FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything You Need to Know

FAQ: FAQ

HOW MANY DOGS CAN YOU WALK AT ONCE?

To ensure maximum safety, as well as being able to divide our attention and love equally and following legal legislation, we can only walk four dogs each, at one given time - this is a number we feel safe with, as well as the space we have in our vehicle should anything happen.

We will need to test your dogs recall before allowing them off lead, even if permitted by you, we need to ensure your pet(s) will listen to us. We have our own equipment, including a 5 meter long-line and a 5 meter retractable lead.

If you have more than four dogs, we can arrange to meet them, if they walk well together, it's possible we can walk more than our limit - please contact us for more information.

WHERE DO YOU WALK YOUR CLIENTS' DOGS?

This ultimately depends on where you're located, if you're in the area of Guildford we'll most likely walk your dogs somewhere below:

○ Stoke Park: 52 hectares, great for off-lead or long-line walks. Very popular amongst dog walkers, so not suitable for reactive dogs. Has plenty of shaded areas for warmer weather. GU1 1HB.

○ Merrow Downs: 154 hectares, great for off-lead and long-line walks. Very popular amongst dog walkers, so not suitable for reactive dogs. Not many shaded areas so we don't walk our dogs here unless the weather is cool enough. GU1 2HJ.

○ Park Lane Woods: Nestled away, this spot is great for dogs who enjoy quiet walks without interruption. Park Lane Woods has both woodland walks and open-field allowing the dogs to experience an abundance of smells and sounds. GU4 7EH.

○ Newlands Corner: 103 hectares, probably the most well-known walking spot in Surrey, Newlands Corner provides beautiful walks, ideal for long durations, under both shaded and open spaces. Very popular for dog walking, so dog must be comfortable with people, other dogs and other animals such as horses and wildlife.

○ Sheepleas, West Horsley:

Located in the beautiful countryside of West Horsley, Sheepleas offers an abundance of smells, as well as opportunities to see and play with other dogs - for this reason, we wouldn't recommend this for dogs who prefer their space!

MY PET NEEDS TO GO TO THE VET. WILL YOU TAKE THEM?

Absolutely! Our car is fully licensed and insured to transport your pet(s) to important appointments. Our boot has a guard with extension leads to keep them safe without moving around too much, our backseats also have seatbelt leads which allows two dogs or a large cage to fit in the back.

You'll need to ensure your vet has been contacted prior to this arrangement so they know to expect us.

Please contact us for more information.

DO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH EXOTIC PETS?

Yes, both of us have owned an array of exotic species, this ranges from hybrid-cats like our Bengals, both previously owned Royal Pythons, Dillon has also had Tarantulas and Spiders throughout his life. Our hands-on bird experience is minimal, but T is obsessed with birds and knows a lot about them and the proper care required; whether it be chickens and/or other fowl, canaries, parrots or even Birds of Prey.

You will need to provide a thorough walkthrough of each routine, feeding days/times. We are comfortable feeding all species, but please provide any details necessary.

CAN YOU OFFER ANY BEHAVIOURAL ADVICE?

Urban Pets is not licensed nor trained to provide behavioural guidance to you and your animal(s), however we have a fantastic friend who's ADipCBM and MISAP Certified dog behaviourist, using only positive reinforcement to give you peace of mind.

Urban Pets stands for positive-techniques for any behavioural training and would not recommend anyone who didn't fit our standards and own beliefs - Sue is fantastic and her work is highly accredited by both clientele and her own rescue pup, Fizz!

Check out Sue's website for more information:

HERE

WHAT DOES YOUR PET SITTING SERVICES ENTAIL?

Pet sitting can be anywhere from an hour to several weeks. For longer durations, we will live in your home to upkeep your pets normal routine and keep your home clean and secure. We find pets are a lot happier when they're in their own homes, which is one of the reasons we don't board animals. We may have other clients throughout the day, so your pet must be okay with being left for a few hours (maximum).

We will require an in-depth walkthrough of your daily routine so we can replicate this: what time does your pet like to wake up? What time is breakfast/lunch/dinner? Are they allowed on furniture such as sofas and beds? How would you like them walked? Are they allergic to anything?

All of these can be discussed upon meeting you, we will note everything down to reassure you.

We will keep you updated throughout with photos, diaries and more. If we're concerned about anything, we will notify you first unless it's urgent.

If we're sleeping at your home, please ensure that if pet(s) are noisy or require crating, this is brought to our attention - it is important that we get uninterrupted sleep where possible; we're absolutely fine with your pets sleeping with us!

DO YOU PROVIDE BOARDING?

As of now, no. We can't accommodate your pets safely and securely within our own home. We also own three cats who aren't desensitised to dogs, so until we can secure your pets and not affect the happiness and safety of our own, we cannot offer this service; we do however highly recommend our friends who offer pet boarding; they have been running their own business for 10+ years and are neighbours so we can easily introduce you.

MY DOG DOESN'T LIKE OTHER DOGS, IS THIS OKAY?

So long as you take safety precautions, we're happy to provide our services to you. If your dog is reactive and likely to bite, we will require the dog to be muzzled with an appropriate style that allows panting and drinking.

We will ensure your animal is kept safe at all times, but may have to walk in quieter areas or earlier/later in the day to avoid any triggers they may have. We also require a face-to-face introduction in a neutral territory (e.g. local park) so we can introduce ourselves to you and your dog properly.

Please contact us for more information!

ARE THERE CANCELLATION FEE'S?

Depending on the situation and service you needed us for, yes. We understand sometimes things don't go as planned however, so please contact us if you think you no longer need to use our services.

A cancellation fee will be 50% of the service your hired us for, e.g. a dog walk for an hour would require a £7 cancellation fee - this just covers us as a business!

Upon verbally agreeing to using our services, you will be provided with the following to read and sign:

CUSTOMER DETAILS ↓

TERMS & SERVICES ↓

*Failure to comply with our terms and contract may result in termination of our agreed upon services

CAN YOU WALK XL BULLIES/BULLY-TYPE DOGS?

Yes - our insurance allows us to walk your dog, regardless of the new legislations put in place.
We don’t discriminate against any breed of dog - so please don’t hesitate to ask.

CAN YOU PROVIDE DISCOUNTS?

We get this question a lot - and whilst we would love to provide an alternative, and will when the situation is justified - for us, this business is our full-time job; therefore it’s not sustainable for us to consistently provide discounted fees. We also have animals to feed, bills to pay, business and car insurance. We don’t take holidays and work 7-days a week, plus an overnight job just to ensure we can afford to continue Urban Pets.