Policies and Procedures

The licence number and issuer will be clearly displayed at the entrance to the property. A copy will also be kept in the Meet and Greet file for clients to view. The Meet and Greet file will contain a copy of the record keeping format for each dog, a copy of the Terms and Conditions, a copy of the daily routine, a copy of the operating procedures, a copy of the booking form, a copy of the First Aid certificate award, DBS certificates, a copy of business insurance, and any other relevant training undertaken. These will be available for the client to view during the initial Meet and Greet Session. Customers will be required to complete a booking form prior to the Meet and Greet session where they will be required to fill in all the relevant information regarding their dog(s). The information will remain confidential and not be shared unless required by a vet. Diet The customer will provide food for their dog(s) for the entirety of the stay. The client will state how often and how much the dog(s) will be fed and Happy Hounds will adhere strictly to the diet. Should there not be enough food for the dog, Happy Hounds will only purchase the same food that the dog has been eating at the client’s cost. Environment The dog(s) will be boarded in the home along with the resident dog after a successful meet and greet. All dogs will be required to have a one off one-night stay to ascertain suitability. Consent will be sought from the client to board the dog(s) with another dog. The dog(s) will access to the living room and kitchen/dining room at all times, unless separation is required. The dog(s) will be treated as part of the family and will be with humans throughout the stay and with the resident dog as much as possible. The dog(s) will be allowed frequent, supervised access to the private, fully enclosed garden where they can toilet and play. The client will provide the dog’s regular bedding and toys if suitable (alternative bedding and toys will be provided if required) Monitoring behaviour On the booking form, the client will advise of any behavioural traits or problems. The dog(s) will be assessed on arrival and throughout their stay to ensure they do not suffer from stress. Any signs of stress will be read and dealt with appropriately. If the client’s dog(s) and resident dog become possessive, they will be separated or the toy will be removed. Records will be maintained of any events that occur. The dog(s) will be rewarded through positive reinforcement. The dogs will have human interaction throughout the day. They will have play and enrichment sessions, a basic grooming session and walks (a walking plan will be created at the Meet and Greet session). All interactions are positive to retain a strong relationship. All areas of the house and garden will be monitored and assessed daily to ensure there is no danger to the dog(s). The dog(s) will not have access to electrical cables or chemicals. The dog(s) will not be left alone with the resident dog at any time. If a dog acquires an injury, appropriate first aid will be administered and the client’s vets will be consulted wherever possible. In the case of an emergency the owner or the emergency contact will be notified. A canine first aid kit is kept in the house and the car. To prevent disease, Happy Hounds will not accept any dog who has not received their annual vaccinations, including Kennel Cough, at least two weeks prior to the stay. The resident dog is also vaccinated - the vaccination card with be available to see at the meet and greet session. The areas of the house the dog(s) are allowed in, will be kept clean of dust and rubbish. The areas of the house the dog(s) are allowed in, will be thoroughly disinfected (using pet safe products) and will be allowed to dry before the dogs can access them. Toys will be regularly washed and removed if they become unsafe. All dogs will need to have a regular worming and flea treatment regime. The food preparation area will be cleaned after every meal preparation and the food bowls will be cleaned daily; fresh water will be available throughout the day. Emergency Procedures If a medical emergency arises, Happy Hounds will take the dog(s) to the vets stated on your booking form wherever possible. The client will be contacted and if uncontactable, their emergency contact will be contacted. In the event of a fire, there are fire extinguishers in the kitchen and living room and there is a fire blanket in the kitchen. Dogs will be evacuated to the garden. Evacuating the dogs to the garden would be the priority in all cases. Alternative boarding in kennels would then be arranged immediately. Smoke alarms are fitted as is a carbon monoxide detector which are inspected regularly. The property is inspected annually for fire, electrical and gas safety. If a dog became unwell and required isolation, they would be placed in the kitchen and the owner or emergency contact would be contacted and requested to come and collect the dog or if this failed, the dog would be taken to the vets outlined on your booking form, in order to know what the best treatment for the dog would be. Client’s dogs will have the original ID tag taken off the collar and replaced with the contact details of the business. The dog will wear the collar at all times. Extreme Temperatures In the event of excessive heat, dog walks will take place early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperatures are cooler. Cool mats will be provided throughout the day, water will be refreshed more regularly, play will take place indoors where it is much cooler. Secure windows can be opened to allow for air flow keeping all rooms fresh and cool. In the event of extreme cold weather, heating will be provided to ensure the dogs do not become too cold. Extra blankets can be provided for the dog to sleep on and if provided by the client, dog coats will be used whilst outside. When coming in from outside, the dog will be properly dried using clean towels and paws will be properly washed to remove mud or grit from the road. Fans will be used in rooms to ensure a suitable temperature is maintained. Beds will be positioned away from radiators to prevent the dog from becoming overheated and away from windows and doors to prevent access to draughts. Happy Hounds vehicle has a ventilated roof fan and tinted windows. If Happy Hounds believes the weather to be unsuitable for walking, e.g., it is too hot or snowing heavily, other forms of enrichment will be provided to occupy and stimulate the dog. Physical/Mental Stimulation/enrichment An exercise plan will be discussed and can be adapted for each dog. Dogs are walked a minimum of twice daily for at least twenty minutes with garden time and play in between, if this suits your dog. Should a dog not be walked for medical reasons or age, an enrichment plan will be created. The plan will be discussed and adapted at the Meet and Greet session with the client. Happy Hounds has a dog buggy which can be a great way of allowing dogs with limited movement to go further, getting in and out when they want/need for some physical and mental stimulation – if agreed with owner and suitability assessed by Happy Hounds and the owner. Happy Hounds also has equipment to aid older or injured dogs which can be used if suitable, with owners’ permission. These include cones to form a figure of 8 to walk around which help strengthen joints and physio mats. Happy Hounds believe most dogs will enjoy playing with toys, whether it be their favourite ball, tug toy or squeaky. Sensory toys will be available if suitable. Playing games your dog(s) them both indoors and outside can help to keep them active and busy. Toys can be set up for a game of hunt for dogs around the home or garden. By sniffing for the treats that are hidden they are mentally stimulated as well as being kept busy looking for the treasure - this will help to give a dog mental stimulation. Happy Hounds use stuff-able toys like Kong’s and treat-dispensing balls. Snuffle mats and lick mats are also used for mental stimulation and enrichment. Dogs will have human interaction and interaction with suitable dogs for stimulation. When possible, Happy Hounds sometimes rents a dog field, which is fully enclosed to allow dogs that might not ordinarily be off the lead, to exercise and play without being on a lead. The field has activities for the dogs to do safely. Grooming Happy Hounds will ensure that dog’s benefit from adequate routine grooming and other health regimes as needed and agreed with the owner e.g., cleaning of eyes or keeping long fur from matting. This should include attention to coat, teeth, ears and nails and inspection for parasites. Grooming is also a time for interaction with a human and can provide stimulation. Feeding Dog(s) will be fed in separate rooms at the time set by the owner where possible to replicate feeding times at home. The food and treats are to be supplied by the owner. A f00d schedule sheet will be filled in by the owner and Happy Hounds will document how much is eaten at feeding time on a daily basis. Food intake will be monitored on a daily basis and veterinary advice sought if a dog has not eaten for 24hours. Behaviour Happy Hounds will assess each dog’s behaviour which will be documented. This is helpful in determining a dog’s health and happiness. Dogs that excessively bark will not be able to be boarded with Happy Hounds. Medication The client will inform the business of any medication the dog(s) are on and Happy Hounds will ensure the correct administration and storage of the medication. Happy Hounds will not board puppies under the age of 6 months. Puppies between 6-12 months of age will have a separate exercise plan according to their age. Puppies will be walked for 5 minutes for every month of age (e.g. 6 months old = 30 minutes of gentle walking). During play sessions, puppies will be encouraged to play at ground level so as to not negatively impact their joints and will be constantly monitored with the resident dog to ensure rough play does not occur. brushed to remove excess dirt and have their feet washed and dry after a walk. Towels will be washed daily. Transportation Dogs will be transported securely via car. They will wear a suitable harness (preferably one provided by the client) and will be secured via a seatbelt clip. Meet and Greet Session All dogs will have a Meet and Greet session to check suitability and to allow a smooth introduction to the resident dog. The Meet and Greet session will allow the client to ask questions, pass on any information and allow the business to check they have all the information they require to allow for a comfortable stay for the dog. Should the visiting dog not socialise well with either the resident dog or resident cats, the booking will be terminated. Should the business feel the visiting dog is going to pose a risk to the family or the resident animals, the booking will be terminated. Authority will be contacted as soon as possible. Dogs will wear collars with tags on at all times so that if found, Harley’s Home Boarding for Dogs can be contacted. Every effort will be made to recover the dog as soon as possible. Immediate searches will take place for the dog whilst conditions (e.g., light, weather) are deemed safe. Daily Records Daily records are kept to demonstrate: 1. That the dogs are feeding and drinking normally, 2. The health check as agreed with the owner, has been undertaken 3. They have had their 1st Daily Dog Walk away from the home 4. They have had their 2nd Daily Dog Walk away from the home. 5. They have had access to external garden for at least 20 minutes 6. Dog is defecating and urinating normally 7. The dog is behaving normally and not showing signs of stress or ill health. Happy Hounds will contact the owner or emergency contact if issues are found and seek veterinarian help if applicable. The Death of an Animal In the unlikely event that a boarding dog should pass away, the owners or emergency contacts will be contacted immediately. The Local Authority will be contacted within working hours on the day or the next working day. If the owner is not able to collect the dog immediately, it will be taken to a veterinary surgeon who is qualified to certify the death of an animal. Gloves will be worn at all times when handling the body and the body will be securely wrapped in a blanket or towel and placed on a plastic covering for storage and transportation. The body will be isolated from all other dogs on the premises and be moved to a veterinary practise as soon as possible to safely and hygienically store the body until the owners’ instructions regarding aftercare arrangements can be carried out. Suspension / Revocation of License or an Emergency In the event that my licence is suspended or revoked or an emergency happens, the owner/emergency contact will be called to arrange immediate collection of their dog. If that is not possible the dog will be placed in the care of a licensed animal boarding establishment and the owner/emergency contact will be informed as to its location. Happy Hounds does not have any children living at the premises. Any children visiting will only be allowed to visit the premises when there are not any dogs boarding at the property. The owner’s children must be 16 or over if accompanying the owner for the meet and greet session and or drop off and pick up. Home Boarding – Payment secures the booking. A 25% payment is made once a meet and greet has occurred and a one off overnight stay. This is non refundable . The balance is to be paid 4 weeks before your dogs stay . If this is not paid the booking will be cancelled. Daycare – Payment is to be received upon booking. Home visits – Home visits are to be paid on booking . A 72 hour cancellation fee is in place for all walks, home visits and daycare sessions. Owners are liable for any damage their pet my cause , which includes but not limited to, furniture, soft furnishings, equipment , vehicle etc. Intact Males and females in season are not boarded by Happy Hounds Pet Service.