Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
We accept most types of domestic and exotic small pets including hamsters, rats, gerbils, small birds, various reptiles, rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, small, medium and large-sized parrots, chinchillas and similar types of small pets. We do not accept ferrets, medium, large or venomous snakes, or carnivore birds.
We let all rabbits and guinea pigs free roam for at least 5 hours per day, free roaming for any other types of pets can also be arranged. There is a dedicated small animal area in the house that is small-pets-proof and is suitable for various roaming needs. A secure C&C or fabric playpen can be provided.
Our rates vary depending on the pet’s type, number of pets to be boarded and their setup size. You can find all of our rates HERE.
We can offer discounted rates on multiple pets from the same household (if kept in the same setup) or long stays (minimum of 2 weeks). Special rates are also available on monthly stays.
Please see Small Anmals Boarding page for more information about our special rates.
We take the safety and well-being of all our little guests very seriously, but in an unlikely event of an accident or illness, we contact the owner immediately. Then we will take the pet to our nearby trusted vet practice if required. We are fully insured for animal boarding, dog daycare and dog walking, and are covered by Pet Business Insurance. Our insurance covers public liability; daycare; custody and control of your pet; loss of keys and home boarding, injury to animals and more. Please enquire for the full policy details.
We take the safety and well-being of our small guests very seriously, that’s why our house is divided into two zones (on two separate floors) so small animals area and dogs area never cross paths. There are lockable doors and baby gates in every doorway that are closed at all times, overall there are 4 closed baby gates and 3 closed doors between small pets and any other animals that stay in our house.
We accept female dogs that are not spayed, however, we cannot accommodate any dogs in heat. If your dog will go in season during her stay she will have to be isolated from other dogs and picked up by your emergency contact straight away.
We are able to accommodate entire males after a successful trial if they pass our screening process.
However, we cannot accommodate unspayed females and intact males at the same time at any time even if they are from the same household.
Our boarding or daycare schedule consists of two walks per day: off-lead (if permitted) or on-lead active walk that’s a minimum of 1 hour and one on/off lead walk of 20-45 minutes.
Please note, that if your dog requires a special walking schedule (that doesn’t match our group walk arrangements), he/she would have to be walked solo. Each solo walk can be personalised based on your dog’s needs and can be provided throughout the day.
We provide frequent potty breaks throughout the day and dogs will have regular access to our secure outdoor space apart from the scheduled walk times.
We have a variety of spots in the house suitable for different dogs’ needs. There are spare crates for dogs that are crate-trained, a common sleeping area with a sofa and dog beds for those who like company, and a separate quiet room for little introverts. Arrangements can be made for dogs with anxiety to stay in the bedroom with us as well.
Meet and greet is a mandatory step to get your dog booked with us for any service. Your dog must get to know us and the house, and we can advise if our services are suitable for her or him based on their behaviour and interaction with the other dogs.
For boarding stays of 3 nights or longer a trial night is required to make sure the dog is suitable for boarding. This is charged as an extra with a discounted nightly rate.
For regular day care a trial day is required to make sure the dog is suitable for day care. This is charged as an extra with a discounted daycare rate.
We take the safety and well-being of all our little guests very seriously, but in the unlikely event of an accident or illness, we contact the owner or the emergency contact (if the owner cannot be reached) immediately and then reach out to your dog’s registered vet. In case of an emergency (if the dog’s life or health is at risk) we will take the dog to our nearby trusted vet practice if required. The owner’s prior written consent would have to be provided beforehand, and PetStop London does not hold responsibility for the pet’s life if the owner fails to provide it. We are fully insured for animal boarding, dog daycare and dog walking, and are covered by Pet Business Insurance. Our insurance covers public liability; daycare; custody and control of your pet; loss of keys and home boarding, injury to animals and more. Please enquire for the full policy details. Please read our full policy on Health and Safety HERE.
We can offer pick up and drop off service on request. Our dog walking and dog daycare services include a complimentary pick-up and drop-off. For boarding clients, we provide a complimentary pickup / drop off within a 5-mile radius. After that, it is charged depending on distance.
Daycare pick-up hours are Mon-Fri 8 am to 9:30 am*. Daycare drop-off hours are 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.*.
Boarding pick up and drop off hours are Mon-Sat 10 am to 4 pm*. Out-of-hours or Sunday service will be charged as an extra**. The rates depend on the distance, please enquire for the accurate quote.
* Time can vary depending on traffic, weather conditions or the number of pick-ups and drop-offs we have on each day.
**Subject to availability
We offer a meet and greet before every booking so you can see where your dog will be staying and we can answer any questions you might have, and it is a great opportunity for us to get to know your dog and make sure he or she will be happy and suitable for staying with us.
Home visits are by appointment only and have to be pre-scheduled in advance.
We take the dogs out as long as it is safe to do so. We don’t walk the dogs outside in case if:
It is pouring rain/hail/heavy snow;
If the temperature in the shadow outside is over 24C;
If the temperature outside is below 0C;
If there is heavy wind/storm/thunder;
Please note, if the temperature outside raises above 24C in the shadow during the day, all walks including daycare, boarding and walking will be performed on a special schedule (these can be either early mornings or evenings depending on weather conditions). In case if the walk cannot be done, the dogs will be taken out in our backyard for the toilet and provided with alternative enrichment activities such as a sprinkler pool, ball pit, sniffle mats, puzzles, chews etc.
Our general schedule throughout the week consists of*:
-
wake up, potty time in the backyard and breakfast/daycare pick-ups
-
long 1-hour walk, off-leash time and exercise
-
chill and nap time with relaxing music
-
lunch or treats snacking / potty break
-
on/off leash short 20-30 minutes walk
-
enrichment and playtime
-
light groom/paws clean / health check/daycare departures
-
dinner/potty break
-
evening chill / play with enrichment toys / watch TV with us / play with mates
-
bedtime/potty break
*schedule/activities can vary depending on weather, each individual dog’s needs and age, and other factors. Please see our weekly activities programme for the most up-to-date schedule.
We always aim to return your pooch in a clean and presentable condition ready to snuggle up on the sofa with you after a long day!
For daycare clients: We wash and towel dry dogs’ paws/legs/bellies after each walk if they get dirty and wipe their harnesses/collars if needed. If your dog gets muddy head to toe or decides to bathe in a puddle we will give him/her a proper bath before home-time.
For boarding clients: We provide a complimentary home-time bath for dogs that stay for 3 or more nights with us.
For walking clients: We towel dry/wipe your dog’s paws and bellies before drop off. To avoid getting back a muddy pooch we highly recommend providing a full-body rain suit or polar fleece for their walkies on rainy days.