Frequently Asked Questions

How can I contact Devon Dog Boarding?

You can contact us during office hours by telephone, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on 01392 311365. If our lines are busy please leave a message and your call will be returned shortly. You can also use the contact form within this site or email info@devondogboarding.com. We always try to reply as soon as possible.

Is every dog suitable for home dog boarding?

No. We provide family environments which are only suitable for friendly, family dogs. We cannot take any dog which shows any aggressive tendencies, or has any record of aggression towards humans or other dogs. All dogs must be obedient, calm, balanced and non-aggressive. We can cater for puppies as long as they are house trained. We cannot take any dogs that are destructive, bark excessively, have separation anxiety, or are incontinent. We cannot take any dogs that pull hard on the lead, or any entire dogs or bitches that are in season.
If you have any queries about whether your dog would be suitable please use the contact form, email info@devondogboarding.com or call 01392 311365 and a member of staff will be happy to discuss the requirements with you.

What are your prices for home dog boarding

£20 per day for 1 dog

£30 per day for 2 dogs

To be as fair to our clients as possible we charge per 24 hours, and not per calendar day. There is no registration fee, and we do not insist you use our transport service. Two weeks before your booking, we will contact you for full payment. If you cancel after this point the 20% deposit will not be refunded and will be given to the host family, since they may have turned away other bookings in that time.

Our prices are the same all year round to reward loyalty. You may enquire with your regular host family if they are available for a certain date, but the booking must still come through Devon Dog Boarding’s head office so as to be covered by the insurance.

Does my dog need to be vaccinated?

Yes, we will need a copy of your vaccinations card. Your dog must also be wormed and treated for fleas. In the Summer we recommend anti-tick treatment to be used as well.

How will my host family know how to care for my dog?

All our families are trained, and have experience owning dogs of their own. We encourage continuous training and good manners in our dogs, and our families will be able to continue any training you are doing with your dog.  They will always have a copy of the form you have filled in about your dog, so you can give them as much information as you wish about your dog and his/her home routine. You will always meet your home boarding family before your booking, so that is a good opportunity to fill your host in with any additional information.

What should I provide for my dog’s happy holiday?

You will need to provide your dog’s food so he/she stays on the same diet. If your dog has fresh food as part of their diet you will need to provide this cooked and frozen. If your dog is on medication you will need to provide this, along with instructions of how to administer the medication. We advise that you provide some bedding that smells of home, to help your dog to settle into the home. You may also wish to provide treats, poo bags, bowls, and toys.

Will my dog be let off the lead?

This depends on your wishes. If you believe your dog’s recall is 100% and you wish the carer to let your dog off the lead, then if the carer is happy they will do so. However you must accept full responsibility if your dog gets lost, causes an accident or gets into a fight. Our carer’s usually test the recall on a flexi-lead for the first few days, and use treats to reward good recall.

What sort of host families do you have?

We have a range of host families suitable for home boarding a range of dogs. Some are retired and enjoy the company of boarding dogs, some are young couples and families who enjoy the extra exercise and the fun of boarding lively young dogs, all have one thing in common: their love of dogs. Our basic criteria are that they must not be out of the house for more than 3 hours at a time, they must be over the age of 25 years, they must not have any children under the age of 5 years, and they must have a secure garden. We reference and ID check all our families, and personally interview them to check their suitability.

Do you have families in my area?

We are constantly recruiting new host families so do contact us to see if there is a family in your area.

Areas we cover include: Ashburton, Axminster, Barnstaple, Bideford, Bovey Tracey, Brixham, Dartmoor, Dartmouth, Exeter, Exmouth, Holsworthy, Honiton, Ilfracombe, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Minehead, Moretonhampstead, Newton Abbot, Okehampton, Ottery St Mary, Paignton, Plymouth, Salcombe, South Molton, Taunton, Tavistock, Teign Valley, Tiverton, Topsham, Torquay and many more!

How do I meet my host family?

Once you have spoken with head office, and filled in our extensive home dog boarding form, you will be asked to pay a deposit for your booking. This secures the booking, and protects both our clients and our families’ confidentiality. Once this booking has been made, you will be sent the details for your family. You must contact them and arrange a visit at a mutually convenient time within a week.

Is there a minimum stay for home boarding?

Once you are our client we can offer stays as short as day care; however for the first stay we have a minimum period of 2 nights and 3 days. This is to allow the dog time to acclimatise to the new environment, and to allow the family to get to know the dog properly. This is also a good trial period before longer bookings, in case there are any problems on either side.

What times can my dog be collected and picked up?

We aim to be as flexible as possible. Collection and delivery times are usually within office hours, so from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. If the family is happy later times can be discussed, as with weekend collections.

Do you offer transport for my dog?

Yes we do. We understand that you may be going off to the airport, in a hurry, or you may have a long drive ahead. Devon Dog Boarding offer a transport service to make the whole experience easy and enjoyable for you. Equally, some owners find it hard to drive off and see their dog left behind. We offer transport in reliable 4×4 vehicles, with a ramp for your dog to walk up, with plenty of space for the journey. Our transport service is charged at £10 and 45p per mile, within office hours, Monday to Friday. Weekend deliveries can be discussed; please call 01392 311365 for more information If our lines are busy please leave a message and your call will be returned shortly. You can also use the contact form within this site or email info@devondogboarding.com.