Do you worry when leaving your dog with someone? Whether it’s a walker, boarder, groomer, vet or a friend.
I think we all do to a certain extent. Considering a lot of us prefer our dogs to most people, it’s perfectly understandable that we care about their welfare and well-being when we aren’t with them. I am in the very lucky position that I don’t need to rely on anyone to look after my dogs regularly, just on rare occasions, when I have a trusted few family/friends to look after them.
Fred had his first ‘proper’ groom today. He’s been for some trial sessions with me staying, but it was the first time he’s been left, not just with the groomer, but with anyone outside our ‘circle of trust’. Despite knowing he was in good hands, I still found myself wondering if he was ok, whether he missed me and if all was going well. He was fab, happy and looks/smells amazing!
One of the main things that helped me was knowing I was leaving him with someone I trusted. So how do we find that perfect walker/groomer/boarder?
- Ask for personal recommendations
- Check the person’s credentials – are they qualified, registered, insured, first aid trained etc. This information will be different depending on their profession
- Look at their reviews/feedback
- Talk to the person over the phone or via email – you’ll get a feel for whether you get on well
- Arrange a trial or a meeting
- Ask questions, they should be happy to respond and make you feel at ease
- See how they interact with your dog, and your dog with them – are they both comfortable, relaxed, happy – do they listen to your dog and respond accordingly?
- Does the person offer a gentle introduction or ‘getting to know you’ trial
These are just a few things that every professional, whatever their field, should be able to provide and happy to offer or discuss to ensure that your dog is in the best hands, you feel happy and comfortable with their service and that they can deliver the best service to you.
Whilst they are at their appointment or with their professional - keep yourself busy (pop to tesco or meet a friend for a coffee!) so that you are distracted and less likely to worry about them and how they are. Remember to keep your phone with you just in case, most professionals will provide regular updates to help keep your mind at ease.