Dog Boarding

Question: Do you think an in home dog boarding business is a good idea?

(Posted by: Mrs. Little on 2009-03-07 05:52:07)

My husband and I were thinking that boarding small dogs at home would be something people might use instead of boarding at a kennel, with cages and all. Also, making visits to their home and walking their dog, water plants and bring in the mail? How much would they be willing to pay? Any ideas? Your input would be appreciated!!

Posted by: Kaarhart on 2009-03-07, 06:02:30

Depends on your location. I ran a pet sitting business for 10 years in a small city in Idaho, and charged $25 a day for 2 visits, overnights were $35. My prices were low, and I had a lot of clients. I moved to Seattle, WA, and did my research, and the prices were around $50 a day and up to $100 for overnights! I really thought it was a bit high, but with gas prices now and all the travel time, I could see why! You could charge less for your home, for the convenience and no travel costs.

Posted by: Cath on 2009-03-07, 05:57:08

If you have the room go for it.My sister has a friend who dose the same thing in Sydney she charges $50 a day for home visits $39 a day for boarding.

Posted by: Dog Trainer (kinda) on 2009-03-07, 06:03:03

This is the money I would charge..... dogs staying at Ur house : about $20 per night visits to their house : $5-10 dog walking: $5 per dog......

Posted by: luv2seashore1 on 2009-03-07, 06:05:50

My daughter is a vet tech and has also sidelined as going to homes to take care of pets, bringing mail and newspapers in, etc. I don't remember what she got paid, but it wasn't much. I hate kennels because the pet can be mistreated and catch parvovirus and kennel cough, which can be deadly to the pet. I would worry though if anything happened to the pet or the home, would you be held responsible? I think I would find this out first. Hope this helps. It is a good idea, but not without flaws. Also, if the animal bit, would the owner have the right to sue if they hired you?

Posted by: Annie on 2009-03-07, 06:24:09

I do pet sitting in my home for extra $$. Make sure you keep a log of your clients and a good calender for drop offs and pick ups. Make sure you have a 1) medical release form on each dog to ensure you can take them to the vet if needed. Specify the owners take full finanical responsiblity for the vet visit. Also have on there the pet's current vet name, address, & phone 2) have a financial release -- that states no home can be completely free of accidents, they agree they will not hold you finanically responsible for any accidents/ injuries/ loss of pet 3) a form that has all their info on it (name, address, emergency phone numbers, instructions for feeding and the like 4) an agreement that you agree to care for their pet from x to y dates, for x amount of money to be paid (in advance, at pick up, half and half, in cash? you choose) as well as if they do not pick up their dog nor contact you in any way the dog becomes your property (to protect you from those folks who leave their dog at a boarding kennel and never pick them up. Without this, you can't declare the dog abandoned and get him a new home) I make sure they give me a copy of current shots & worming. Best of luck, we've had a lot of fun doing this and it pays for my dogs' kibble!

Posted by: tess on 2009-03-07, 07:30:01

Around my area in the central state your finding more and more people doing in home dog boarding, they are cheaper then your big business kennels are and a lot of dog owners like that. Every single kennel here weather its in home or your normal kennel ask that your dog/ dogs have their kennel cough shots its a must. I own three small breed dogs and i was calling around town seeing where would be the cheapest for me to kennel my dogs if i had to go out of town for something and could not take them with me, one business would charge $130. for all three for two days including exercising them. another business charged $30 for one dog and 1/ 2 price for extra dogs per day and that was just for one kennel with an outdoor potty area no exercising area. So i called on a couple home boarding places one lady would charge $60. for two days for all three dogs. Another lady charged $30. for two days for all three. they both had the home environment and fenced back yard which i would prefer for my dogs. As for someone coming into my home to walk my dogs or take them out to go potty or feed them it would have to be pretty cheap cause they would have to make several visits a day and that could add up to what it would cost for them to be in a kennel. A lady i know who has two dogs pay her neighbor $10. a day to come over twice a day to feed and let her dogs outside for potty break, i think thats to much and not healthy for the dogs, but thats only my personal opionon. What you should do is call around your area and see what kennel costs are and go below those prices, ask what information they need to board dogs so you know what information you will need starting yours, then from there add on anything else you would like to have in your agreement papers. In the buisness kennels i had called they do have an on call vet or an on site vet there during buisness hours. I think its a really good idea to have an emergency number from the owners and what vet they take their dogs too incase something would happen to their dog/ dogs. Good luck to you