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Booking FAQ's
FAQ's
Booking FAQ's
Q – How do I book a session for my dog(s)? A – All sessions are bookable online via the ‘BOOK ONLINE’ page or via the specific session page at the bottom. Simply select which session you would like to book, select a date & time and select ‘checkout’. That’s it! If you would like to book multiple sessions at once, you can do this by adding multiple different sessions to your cart and then selecting ‘checkout’ once your done. If booking multiple sessions, I’d be more than happy for you to message/email me with your requested date & times and I can book these for you on your behalf as I have a handy dandy copy paste feature to save you time :)
Q – How can I make sure you received my booking(s)? A – All bookings that are accepted by my website will send a confirmation email to the email input at the checkout stage. This automated email may go to your junk/spam folder. If you have not received the booking confirmation email from Wix, please contact me to confirm that your session(s) are booked. (07703819553 – info@alphadogsdevon.co.uk)
Q – What does a ‘meet & greet’ consist of? A – A ‘meet & greet’ is a perfect opportunity for you to meet me (Duncan) and ask any questions you may have about Alpha Dogs Devon and the services I offer. It’s also an opportunity for me to meet you along with your dog(s) to discuss any special requirements they may have. This is usually completed in your home however if you would prefer to meet outside, I’d be more than happy to walk & talk. There is zero pressure of follow up as I recommend meeting a few local dog walkers to ensure your dog is paired with the right walker as we all offer slightly different services.
Q – How far can I book sessions in advance / How early can I book sessions? A – Currently my website booking policy for early bookings is 3 months. This means anyone can book sessions 3 months in advance. If you’d like to book a future session more than 3 months in advance, please contact me and I’ll book this for you on your behalf. The soonest my website allows bookings for is currently 6 hours.
Q – ‘No available slots’ for the day/time I’d like the session to start. A – If after selecting your preferred date & time slot you see a message ‘no available slots’, this usually means I’m at capacity for this day. However, I can sometimes re-arrange appointments to accommodate specific requirements so please feel free to contact me to double check.
Q – Do you accommodate ad-hoc or regular/set day bookings? A – At Alpha Dogs Devon I believe it’s important to offer both ad-hoc and regular set day sessions. I have some customers whom book sessions once a month and the date & time varies along with more regular customers who book sessions 3-5 days a week on set days and times.
Q – Do you offer group walks with other dogs? A – No – I created Alpha Dogs Devon to focus on tailoring sessions to individual needs, likes & dislikes and I much prefer quality over quantity. I’m insured to walk 12 dogs at once however my policy is to walk no more than 3 at a time. This is to ensure your dog(s) are fully supervised and engaged with from start to finish. Once I’ve bonded with your dog(s), I do offer an additional service of socialising with Fin (GSD) for future sessions at no extra cost. This is offered on a case by case basis and is always the customers choice as Fin has planned walks around my business hours.
Q – Can you offer shorter or longer sessions based on individual needs? A – Of course! Whether your looking for a 30 minute walk, 2 hour walk, or a 1 hour drop in, I’m always open to accommodating specific requirements. :)
Q – What are your opening times and what’s the earliest/latest time I can book a session? A – Alpha Dogs Devon’s current business opening hours are 08:00 – 20:00, Monday – Sunday. During this time, I’m contactable via phone/email for any enquiries. (PLEASE NOTE: I do not answer the phone or reply to texts whilst I’m out on a session. Please leave a voicemail or message and I’ll get back to you asap after the session is completed) My booking calendar (when you can book sessions) is currently configured to allow bookings from 9am-5pm. The earliest walk would start at 9am, the latest walk would start at 4pm. Again, I may be able to accommodate earlier/later times on an ad-hoc basis.
Session FAQ's
Q - I have multiple dogs – does the price increase per dog? A – There is no additional cost if you have multiple dogs. Although I’m insured for more, I’m happy to walk up to 3 dogs per session from the same household. Many professional dog walkers charge an additional fee for additional dogs however as I’m a professional 1-1 dog walker, my business costs don’t increase massively having additional dogs and therefore I ensure the price you pay doesn’t increase.
Q - My dog is reactive to other dogs, is this a problem? A – Not a problem! Some dogs get very excited meeting their mates out on adventures and can sometimes show lead frustrations/lead aggression. I complete risk assessments on every dog during the onboarding process along with more frequent dynamic risk assessments whilst out on sessions. Measures can be taken to reduce contact with other dogs whilst I’m bonding with them in addition to taking less common routes whilst we focus on social training techniques with the owners permission.
Q – What does an average ‘standard walk’ consist of? A – A standard walk (1 hour) example: 13:00 – I arrive at your home, admire your garden and let myself in with either a safe place key/neighbours key. I greet your dog(s) and get them dressed ready for our adventure and set off in the car to our walking destination. 13:10 – We arrive at our walking destination and I start my apple watch fitness tracker which times our session (it also counts my calories so I can treat myself to an ice cream if I hit my targets) 13:10 to 14:10 – Your dog(s) enjoys a full hour adventure ensuring enrichment from the activities they enjoy such as; playing with a bouncy ball launcher, learning to catch a frisbee, splashing in the river, socialising with other dogs etc. Alternatively for more nervous dogs, we simply enjoy a relaxing walk, side by side, on lead exploring different places they feel up to exploring. Many pictures and videos are taken throughout the session showing your dog(s) having fun! (I walk an average of 5 kmph which is quite quick however my goal is not how fast I can complete the session, It’s how much ground we can cover and how many new smells they can explore as scent work for dogs is just as important and enriching as physical exercise!) 14:10 – Arriving back at the car, we start to get ready to go home. Cleaning & drying your dog(s) is all included in the cost. If they’ve enjoyed a muddy walk that day, the Mud Daddy shower makes an appearance and I gently brush them down with warm water (I don’t use any chemicals or soaps as many dogs suffer from sensitive skin) I then towel dry your dog(s) as best I can before transporting them home. 14:20 – We set off homebound listening to the radio! (I may sing) 14:30 – We arrive home where I let your dog(s) into their usual area ensuring I take any harness’ off to dry. I use a microfibre towel to dry their legs again to make sure I didn’t miss any areas before allowing them to chill and wait for your return. (A nice after walk treat is usually given at this stage followed by replacing their drinking water with fresh cold water) 14:35 – I send an update of our session letting you know what your dog(s) got up to on their adventure along with where we went and what we did – Media of our adventure is attached to the message so you can see them enjoying themselves. I then head to my next session at 15:00
Q – What does an average ‘long walk’ consist of? A – A long walk (90 minutes) example: 13:00 – I arrive at your home, admire your garden and let myself in with either a safe place key/neighbours key. I greet your dog(s) and get them dressed ready for our adventure and set off in the car to our walking destination. 13:15 – We arrive at our walking destination and I start my apple watch fitness tracker which times our session (it also counts my calories so I can treat myself to an ice cream if I hit my targets) 13:15 to 14:45 – Your dog(s) enjoys a full 90 minute adventure ensuring enrichment from the activities they enjoy such as; playing with a bouncy ball launcher, learning to catch a frisbee, splashing in the river, socialising with other dogs etc. Alternatively for more nervous dogs, we simply enjoy a relaxing walk side by side on lead exploring different places they feel up to exploring. Many pictures and videos are taken throughout the session showing your dog(s) having fun! If there is no clean water for your dog(s) to drink from during our planned session, I stop around halfway (45 minutes in) to allow a drinking break from a doggy water bottle) (I walk an average of 5 kmph which is quite quick however my goal is not how fast I can complete the session, It’s how much ground we can cover and how many new smells they can explore as scent work for dogs is just as important and enriching as physical exercise!) 14:45 – Arriving back at the car, we start to get ready to go home. Cleaning & drying your dog(s) is all included in the cost. If they’ve enjoyed a muddy walk that day, the Mud Daddy shower makes an appearance and I gently brush them down with warm water (I don’t use any chemicals or soaps as many dogs suffer from sensitive skin) I then towel dry your dog(s) as best I can before transporting them home. 14:55 – We set off homebound listening to the radio! (I may sing) 15:10 – We arrive home where I let your dog(s) into their usual area ensuring I take any harness’ off to dry. I use a microfibre towel to dry their legs again to make sure I didn’t miss any areas before allowing them to chill and wait for your return. (A nice after walk treat is usually given at this stage followed by replacing their drinking water with fresh cold water) 15:15 – I send an update of our session letting you know what your dog(s) got up to on their adventure along with where we went and what we did – Media of our adventure is attached to the message so you can see them enjoying themselves. I then head to my next session at 15:30.
Q – What does a ‘standard drop in’ consist of? A – A standard drop in (30 minutes) example: 10:00 - I arrive at your home, admire your garden and then let myself in with either a 'safe place key' or neighbours key. 10:00 - 10:05 - I greet your dog(s) and let them straight out into the garden to give them the opportunity to go to the toilet. If in training, I reward positive behaviour with low calorie treats with the owner’s permission. 10:05 - 10:10 - We all head back inside to have a drink. (The dog(s) that is.) I ensure fresh drinking water is provided and consumed. I then check for any 'messes' your dog(s) may have made including 'toilet accidents' and clean these up as best I can. 10:10 - 10:25 - We head back outside with toys and begin our intense playtime! With the owner’s permission, I take a few pictures of your furry family members having fun. 10:25 - 10:30 - I encourage another drink along with going to the toilet again before preparing to let your dog chill and wait for your return. 10:30 - I leave your home and can either post the key or return it to a neighbour/safe place. I then send a SMS/MMS message to the owner with a quick 'pup date' along with detailing if there were any incidents. If you would like to increase the amount of playtime your dog(s) have with me during a drop in session, I can usually accommodate a 60 minute drop in which would be the same price as a 1 hour walk.
Q – What options are available to allow you access to my home? A – Currently the options available during the onboarding welcome forms are; 1. A member of the household (18+) will be home at the start and end of the session. 2. A safe place key is left in a secure location for me to use to collect your dog(s) – The key can be returned to the same place or alternatively be posted through the letter box/returned to a neighbour. 3. Given to myself (Duncan) to keep for the duration of services being provided by Alpha Dogs Devon – I have full liability insurance and I’m covered for customer keys. 4. Collected by a nearby neighbour If your home has a security coded system, I recommend setting up an additional code for me to use rather than sharing the main code so that when the system is disarmed, you know who by and it’s much more secure as you can limit access when no longer required for peace of mind.
Q – Do you offer pet sitting services? A – Primarily Alpha Dogs Devon specialises in professional 1-1 dog walking and drop in sessions. I therefore currently don’t offer traditional pet sitting. Instead, I maintain appointment style session where I visit your home multiple times in a day. For existing customers however, I’m more than happy to discuss ad-hoc cover for special events.
Q – I’d like to attend an ‘ALPHA WALK WITH FIN’ but wouldn’t want multiple people there. A – Not a problem! Feel free to pop a message in the special requirements section during the checkout process. Alternatively, contact me to check when the next available session is and I can schedule you in for a solo session for free :)
Q – Does Fin (GSD) join you on sessions? A - Finley, my handsome German Shepheard, often joins me on many sessions as he is a fantastic training aid for many of my current customer’s dog(s). He gets on with all breeds and is exceptionally well behaved and has impeccable recall (if I do say so myself) – Depending on the social skills of the dog(s) I’m walking, I may ask if you would like me to introduce Fin to our future adventures for further enrichment. This is always your choice and there is no obligation for Fin to join us as he has planned walks around other sessions each day.
Q – Can I opt out / change the frequency of receiving media updates after sessions? A – Sure! Some of my more regular customers have asked to limit the number of videos and pictures I send after each session as more media can take up storage on their devices. I’d be more than happy to accommodate specific media requests per customer.
Q – I’d prefer pictures of my dog(s) to not be used for online media. A – Not a problem! As you will see from my social media & website, I don’t post daily or show the world where I’ve walked that day. The only person I send session updates to is you. There are occasions where I may want to post an advertisement online such as Facebook however I will always ask for permission to showcase your dog(s) first.
Q – Will you cancel a planned session if the weather is bad? A – I’ve lived in the UK since birth so I’m used to bad weather so I’m happy to perform sessions rain or shine. The only time I may cancel a planned session is if there is additional risk associated with completing the session. This is usually down to temperature (too hot or cold) or snow (travel risk). Never the less, I always aim to give you as much notice as possible along with offer alternative arrangements if you don’t have a family member or friend to assist looking after your dog(s). For example, if we have a long walk scheduled and we suddenly get a downpour of heavy snow, I may offer an alternative of a drop in session as there is no travel risk for your dog(s) as we’re staying home/local.
Q - What if I change my mind about a booking and wish to cancel a planned session? A – Not a problem! I haven’t wrote a lengthy terms & conditions or a cancellation policy (even though my accountant suggests I should) as I know life throws curveballs sometimes and things change last minute – If you wish to cancel a planned session, all I ask is you let me know as soon as possible so I can offer the appointment slot to another customer. There are no cancellation fees and if you have already paid for the session, I can either transfer the session to another date and time, or issue a full refund. The only exception is if I’ve already started travelling or have arrived at your home to find out you wish to cancel the session. I would require payment for today’s session.
General FAQ's
Q – Do you have liability insurance? A – Alpha Dogs Devon and all employees are covered by full liability insurance of up to £1,000,000 through Protectivity. Confirmation of this can be found on my website or via the link below. Your dog(s) are covered from the moment I arrive at your property, any car travel, during our walks and the moment I leave them in your home to wait for your return. https://www.protectivity.com/product/pet-business-insurance/?showCert=true&policy=Q3sgPV72eCNisWB_9BkrGA2
Q – What payment methods do you accept? A – Most of my customers pay via BACS (direct bank transfer) however I also accept cash payments. If you wish to use a credit card, I can create a payment link through my website provider upon request.
Q - Do I have to pay upfront for dog walking? A – By default, I don’t charge upfront via my website as it would require my customers to input their card details online. For most sessions (ad-hoc), payment is usually made after the session has been completed. For more regular/multiple sessions in a week, payment can be made upon completion of the last session that week. I perform my weekly accounting every Sunday.
Q – Do you offer discounts? A – I often aim to offer different discounts to my existing customers. Currently I’m running a promotion whereby when you review Alpha Dogs Devon on Facebook and/or Google (positive or constructive), you receive a discount code to use for your next session. Previously I’ve also offered a ‘long walk upgrades’ which I plan to re-instate this Summer.
Q – Can you recommend a professional pet sitter? A – Absolutely! I’m part of a community WhatsApp group with many other professional dog walkers, pet sitters and dog groomers whom as I, love what they do! As I don’t offer the traditional pet sitting, I’d be more than happy to help introduce you to another professional pet sitter who may have availability on your requested dates. Feel free to contact me.