Doggy Day Care North Dorset

“Rolo had a great time, pictures were received during his stay and Jenny was very helpful especially with a last minute booking. Would definitely recommend and will book again.”

Tracey H.

“Melonie and her 2 dogs welcomed our energetic Springer into their home on one of the hottest days of the year. The dogs slept the heat off in her cool kitchen and she took them for a late walk when it was cooler. Our dog can be a bit challenging but Melonie had the measure of him so he came home happy and tired. Thanks again Melonie - thoroughly recommended!”

Alan T.

“Always reliable! Buddy loves her, and she has introduced me to some new walks I was unaware of as I didn't grow in Salisbury. I would definitely recommend.”

Fiona M.

About: I’ve grown up around dogs and have had them in my life for as long as I can remember, with around 15 years of experience caring for dogs of different breeds, sizes, temperaments and levels of training. My own fox red Labrador, Gillie, has been a particularly important part of that experience. I trained her to work and she has helped shape the calm, consistent and adaptable way I approach dogs. Gillie is not currently resident at my home, so there is presently no resident dog at the property. One of the things I enjoy most about caring for dogs is that no two are quite the same. I’m very comfortable adapting to the individual dog rather than expecting them to fit into one standard routine. At one end of the spectrum, that might mean a trained working dog whose owner wants particular commands used, no ball throwing, strict boundaries and an established routine followed precisely. At the other, it might be an excitable adolescent, a strong or boisterous dog, a puppy still learning the basics, or a dog that simply needs a confident and patient person to manage them. I’m particularly comfortable with dogs that need a little more understanding, confidence or management. I don’t expect every dog arriving here to be perfectly behaved, and I won’t automatically dismiss a request simply because a dog is more demanding or the circumstances are a little complicated. More complex behavioural needs are considered individually so that I can make sure the arrangement is safe and appropriate for everyone involved. My home is in rural Wiltshire, with a large, fully fenced garden and direct access from the doorstep to fields, woodland and quiet countryside walks. Dogs staying with me live as part of the household rather than in a kennel-style environment, with plenty of company, outdoor time, exercise and opportunities to settle and relax. I am equally happy following a simple familiar home routine or a very detailed set of instructions. Feeding, sleeping arrangements, exercise, established training, medication, toys, treats, boundaries and all the little individual preferences that matter to your dog can be followed as closely as possible. I also understand that owners have different requirements. Some want regular photographs and reassurance, some prefer concise updates, and some simply want to know that everything has been taken care of. I’m happy to adapt to that too. Above all, my approach is calm, practical and personal. I want your dog to receive the care that is right for them and for you to feel confident that, if something needs adapting or plans change, I will deal with it sensibly. I have a flexible schedule and spend a lot of time at home, so dogs staying with me can have plenty of company and attention throughout the day. The countryside around the house makes walks very easy to build naturally into the day, whether your dog needs longer active exercise, shorter walks, a more structured working-dog routine or simply plenty of opportunities to get outside. I’m deliberately flexible with the human side of dog care too. Early starts, later collections, changing travel arrangements and short-notice requests are always worth asking about. If circumstances change during a stay, let me know and I will normally do everything reasonably possible to help. Where appropriate, I can also accommodate additional requirements such as collection or drop-off, extra exercise, bathing and other practical extras. Just tell me what you need and I can confirm what is possible. My home provides a calm rural environment with a large, fully fenced garden and direct access to quiet countryside walking. I manage every dog according to the individual rather than assuming that what works for one dog will work for another. Introductions between dogs are handled carefully, interaction is supervised and I do not believe dogs should be forced to socialise simply for the sake of it. Some dogs enjoy company and play. Others need more space, quiet time or closer management. I take temperament, age, size, energy levels, behaviour and the instructions you give me into account when planning their care. I am happy to follow established boundaries and training rules closely. If your dog is crate trained, has particular commands, must not have certain toys or treats, cannot go on furniture, needs controlled exercise or has another established management routine, I would much rather know and maintain it properly than inadvertently undo your work. I am comfortable administering oral medication and caring for dogs with additional needs where I have been given clear instructions. Off-lead exercise is never assumed simply because a dog has recall at home. It is based on your instructions, the dog, the environment and my own assessment of what is safe. For first stays I normally prefer to arrange a meet-and-greet. It allows me to meet your dog, understand their normal behaviour and routine, and gives you the opportunity to see the environment in which they will be staying. If you have a genuinely urgent or last-minute situation where a meet-and-greet is not practical, please still get in touch. I will assess what is realistically possible rather than automatically saying no. There is currently no resident dog at my home.

“Eddie had a lovely time when she stayed with Debbie. She gets nervous & snappy sometimes when she meets new dogs and Debbie and her husband were really lovely giving her plenty of time to settle down with their dog Brodie. And then Debbie sent me lots of updates and pictures of her playing and having a nice time which was very reassuring. I’d highly recommend her.”

Vicky W.

About: whether your pet needs some exercise & play or just someone to keep them company while your'e away; I'm capable & happy to be with your furry friends I work a flexible, part- time job (events work); so often weekends And can accept short notice requests this means im often available if you may have a 'normal hours job' which its give me flexibility to meet various needs I want to keep safety of your pet & respect of your space as key mostly would be coming to pet-owners home ; so keep me clear on your needs & boundaries & I'm happy to ensure you feel comfortable with me with your pet & in your space

“Jade was fantastic, she looked after our 5 month old Shih Poo puppy today, it was the first time that we had left her with someone else and I was nervous but Jade made me feel completely at ease, she sent me regular pupdates with photos and videos. Lyla had a great time and I would definitely recommend Jade, we will be using her services again!”

Emily L.

“Thank you for looking after my beautiful husky today, at such short notice. He seems chilled and calm. I will definitely contact you again when I need some help. Big hello to your lovely toddler….”

Janice D.

About: I have looked after dogs ever since I was like 13 and I’m always getting an asked to watch neighbours dogs and take them for walks and dog sit so I thought I would come in here and try I currently work with a agency so normally I only have to work six till like 2:30 and sometimes I get a whole week off so I am always available and I always have my weekends My environment where I live is the best place to have a pet because there’s a huge garden and there’s just so much space where I live and they would just love it. There’s always a cheeky little treats.

About: I have looked after my family’s and friends dogs by taking them on walks, and playing and looking after them when house sitting whilst they’ve been away I work full time from home and will be available to dog walk in the morning from 7am-8am and in the evening from around 5.30pm-7.30pm. Safe enclosed garden with a fence border between neighbours. I will always put my dog on a lead when leaving the house and take precaution.

“I felt quite at ease from the moment I took Annie into the house; Chloe made Annie very welcome and I knew Annie would have a fun day. Annie behaved and enjoyed seeing the children. No hesitation to ask her again.”

Maggie A.

About: I raised my 5 year old cocker spaniel, who loves ditch-the-bowl training. I'm a freelance outdoor instructor offering stimulating, long winter walks with new scents to enrich happy dogs. My two dogs enjoy morning and evening walks. With the garden always open, I provide 1-2 long weekday walks and adventurous weekend outings away from Sherborne. My garden is fenced, so they cannot escape. My two dogs will keep your dog company who are both very friendly and are used to other dogs staying. If they were to travel in the van I have seat belt clips, clips and a crate in the rear. I have a crate if your dog needs it's own space in the house too (Rusty sleeps under the stairs and Indi can sleep in our bedroom, so your dog can either sleep in the kitchen or living room). If you needed me to stay at your house, then I don't have to bring my dogs as my partner also works from home. We love dogs! We don't have children so they get a lot of fuss. I tend to use kibble/treats on their first walk with a retractable lead, to get a sense of recall and connection with the dog.

“Kima had a great time with Jessa today. Jess communicated well throughout the whole process and I was confident that she would look after Kima well.”

Megan B.

“Thank you Trudy - you gave my spaniel a happy day and sent a couple of videos of him enjoying himself with your dogs in your garden and out on a walk.”

Emma B.

“Emma was great. She looked after our dog well and was very accommodating when we asked to change the pick up times.”

Daniel T.

“Last minute booking so Vanessa and Ben had not met but he went off happy and came back really happy and tited - good job Vanessa thanks - I am sure they will meet again”

Kay D.

“Kirsty & Dan (& Benji!) are 5⭐️ - Our pup Barney absolutely loves going to see them. It’s like a home from home for him. He loves spending time there and playing with Benji. They are very attentive to his needs and I instantly felt comfortable leaving Barney with them. Can’t recommend highly enough.”

Amy B.

“We couldn’t have been happier with the care Patri gave our two girls. She’s a true dog person and clearly absolutely loves having them around – they were so happy and settled with her, which tells us everything we need to know! Communication was fantastic and we had lovely updates that meant we could relax knowing they were in safe hands. They were beautifully cared for and we’d book with Patri again in a heartbeat.”

Caroline

“We honestly couldn't have asked for anyone better than Cathy to look after Obi while we've been on holiday. Leaving your dog with someone else is always a bit nerve-wracking but Cathy made us feel completely at ease from the start. She clearly has a genuine love for dogs and it really showed in the way she cared for Obi. We loved receiving the updates and photos throughout the day and seeing how happy and relaxed he was meant we could properly enjoy our time out without worrying. Thank you so much, Cathy, for taking such wonderful care of our boy. It means more than you know and we'd book with you again in a heartbeat. We're so grateful to have found you 🥰”

Kirsty W.

About: I have grown up with dogs and love being in their company. I have experience of looking after many types of dog and would have plenty of time to spend walking and playing with your pet. I work from home part-time (22 hours) so I have plenty of time to care for your dog. I live in a 4 bedroom house with a secure garden. I have two daughters, a 14 year old and a 6 year old, both are very happy and comfortable around dogs. I have a secure fenced garden with plenty of space for your pet to run around. There are lots of great places locally for dog walks, including the local rec. I have no dogs or other animals of my own. I work part-time, from home. This allows me to be flexible to your dogs routine, such as toilet routines, exercise, play, feeding etc. I spend a lot of time at home so your dog will have plenty of company. I have a secure, fenced garden. I am also trained in dog first aid/CPR (September 2022) and have access to a dog first aid kit. I live near plenty of lovely places to walk your dog.