Frequently Asked Questions

We offer dog walking, pet sitting, drop-in care, and boarding services. How do you know which is right for you? Look over these questions.

Will you be gone overnight or just away during the day?

If you are gone overnight will your pet need someone to spend the night with them or would they be happy with a night-time and morning visit?

Will your pet be most comfortable in their own home, or do they like new environments?

If you are gone for the day, does your pet need to be fed and let out or do you need a walking service for your furry friend to burn some energy while you’re away?

Drop-in services allow for our pet care expert to stop by during the day to let your pet outdoors, provide feeding services, and provide them with love and attention. This is a standard 60-minute service. Drop-ins can be booked on an as-needed basis or as a reoccurring service.

Dog walking will include a private on-leash walk in your neighborhood, and will be GPS tracked so you can see the exact route your pet has taken. These services can be booked on an as needed basis or as a reoccurring service.

Yes, you can combine dog walking and drop-in services, so we can take care of all your pet’s needs while you’re away.

Every pet is unique, that’s why we inquire about all your pet’s needs upfront. Our pet care experts tailor your pet care experience to best fit your pet.

Our pet care experts are thoroughly screened through background checks, multiple rounds of interviews, and via character references. All our Pet Care Experts are insured through Holiday Hound.

Yes, we are bonded and insured!

Safety is serious business. That’s why at Holiday Hound we thoroughly screen all pet care experts, conduct background checks on all employees, have comprehensive pet care training, and have ongoing pet care education for our staff.

In the event you are uncomfortable with one of our pet care experts, our support staff is always available to amend the situation immediately. Your peace of mind is our top priority.

A pet care plan outlines your animal’s needs and daily routines to keep them happy and on the same schedule while you’re away. Pet care plans also have all emergency information in the event your pet becomes sick or needs medical attention.

Our pet care experts have been trained on warning signs of illness, and will contact you if they see abnormal symptoms. They will continue to keep a close eye on your pet, and if symptoms worsen they will transport your pet to the identified veterinarian. Pet care experts will stay in contact with you throughout this entire period.

You can request to book a service through our site. Our administration team will review the request and ensure there is availability for your pet, and then a confirmation email will be sent to you.

If canceling a booking within 48 hours of service, you will need to call Holiday Hound directly to cancel. Standard charges will apply. All services needing to be canceled more than 48hrs prior to the booking may be done on the website.

Tips are not expected or required, but they are always greatly appreciated by our pet care experts! Deciding whether to tip your expert is an individual decision. If you do decide to tip here are some common ways to do it:

• At the beginning of your visit

• At the end of your visit

• On holidays

• When you feel someone did an exceptional job

Tips can always be added as a custom amount on the card you pay with. 100% of tips go to our Pet Care Experts.

If you’ve never had a pet sitter before, you may be wondering what exactly happens on a pet sitting visit. First our pet care experts will go over your care plan to learn as much about your animal as possible. Often our experts will sit on the floor for 5-10 minutes to allow the animals to come to them on their own terms. Then they will check on food, water, and let pets outside, and then have some quality play time with your furry friend. Our expert’s will check on things around the house like brining in the mail, packages, or watering a couple plants as needed. They will continue to follow the pets’ typical routine while giving them as much love and attention as possible during their time in your home.

These visits follow the same routine as any regular pet sitting visit through Holiday Hound, the only difference is that your pet will enjoy the comfort of one of our pet sitter’s homes. This is a great option for animals that get along well with other animals.

Our Pet Care Experts are giving valuable time to care for your pet. We charge a minimal additional holiday fee to show our appreciation to staff for caring for the pet you love.

Yes, we will care for your pet if they are feeling under the weather. If we discover pets are ill prior to a client leaving, then we are able to create an additional care plan to put your mind at ease. In the event your pet becomes ill while you are away, we will contact you to see if their symptoms are abnormal and watch them closely to see if we need to make a trip to the veterinarian.

We prioritize the safety of your pet while they are in our care, and while all dogs have different levels of friendliness our policy is to avoid interactions with other dogs whenever possible. If there is another dog walking on the side of the street, we’re on, we’ll cross to the other side. If we see a dog off leash, we will bring your dog close to us and yell “No” to the other dog to try to keep them away, and we will call out to the other owner that our dog is not friendly.

If the dogs meeting is unavoidable, we will use a kind voice, and give dogs a little bit of slack on their leash. Almost all a dog’s interaction is based on body language and if we are tugging at the leash, we are causing more tension for our dog. A kind voice and good body language can go a long way to diffuse a situation.

Your pet care expert will be provided with a copy of your care plan. This will include all emergency numbers, veterinarian information, and nearby family or friends in case you are unreachable while you’re away. This will also cover your pet’s daily routine and rules, it will include your pet’s general likes and dislikes, as well as sneaky habits you want us to help avoid.

Things to leave out:

• Food and treats (Or include where you keep food and treats).

• A can opener or plastic bowls if needed.

• An extra bag of food just in case, as some dogs may eat more while they’re missing their owner.

• Harness, leashes, and an extra set of tags just in case.

• Paper towels and cleaning supplies.

• Plastic grocery bags and doggy bags.

• Any medication that has been outlined in the care plan.

Tip: Do a little extra pet proofing before you go. Mundane items that are typically of no interest to your pet, might suddenly become something fun while you are away. Put away cords, toxic cleaners, and keep plants out of reach while you are away.