Do you offer overnight pet-sitting? No. Doc's Dogs strictly offers walking and drop-in visits before 5:00pm. For the safety and well-being of the animals in our care, we do not offer drop-in visits for pets whose parents are away overnight unless there is another party responsible for them during off hours (i.e. someone else is providing dinner, bedtime potty break, breakfast, etc).
How does scheduling work? Once Doc’s Dogs has been contacted and availability confirmed, you will be emailed a brief intake form to fill out and sign. A meet and greet will be scheduled at your home prior to the first scheduled walk/visit to make sure we’re a good fit. Daily clients will be placed on the schedule for approximately the same block of time each day (as discussed with the walker at or prior to the initial meet and greet). It is the responsibility of the pet parent to notify the walker if dates/times need to be adjusted (i.e. the pet will be out of town or away at a grooming appointment during their regularly scheduled time). For clients with fluctuating schedules, or those scheduled for fewer than 4 visits per week, requests must be made weekly by the Sunday before, and the walker will reach out to confirm availability. Requests can be made via email, text, phone call, or in person. Invoices sent on Sundays for the upcoming week indicate which day your pet is on our calendar for a visit, so please always double check that these are correct!
Do you accommodate last minute requests? Current clients of Doc’s Dogs are always welcome to make last minute requests, and are often able to be accommodated. However, if your pet is new to us, you must make the request far enough in advance to allow for a meet and greet with the walker. The meet and greet will allow your pet to become familiar and comfortable with the walker, and give the walker a chance to learn your dog’s typical routine, location of their supplies, etc.
How many dogs do you walk at one time? Most of our walks are solo walks, where your pet gets the walker’s full attention for the full time. If you have multiple dogs in the same household that walk well together, they can be walked at the same time based on the walker’s comfort. Please see our Rates page for more information. For dogs from separate households to walk together, both clients must give permission, and the dogs must be introduced prior to the first buddy walk to ensure cooperation.
What is your inclement weather policy? Safety of the pets in our care is our number one priority. During light rain (light green on the weather radar), walks/visits will proceed as scheduled. For heavy rain or thunderstorms, all dogs will be given the opportunity to go out for a quick potty break, then entertained indoors for the remainder of the scheduled visit. When possible, walks/visits may be shifted to avoid inclement weather. Pet parents will be notified if their scheduled visit will be significantly different than their usual time. During the summer, temperatures in our area can reach levels that are unsafe for our typical walks. To combat this, we often accept fewer clients for June-August, and begin walks earlier, so that most of our visits can be completed during the cooler, morning hours. For pets that need midday or afternoon visits, the temperature and heat index will be taken into consideration, and walks will be adjusted accordingly. For particularly hot days, and during heat advisories, dogs will be offered a short outing to potty, then will be entertained indoors for the remainder of the scheduled visit. Other steps we take to ensure your pet's safety are: choosing the most shaded paths, encouraging dogs to walk on grass rather than hot asphalt, carrying water and collapsible bowls on the walk, and utilizing cooling bandanas when appropriate. When scheduling for hot days, priority will be given to senior dogs, dogs with known health issues, and those at higher risk such as brachycephalic dogs (bred with shortened snouts). Doc's Dogs will strive to complete all visits as requested, but reserves the right to modify walks to ensure the safety of both the dogs and the walker. It is the pet parent's responsibility to communicate any specific changes they'd like to be made, or to cancel/reschedule walks if desired.
What is your cancelation policy? Cancelations made 24hrs in advance can either be fully refunded in the form of the original payment (cash/card), or in the form of credit towards a future walk. We understand that life can be chaotic at times, and occasional same-day cancellations will often be credited towards the next regularly scheduled walk. However, if same-day cancellations become excessive, Doc's Dogs reserves the right to retain the full payment for the cancelled visit. For any no-shows (the walker arrives, but the service cannot be completed), full payment will be retained by Doc's Dogs.
What forms of payment do you accept? We accept cash, check, or card. To pay via credit/bank card, simply follow the link provided in your emailed invoice. We do not currently accept Venmo, Zelle, PayPal or other digital forms of payment.
Do you offer dog training? When it comes to dog training, consistency is key! While The Doc is not a dog trainer, she is happy to reinforce the training methods you're using during her visits. The Doc has experience with helping puppies learn the basics like sit, lie down, stay, and come, but for working on problem behaviors, it is recommended that you contact a professional dog trainer.
What type of gear do you use for walks? We utilize the gear provided by our clients, for their dog's comfort and familiarity. However, we may suggest or request the use of other gear if determined that it would make it safer for the dog or the walker. Our preference is for harnesses with both front and back clip options, with a standard 4-6 flat (non-retractable) leash.