Dog-Sitting Service, Carmarthenshire Area

shazpatmc

I am intending to establish a dog-sitting service here on our premises and am currently exploring the requisite Public Liability Insurance. We have 4 acres of land, comprising field and woodland and are set 400 metres off of the road. This means that all dog exercising would be entirely on our premises, so no transportation of anyone's pet / companion would be involved. Sleeping accommodation would be external to our home but within spitting distance (our own 2 dogs do not sleep inside our home at night, either). Does this sound acceptable, please? Once I am up and running, I would only accommodate a maximum of 4 dogs at any one time, so that my attention would be entirely focused on the care and well-being of any temporary resident. Any suggestions as to what YOU would hope for in such a service would be gratefully received. Thank You.

Feebarn · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:14 am Post subject:

are you thinking along the lines of dog daycare? or kennels?

AngelaC · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

Sounds like a lovely setting Smile

I haven't kennelled my dogs or had a dog sitter yet, but if I were to, apart from wanting to feel I was leaving my dogs in safe hands, I would also want to make sure the property and area the dogs were housed in, was as secure as possible, due to the risk of theft. I don't know if you've made any consideration to that?

I am not sure what is required in terms of dog sitting rather than kennelling, ie whether you need to be licensed by the council etc. Also, I know from people who run/have run boarding kennels that you need to have someone there 24/7 - I'm not sure that applies to a dog sitting business but worth checking?

Good luck Smile

Maddie · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:31 am Post subject:

From what you describe I would say that what you are proposing isn't dog sitting at all, more kennels. Dog sitting to me is my dog indoors as I would have them and part of the family.

shazpatmc · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:40 am Post subject:

Thanks all. I would absolutely NOT be running a Kennels Boarding Business. Our location is accessible but the premises are entirely secure; we are gated and there is only one access point, unless someone traipsed over fields for some considerable distance. Furthemore, our own dogs are the first to announce any visitors or presence; in fact, the only time our 'Lab barks is for this reason, otherwise, she doesn't at all. Even in greeting us, all she offers is a wag! Yes, there would be a 24/7 presence when any other dog was here, of course. This venture is something I would take extremely seriously. I take the custody and care of our own two very seriously and certainly wouldn't lower my standards for anyone else' s dog. If anything, these standards would be more rigourously adhered to.

Feebarn · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject:

I just popped up to the local kennel near where I work to enquire about day boarding... they don't offer it.

So for me... if I was looking for that kind of service, it would need to be on the route from home to work. Preferably close to work then I could pup up at lunch and walk them myself.

Other than that.... it would need to be secure, safe, comfertable etc just like a regular kennel.

shazpatmc · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:36 pm Post subject:

Feebarn · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:40 pm Post subject:

me personally, wouldn't go too far out of my way otherwise the cost becomes prohibitive. I drive 20 odd miles to work, don't want to add to that with the current cost of diesel. I can get someone to come to my home and walk my dogs if I need at a similar cost to day boarding, if you see what I mean??

shazpatmc · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject:

No, neither would I. Our only holidays have been to places where we can accommodate our two, in the UK although it would be nice to perhaps travel somewhere hot iand dry n future years.

SNOWPINES · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject:

Have you seen the form yet to apply for a license? It may vary from authority to authority. Here you either 'home board' which means they live inside with you in your home (no buildings, cages or runs outside allowed) or you run a boarding kennels which is subject to different regs. It also says on my application form that you are only allowed to board dogs from the same household at any one time. These two particular clauses are worrying me now as we have kennels erected in the garden (the size of 2 garden sheds) for our own dogs and also intended to board dogs from different households. Confused

Also wondering if we should have had planning permissin for the kennels Shocked