Frequently Asked Questions
About Our Dog Boarding Service
We commenced our dog boarding service in Sydney in 1993 and have devoted ourselves to creating a very professional, caring alternative to dog kennels.
Online portals allow anyone to register as a dog minder. There are many excellent dog minders registered but there are also many who are just doing it for the money and mind multiple dogs at the same time. Most of them have no backup should they have a personal emergency.
We interview all of our minders and ensure that they are real dog lovers whose main focus is providing wonderful care for your dog. And, because we provide quality service, each minder only minds one person's dog at a time. We support our dog minders 24/7 and always have backup in place should they need our help.
Luxury suites remove dogs from the hustle and bustle of the usual dog boarding kennel environment which does cause stress for some dogs. However, the human interaction is still missing and, for some dogs, even though they may have a television or piped music it is like being shut in a room. Dogs are pack animals and need company.
Dog boarding kennels are generally very good but what they are unable to provide, due to the sheer volume of dogs being minded, is what your dog craves most – human interaction. Being taken from a family home and left in a cage is sometimes confusing and distressing for dogs and, while some of them love it, many fret. When your dog stays with a “Don’t Fret Pet!” dog minder they usually have the run of the house, a lap to sit on and many, many pats and cuddles throughout the day. Some minders will even let them sleep on their bed if that is what the dog is used to at home. They will take them for walks and feed them the food you would normally feed them at home. What more could a dog want?
Visit our Fees page in your areas to view the fees in your area.
Click here to see where we offer our dog boarding service.
Because we provide quality service each minder only minds one person’s dog/s at a time. Under exceptional circumstances we may double up when both owners want their usual minder at the same time and agree to share. The minder would have to agree to this as well.
We have a variety of minders ranging from retired people to families. We will use the information you give us at the time of booking to select the right type of minder for your dog. The common element with our minders is that they all love dogs and none of them do it for the financial reward. Read what some of our minders have written about their minding experiences.
Absolutely! It is essential that you meet the minder so that you can go away feeling totally comfortable that your dog will be in good hands. It is also important for the minder to meet your dog so that they can be sure that he/she will fit in with their household.
All of our minders are carefully screened by us but, as you will be meeting them in their home beforehand, you will also be able to make your own assessment. All minders have a fully-fenced yard or live in a secure apartment, must have experience with dogs and, of course, love them! Also, if we wouldn’t leave our own dogs with the minder then we don’t take them on board.
We have some dogs who have been to the same minder over 70 times. The minder’s home is like a second home to them. As long as the minder is happy to take your dog again and you book early enough before the minder is booked up then we will definitely place your dog with the same minder as your dog will remember them and be excited to be going to stay with them again. You’ll go away knowing that you don’t have to worry at all about your dog fretting.
Yes, we believe that it is important for them to be together as that will help them to settle in with the minder.
You are welcome to phone, sms or email the minder to see how your dog is enjoying their holiday. We just ask that, if you do phone, it is at a reasonable hour.
We know how important it is for dogs to have similar comforts as at home so, if your dog sleeps inside, he/she will definitely sleep inside when staying with our minder. Some dogs even get to sleep on the bed!
You send along the food that your dog usually eats at home so that there are no upset tummies because of a change of diet. You also send along your dog’s bedding so that he/she has something familiar from home as well as his/her bowls, lead and favourite toys. It may also be a good idea to include an old t-shirt that you have worn the day before so your familiar smell can provide additional comfort.
We will take your dog to the nearest vet and contact your emergency contacts to advise them of our actions and keep them updated. We try not to disturb you whilst you are away as we don’t want to cause you any unnecessary concern. However, if you wish, we will contact you as well and keep you up to date.
When our minder walks your dog they will keep him/her on a lead at all times. They also attach a tag with a unique id and a 1300 number to your dog’s collar from the moment they arrive until they leave to go home with you. The 1300 number is manned 24/7 . Make sure you deliver your dog to our minder wearing a secure collar so that we can attach the special tag.
Have a look at our information on becoming a dog minder and then contact us if you would like to proceed.