typical dog play, zoomies or overexertion; injuries caused by another dog during supervised play, including Yappy Hour or a kennel mate.

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These exclusions are standard across the boarding industry, not specific to us, and incidents of this kind are genuinely rare. Because of these limitations, we strongly recommend owners hold their own pet insurance, which can cover accidental injury or illness, specialist procedures, and post visit follow up care. If an incident occurs while your dog is with us and your own insurance covers it, we're happy to help with vet notes or claim documentation.