Terms & conditions

Doggy Chums provides insurance cover for its carers based on the dogs we care for only. This covers public liability, employers liability and negligence.

We do not cover vet fees for injuries that would be considered normal injuries a dog could encounter in your own care — for example stepping on glass on a pavement or catching a leg on a branch. Our insurance will not cover your dog if you request that they be kept off the lead. For that to be considered, you must email us confirming we are not liable for any eventuality concerning your dog's welfare.

To secure your booking we require a 50% non-refundable deposit. Should your dog's stay be cancelled less than 14 days before it begins, the full invoice value will be due. The remaining 50% is required 14 days before the start of the stay; if payment is not made at that point a late payment fee of £25.00 will be invoiced.

Our automated card payment system lets you pay the deposit and the balance from your online customer portal. Any additional charges (such as damages to a carer's home) will be charged to the card held in your portal, and card details must be stored there for your dog's stay to go ahead.

If your dog damages items in a host home we will try to replace them with a second-hand equivalent where possible and ask you to cover the cost. This includes chewing, ripping or defecating on items belonging to host families. A receipt will always be provided.

If you tell us your dog is house trained and they toilet indoors, we reserve the right to charge for clearing the mess. A £5 per day cleaning charge applies, payable on the last day of the stay; professional cleaning is billed separately. In extreme cases we may need to rehome the dog, in which case rehoming and transport charges plus the original invoice would be payable.

Damage to the outside of a building or garden, such as digging up grass or plants, may also be charged for including labour.

Please make sure leads, collars and harnesses are in good condition, fit for purpose and correctly fitted.

All dogs are walked twice a day on a lead. If you wish your dog to be exercised off lead, please indicate this on the booking form and accept responsibility for the outcome, including any confrontation your dog causes with another animal.

We take great pride in caring for every animal in our charge, however Doggy Chums cannot be held responsible for any loss, accident, injury or death caused to any animal while in our care.

Your dog will be staying somewhere new, which can cause irregular behaviour such as not eating, toileting indoors or chewing items. Doggy Chums accepts no responsibility for items damaged during care, and items you supply are left at your own risk.

Should it prove necessary for your dog's safety, we reserve the right to kennel your dog. Those costs are met by you and the cost of the original stay still applies. Transit is charged at 60p per mile where a car is available, or the taxi fare with a receipt provided. If no local kennel can take them, we will ask you to provide an alternative place to stay.

Please supply any medication with full written instructions covering both doses and how your dog is used to taking it. An additional fee of £3.00 per day applies for administering medication.

All dogs must have up-to-date inoculations (kennel cough at your discretion) and be de-flea'd and wormed before admittance. Please bring this information to your viewing. If your dog contracts kennel cough while in our care, Doggy Chums does not accept responsibility for vet fees or associated costs.

Please give any special instructions in writing, in full detail.

We may occasionally have to take your dog to the vet. You are liable for those costs; we will ask you to pay us by bank transfer and will settle the bill with the vet, providing a receipt.

If you cannot collect your dog on the arranged day, please contact us immediately to rearrange collection or delivery. If no contact is made within a reasonable time, Doggy Chums will be forced to rehome your dog and the charges for food and rehoming will be met by you.