Q: What areas do you
cover?
A: Walk the Dog offers a number of services from dog walking, cat and small animal feeding, puppy
classes, canine behavioural advice and 1-1 consultations. We operate our pet care services in and around the Berkhamsted
area. We operate our dog listening services in and around the Herts, Beds and Bucks, North and Central London area.
To find out if we operate in your area, please click here.
Q:
Are there options to extend the dog walk?
A: Yes, we're flexible. Our goal is
to give you and your dog a quality service that meets your needs.
Q:
Do you run puppy classes?
A: Yes. Walk the Dog has our own puppy school called WTD Puppies. Our
puppy classes are held every Tuesday evening at Leverstock Green Village Hall. We have two levels of courses,
Stage One aimed at newly vaccinated puppies up to approx 5 months of age. And, Stage Two called Puppy Progress,
this course is essential in maintaining the skills learnt in Stage One as your dog hits puberty and we teach new skills
and fun tricks. This course is aimed at dogs around 6 months to 9 months of age. Our classes are
held in a warm, indoor, friendly environment. What sets us apart from other puppy classes it that we are trained
and certified in canine behaviour. Therefore, as well as teaching you the essentials we place help you understand
how your dog thinks, why he behaves in certain ways and how to avoid unwanted problems. We focus on positive re-enforcement
methods. We have a maximum of 5 puppies per class, to ensure you and your dog get the care and attention
you deserve.
Q: I have problems with my dog's behaviour. How does your 1-1 consultations
work?
A: Consultations last typically around 3-4
hours depending on the case. It’s a good idea to have all the members of your regular daily
household present at the consultation, so your family all have an understanding of what they need to do, which will enable
you all to be consistent in the messages you’re giving your dog. Hanne will discuss with you the pet’s
daily routine, history and behaviour, and the family’s expectations of the relationship with your dog. Hanne will
help you to understand why your dog is displaying unwanted behaviours, and more importantly how you can help your dog to
stop this unwanted behaviour of your pet’s own free will. Hanne will provide an accurate diagnosis and
treatment plan using the Amichien Bonding ® technique – a force free, kind and effective method, that’s easy
to understand and works within your daily lives. Full telephone and email back up support will be provided following
your consultation to ensure you are given the support and coaching you need to ensure success. There are no
hidden charges, you pay one consultation fee regardless of how many canine companions you have and this fee includes full
telephone and email backup service for life. Note: Often problem behaviour can be caused by a
physical issue, so do ensure your pet has been checked by your vet prior to a consultation.
For more
information visit www.doglistener.tv
Q: Do you only look after dogs?
A: No, Walk the Dog offers home visits (feeding) for cats and
other small animals such as rabbits, birds, exotics, fish and so on. Click here for further information. We can cater for
more unusual species, so do call or email us to find out how we can help you.
Q: Do you have a cancellation policy?
A: We ask that you call 48 hours before your scheduled booking to cancel any
services. At the time of booking we will ask you for a 50% deposit - this helps secure the dates you've
asked us to come and care for your pets. If you give us less than 48 hours, you'll lose your 50% deposit,
as we may have had to turn other customers away in the meantime. If you cancel less than one hour from your booking,
you will be charged at the full rate.
Q: What do you do in case of emergency?
A: We always discuss with clients what process
they would like to follow in the event of an emergency while you are on holiday or at work. This includes
obtaining a secondary contact (eg. parent, friend or neighbour) and your veterinary practice details of where your pet
is registered. We first
call you to discuss the situation and recommended course of action. If you're uncontactable and medical
attention is required we will take your pet to the veterinary practice designated in our client information form.
In the event of a life threatening situation, we will take your pet to the closest veterinary practice to our location.
Our dog walkers are certified in animal
first aid.
Q: What security measures do you have in place?
A: We take security seriously and have a number of measures to protect your home and pets.
Your details are kept confidential and keys are held in a safe. When we're walking your dog or home visiting to feed
your cat, they will wear a tag with Walk the Dog's phone number. Hanne and all the team at Walk the
Dog are registered members of the National Association of Registered Petsitters (NARP) and are insured under
NARP and under Cliveton, and we are all police checked. Click here to find out more.
Q: Are you
associated with any professional bodies?
A: Yes. We
are members of NARP (the National Association of Registered Petsitters),
PAACT (the Professional Association of Applied
Canine Trainers) and the Animal Behavior Society (based in Indiana, USA) and the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB), Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), Animal Behaviour Management Alliance (ABMA), Universities Federation of Animal Welfare (UFAW) and Jan Fennell International Amichien Dog Listeners (JFIDL).
Ways of Working - terms and conditions 2010
