BACKGROUND I was raised and lived with dogs my whole life, I was born the lucky sister to a little Yorkshire Terrier called Tootsie. We started Rover 3 years after our gorgeous English Cream Golden Retriever passed away aged 14; we now have an Irish Setter named Wiggly Shakespeare, a real gentleman/dog! We are a family offering a family life to your dog while you are away and for a very competitive fee. We are not a professional dog kennel, we do not use crates or cages and we do not leave dogs outside. KINDLY NOTE: 1. WE DO NOT DO EXCLUSIVES: we keep more than one dog at once, if your dog does not get on with other dogs, we are probably not the right Sitters. 2. For New Clients: We do NOT do LAST-MINUTE drop-offs: meeting you and your dog before booking the stay is essential. We need to see if we are a good match. We offer free 30 min preliminary meetings during the WEEK only. 3. We no longer take: Rottweilers, Pitbulls, American Bullies, Great Danes, Stratforshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, or any dogs showing aggressivity, and we cannot take dogs with contagious illnesses (Kennel cough or intestinal parasites) 4. Puppies: need to be fully vaccinated and the vet has to approve taking them to a dog park - Cannot take puppies on heat (make a plan B) 5. Please understand that we are NOT responsible for whatever you bring with your dog (bed, crate, soft toy, etc) and these items could be damaged, buried, or torn during the stay as dogs play with each other or -especially puppies- could chew a bit of their crate at night, etc. We do not use crates, we cannot monitor what the dog does to its crate during the night. OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU We will treat your dog as a member of our family; they will go on about three to four walks and errands a day and stay around us at home for the rest of the time. We offer treats (that you will provide and as per your instructions), walkies, fun-filled days, tummy rubs, etc. I will set up a free 30 min meet and greet before the first walk as I cannot accept overbearing dogs, this is a family affair, and we need to make sure we all get on swimmingly. I look forward to meeting you and your companion very soon! Info on what to expect when your pet stays with us: - I work from home, so your pet will not be alone most of the time (I have to go grocery shopping sometimes- usually my husband stays home (favorite excuse: cannot leave the dog alone!...) - Pets will sleep in the house in our living/kitchen area (I try to keep them out of the bedrooms), but they will always be in the house and during the day in and out of the fenced yard. Dogs have to be inside before dusk to avoid wildlife (skunks). - Daily walks: (in addition to access to the garden all day) - Walks are calibrated to the dogs' needs, we never push dogs, but most of the time we do provide them with more opportunities to go out than their owners as we work from home. The dogs "tell" us when they want to go play! As a result, of this increase in activity, as well as the stress related to being away from you, upon returning to their homes, they might seem a little tired and sleep, which is normal. Our usual routine with most dogs: a long walk in the morning, another walk mid-day (length depends on heat and type of dog), another nice longish walk at end of the day, another short walk later at night (9 PM) - If puppy then every 2 hours... - Weekend: hikes around Marin or the beaches IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BOOKING WITH US: - Strict drop-off and pick-up times: earliest: 6:30 AM, latest 5:30 PM please do NOT book outside of these hours (no exceptions) - New clients: NO last-minute drop-offs for new clients. We need to set up one free 30 min Preliminary Meeting (free 30 min meetings offered Tues. & Frid) to meet you and your dog, discuss your dog's behavior, assess them, and answer your questions. -HARNESS: I require a harness. Owners dropping off without a harness will be charged for a no-pull harness (i.e. harness with leash loops on the top and front) that I have to buy (priced at around $8.99-$25-$30 depending on size - I will provide a receipt), or I will refuse the dog. Gentle leaders are also a good idea but we need a harness to ensure the safety of your pet. Pulling on a collar is harsh for the dog's trachea and my back and does not give any control. The harness will be discussed during the meet and greet*** LOGISTICS - FEES - CANCELATION - POLICY ALL Drop-off and pick up take place at Doc Edgar Park in Fairfax Our small road ends in a trail (dead end) so it is easier to meet at the park, also do not allow clients on our property at present - BOARDING IS PER 24HR Periods. For example, if you drop off the dog on day one at 9 AM but pick the dog up at 5 PM on pick-up day, I will add a daycare fee. We do not charge per hour. The Rover app allows you to put any time in your initial booking request and does its own calcs, but it is up to the sitter to specify and apply their rates and procedures. DROP OFF PICK UP - Earliest drop off 6:30 am (i.e. when you drop your dog off) - we need to know the night before so we can plan our walks around your drop off - Latest drop off is 5:30 PM (We usually keep more than one dog, to ensure a good connection between dogs, we take the dogs to the park, which is a neutral ground to meet, and we walk back like a pack. For this reason, we do not accept late drop-offs). Please understand it is also very difficult to integrate a dog into a family routine (young child) after 5:30 PM. - Earliest pick up 7:00 AM (i.e. when you pick up) - One day's notice required - LAST pick up 5:30 PM strict. After that time, you will be charged an additional overnight fee. If you land at 5 or 5:30 PM, it is unlikely you will be here in time to pick it up. Alternatives to booking an extra night: ask a friend or relative to pick your dog up, or book another night. PAYMENTS - Payments need to be made via Rover at all times; we do NOT accept cash or other forms of payments. Rover provides insurance for your day during their stay but only if you pay through the app. - I do not control how visible Rover makes the rates or cancellation policy on their website; I do not control their terms either - please contact them directly for any payment related or lack of clarity regarding their terms. I am listing a few points below for clarity: - Rates: Please check the rates; they are different if you book for a holiday or a puppy CANCELLATION POLICY - SEVEN DAYS: Details of the Seven Days Policy as defined by Rover as of November 2022 are listed below - I do not control the wording or updates to the policy, so please verify that this is still up to date (by calling Rover): Rover Seven-Day Cancel Policy Details: "You'll get a full refund if you cancel by 12:00 noon one week before the stay begins (12:00 noon is determined by your sitter's time zone). If you cancel after 12:00 noon one week before the stay begins, you'll get a 50% refund for the first seven canceled days and a 100% refund for any additional days." - Clarification regarding Pick up/ Drop off: I do not usually provide this service, only very occasionally when essential and only a small distance. OVERNIGHT KIT REQUIRED BED (clean) + item that smells of you FOOD: Please measure the food the dog needs for the stay and one or two more days (just in case) WE NO LONGER TAKE WHOLE FOOD BAGS OR TUBS. At drop off, you will be asked to measure the food if not done. - NO bowls TOYS: We can NO LONGER ACCEPT toys: NO TOYS, PLEASE! we do not take responsibility for toys as dogs play together and toys get destroyed, lost, or mixed up on pick-up day - at drop-off, toys will be rejected. CRATES: Up to you - We do not have any. PHILOSOPHY - I apply the Positive Training Technique as taught by Victoria Stillwell and do not believe in, nor will I use punitive techniques - shock or prong collars included - for more info (change "dot" for"."): see her website: positivelydotcom - How to choose a collar: https://www.youtubedotcom/watch?v=4dRgZB5u0VE - Training Tips: https://www.youtubedotcom/watch?v=M1hai494vtU - youtubedotcom/watch?v=RcD6Dn9O8gQ FOOD - I will only feed your dog what you give me to feed them (unless they are sick, in that case, I will follow the vet's instructions after informing you) - I do not feed pets from the table; they should have their own bowls (provided by the owner for overnight stays) and their own food and treats (provided by owner) COMMUNICATIONS - I take photos of your dog multiple times a day and send them to you, I cannot control service connection or download times and we might be on a trail with limited reception so photos might be delayed. - I answer inquiries (change in drop off pick up, new requests, etc.) as best I can between 8 AM and 6 PM during workdays and more sporadically at the weekend (I am usually out with the dogs in places where the connection may vary). I do NOT provide a summary of everything your dog did each day, the photos are the vehicle to communicate how your dog is doing. I only reach out if I have a question (running low on food) or if it is an emergency. - I will send you photos of your furry loved ones throughout their stay. WASHING Shampoos: We are NOT a salon; we are NOT equipped to pamper your pet. We love dogs, and dogs love to run in the grass, in the rivers, on the beach, and often in the mud, very few dogs like tarmac. We clean their paws, but if you want a squeaky-clean, fragrant dog, please book an extra cleaning service with your usual pet salon for the pickup day. Should we have to wash your dog due to excessive dirt, or long stays, we would use Burt’s and Bees for Puppies Tearless Shampoo, or for adult dogs, Burt’s and Bees Hypoallergenic Shampoo. You have to let us know if your dog has known allergies and/or if you have a specific shampoo you use please bring it. I tried to cover everything, but in case I forgot something, don't hesitate to ask when we meet! We look forward to meeting you and your furry friends! I work from home and so does my husband so we are around and the dogs are free to go in and out throughout the day. The walks keep me fit! Your dog becomes part of our family and comes with us on outings etc as you can see in the photos. We offer a safe and relaxing vacation retreat for the dogs and that is the reason why we can only accept dogs who are comfortable with other dogs.