Dog boarding payment

[ExamStress2021]

Just a quick question to those of you who have used boarders. Do you pay on booking or on collection of the pup? I’m being asked to pay on booking which worries me in case something goes wrong but I may be being silly and this may be how it always works. What’s the norm from your experience?

You pay on booking. If you have pet insurance this may cover any cancellation you need to make.

I pay on collection (bank transfer) but I have used the kennels for years so not sure if that is the norm for new clients.

Pre Covid ours was on collection..
Now it is at drop off...

Thank you. It’s a moot point now because the lady’s decided she’s ‘not comfortable to have my dog’ after I said I just wanted to think it over before going ahead because we’ve always paid on collection in the past. She said it’s her business, her rules and that’s how she does it. Oops! 🙈

Use an app where the funds are held in eskrow and also the cancellation policy is enforced .

Ie Rover / Tailster

I now pay on collection because I have been with them for many years but initially I paid beforehand although I think that was the month before rather than on booking.

Totally understand why some want the money beforehand just like I have to sometimes pay for my hotel when I book it.

Whilst I will pay up quickly I do know from people who are self employed that a lot of others don't and take the piss. Therefore I get why some ask for money upfront and if I am booking then I want those dates and would be happy to pay to reserve them.

You said yourself you had reservations in case something went wrong so presumably you might have cancelled after they had turned other dogs away because most home boarders can only have a few dogs at a time due to their license.

@stevalnamechanger

Use an app where the funds are held in eskrow and also the cancellation policy is enforced .

Ie Rover / Tailster

Please don't do this!

Anyone can sign up to those apps and there's no requirement for them to be insured or licensed.

OP - I'm a sitter and wouldn't accept being paid at the end of a job.

What would stop you collecting your dog and refusing to pay me any money?

It's payment upfront or no service here.

It’s a strange one isn’t it because my thought was what would stop her from taking my money AND my dog and not being there when I returned to collect, or not even existing when we turned up (she wanted the money before any meeting or anything had taken place). For me, I just feel there has to be some security for both parties. A deposit to secure the date, like you have to give for example when ordering a cake, and then full payment before you take the dog home again, but once you’ve actually had the service offered. I did say maybe I’m being silly (I said this to her too) but it’s the first time I’ve heard of it being done that way from personal experience and felt a little, ‘where’s my security here that I’m a really going to get anything for this money?’

I pay on collection (with a very small deposit up front to secure the dates) but I get how that's a big risk for the sitter

@ExamStress2021 but presumably she's licensed and insured so you have legal recourse if something goes wrong?

If she's not, you shouldn't be using her anyway as she's operating illegally.

I wouldn't expect someone to pay before a meet and greet has taken place but I wouldn't take a long booking without a deposit at the time of booking and payment up front.

Otherwise if you cancel, I end up with no money - plus I've turned other paying clients away to accommodate you.

[quote icedcoffees]@ExamStress2021 but presumably she's licensed and insured so you have legal recourse if something goes wrong?

If she's not, you shouldn't be using her anyway as she's operating illegally.

I wouldn't expect someone to pay before a meet and greet has taken place but I wouldn't take a long booking without a deposit at the time of booking and payment up front.

Otherwise if you cancel, I end up with no money - plus I've turned other paying clients away to accommodate you.[/quote]
Actually that's not the case .

Licensing is dependent on council requirements

Boarders making under 1k a year do NOT need to be licensed in my area

@icedcoffees

OP - I'm a sitter and wouldn't accept being paid at the end of a job.

What would stop you collecting your dog and refusing to pay me any money?

It's payment upfront or no service here.

Well don't give them the dog till they've paid ?

A lot of people dump their dogs at kennels /boarding places (well they used to before you could flog them for a fortune) so traditionally you pay in advance. Tbh, if I didn't trust someone to take my money and return my dog at the end of it, I wouldn't let them look after him in the first place.

Boarders making under 1k a year do NOT need to be licensed in my area

I would never leave my dog with a random, unlicensed stranger lol. I mean, you do you, but it's a very big risk to take.

Well don't give them the dog till they've paid ?

If I'm doing sits, I do them in the owners home. I'm not about to sit and refuse to leave until I get paid lol. I take my payment upfront - if they don't like it, they're free to find another sitter.

@Clymene

A lot of people dump their dogs at kennels /boarding places (well they used to before you could flog them for a fortune) so traditionally you pay in advance. Tbh, if I didn't trust someone to take my money and return my dog at the end of it, I wouldn't let them look after him in the first place.

Yes, exactly.

If you're trusting me with your dog, surely you trust me not to walk off with your payment without doing the work?

@icedcoffees

Boarders making under 1k a year do NOT need to be licensed in my area

I would never leave my dog with a random, unlicensed stranger lol. I mean, you do you, but it's a very big risk to take.

Well don't give them the dog till they've paid ?

If I'm doing sits, I do them in the owners home. I'm not about to sit and refuse to leave until I get paid lol. I take my payment upfront - if they don't like it, they're free to find another sitter.

A small time dog border who makes under 1k ... they are still DBS checked , verified , first aid trained . Look on Rover !

Whole industry of people taking on a little part time work .

I'd rather leave my dog there than with some of the CASH COW doggy day cares in my area that have 15+ dogs in a small house all day . No thanks .

A small time dog border who makes under 1k ... they are still DBS checked , verified , first aid trained . Look on Rover !

I don't trust Rover in the slightest, lol. Anyone can advertise on there and you don't have to be DBS checked or first-aid trained either. I looked into it when I became a dog walker last year - anyone can write anything on there and all Rover do is make sure you are who you say you are. They don't check if you're licensed, trained, checked or anything else - that's on the client.

I'd rather leave my dog there than with some of the CASH COW doggy day cares in my area that have 15+ dogs in a small house all day . No thanks .

Nobody licensed would have 15 dogs in their home (unless that home is a mansion and the person has staff).

@icedcoffees

A small time dog border who makes under 1k ... they are still DBS checked , verified , first aid trained . Look on Rover !

I don't trust Rover in the slightest, lol. Anyone can advertise on there and you don't have to be DBS checked or first-aid trained either. I looked into it when I became a dog walker last year - anyone can write anything on there and all Rover do is make sure you are who you say you are. They don't check if you're licensed, trained, checked or anything else - that's on the client.

I'd rather leave my dog there than with some of the CASH COW doggy day cares in my area that have 15+ dogs in a small house all day . No thanks .

Nobody licensed would have 15 dogs in their home (unless that home is a mansion and the person has staff).

Clearly you don't live in London ...

They shouldn't have this many dogs nor should they be taking cash only .

Rover has been brill for us . Yes buyer beware but lots of trained folk .

Also you don't need council licensing to become a dog walker do you? My understanding was only boarding and daycare over 1000 a year needed to be licensed

I would not trust someone who made under a grand a year to look after my dog, given how much dog boarding costs. I want someone insured, professional and experienced.

@stevalnamechanger no, you don't.

But looked into doing boarding and daycare too - before I decided it was way too much hassle

I do walking and sitting in the owners home now - much easier imo and gives you a good divide between work and home.

My doggy daycare people had a dog dumped on them

Just left this beautiful Labrador with them and said they were going on holiday for 2 weeks

@Clymene

I would not trust someone who made under a grand a year to look after my dog, given how much dog boarding costs. I want someone insured, professional and experienced.

Hmm interesting .

One of my friends does it around her WFH set up. Single dog only though.

No license as not needed, clients through Rover . She's done first aid course , insured through Rover and is also doing a dog behavior course .

Far more preferable set up IMO than some of these horror houses with 5-15 dogs .

Seems to be going well & enjoyable for all - I couldn't manage the cleaning myself :D

Good for your friend. Wouldn't touch her with a barge pole though I'm sure she's very nice.

I've never heard of Rover although you seem very keen on it

And actually I think the law is that anyone who boards animals for money needs a licence www.gov.uk/guidance/boarding-for-cats-or-dogs-licence-england