T&Cs | Long Dog Hotel

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Our top priority is the safety and happiness of all the dogs in our care, and that includes making sure our setting is the right fit for each individual dog. Please review our below Terms and Conditions below. We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time without prior notice. We encourage you to review them periodically for any changes.

TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMPLETING THE BOARDING AGREEMENT CONSENTS

1. OUR DOGS & GUEST DOGS

You consent for your dog to be boarded/mix with the resident dogs of Long Dog Hotel and dogs from the same or different households.

We have 2 resident dogs (Milly and Dolly). Our licence enables us to have 8 guests from mulitple households. All sausages live and mix together in our home.

2 ENRICHMENT & EXERCISE

You consent for your dog to exercise and go for walks off-site, on a leash with the resident dogs of Long Dog Hotel and dogs from the same or different households.

Sausages who are new to boarding or daycare may experience a higher level of physical and mental activity then they may be used to at home. Therefore, your pup may be a little more tired then usual when they come home! All pups get plenty of exercise with walking around our home and garden and playing with other pups, no walks are guaranteed for each stay, they are a bonus if we are able to. Walks are dependant on the weather, how many dogs we have here, and if we have any senior or dogs with medical needs that require extra attention. It also depends on your dog/s behaviour on a walk.

Outdoor Facilities: Pups have access to our medium-sized back garden which offers plenty of space for zoomies and sunbathing. All plants are safely contained in raised planters or pots. In our front garden we maintain a designated Woodland Corner for dogs who enjoy digging and shade. During the summer, we provide a shaded tent, cooling mats, and a large umbrella on our decking area and a shallow water mat for those who love to splash! .
Indoor Facilities: Guests have free run of the downstairs. Our playroom is stocked with balls, toys, and a ball pit. Chews are offered in the evenings. Cuddles are on offer 24/7. Pups also like to nap a lot during a typical day, and we provide a selection of comfy day beds and blankets. We can also offer a warm hot water bottle to ease any uncomfortable stiffness, especially for our senior or IVDD pups.
Off-Site Activities: We offer enriching outings to various locations within a two-hour radius of our home, including walks, trips to the seaside, visits to family members' homes, and outings to dog-friendly coffee shops, garden centres, or pubs. These excursions are subject to your dog's behaviour, prior stays, and mutual agreement. We prioritise safety and comfort and always carry your dog's details, a first-aid kit, and information on local/emergency vets. These outings are dependent on human availability and are typically limited to small groups of dogs. We prioritise walks around our local village and countryside. We do not take pups off-site in extreme weather. Off-site walks and activities are a bonus, not a guarantee!
Toys and Food Enrichment: Our ball pit and a variety of toys are available year-round. We also provide enrichment feeding activities such as scatter feeding on different surfaces, scavenger hunts, lick mats and a selection of puzzles for mental stimulation. Homemade frozen treats are available in the summer.
Sounds: We play a range of different sounds which include classical and soundscapes to keep the dogs calm and ease anxiety as well as having the TV on low throughout the day.
Chews: We offer a range of natural chews, including chicken feet, chicken necks, chicken wings, sprats, air-dried beef strips, lamb horns, yak milks, and homemade biscuits. For elderly dogs or those with dental issues, we offer softer alternatives like Whimzees.
Birthdays: We celebrate birthdays with a small 'pawty' at the hotel, providing a toy and biscuit if we are given advance notice.

2.1 Collars & ID Tags

To ensure the safety and well-being of all dogs, our policy is that dogs do not wear collars within the grounds of the Long Dog Hotel. This helps prevent injuries that can occur from collars getting caught in other dog's teeth, claws or on objects.

All dogs are required to wear a suitable comfortable harness (which you will provide) with one of our Apple AirTag trackers attached and collar with our own details on when outside of the hotel.

3 BOARDING PUPPIES/UNDER 1 YEAR OLD

You consent for your dog to be boarded/mix with and exercised with puppies less than a year old.

We're happy to welcome puppies over 12 weeks old, as long as they're at least 14 days past their primary vaccinations and Kennel Cough vaccine. Before any boarding or daycare, we'll chat with you about your puppy's needs so we can make sure they get the best care. This includes things like feeding, exercise, and rest. Puppies need lots of attention, so we'll keep a close eye on your pup to make sure they're happy and not showing any signs of distress, separation anxiety, or any concerning behaviors. We'll, of course, keep you in the loop.

We also try to keep things pretty calm and relaxed here, as we often have older dogs and dogs with medical needs (like IVDD) who enjoy a quieter atmosphere. Playful puppies are welcome, but if your puppy's energy levels become a bit much for our other guests, we might suggest another boarding option. This is just to make sure everyone has a comfortable stay.

4 HEALTH

You consent for your dog/s to be boarded/mix with and exercised with dogs who are either vaccinated or titre tested and you confirm your dog/s vaccinations are current and have provided their records.

If you have any questions regarding the requirements below, please consult your veterinarian. We prioritise the safety of all dogs in our care and adhere to the vaccination guidelines outlined in the NOAH Compendium (Special Precautions section) and on defra.gov.uk.

If you have an autoimmune disease, please consult with your veterinarian. The injectable Kennel Cough vaccine (non-live) may be the most suitable option for your dog, as the nasal and oral versions contain a modified live virus that can shed.

4.1 Vaccinations/Flea & Woming

Vaccination Requirements:

All dogs staying with us need to have current core vaccinations:

DHP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus) or DHPPI (which includes Parainfluenza) or a Titer test.
And Leptospirosis (L2 or L4)

Please send us a copy of your dog's up-to-date vaccination record, either via WhatsApp or email, showing current vaccinations. This record is required for each holiday stay. If any of these vaccinations expire before your dog's scheduled arrival, we will require proof of a booster vaccination before we can accept them for a daycare, or boarding. It is your responsibility as an owner to ensure your pup is up to date in good time before your pup comes here.

Puppies/Restarting Vaccinations: If your dog is getting their first (primary) vaccinations, or restarting their vaccinations, these need to be completed at least two weeks before they can come for daycare or boarding.
Boosters: If your dog has had a booster, they can come for daycare, or boarding right away.
Titer Tests: We do accept titer tested pups.
Flea and Worming: All dogs must be up-to-date on flea and worming treatment.

4.2 Kennel Cough Vaccine (Bordatella)

In addition to the core vaccinations above, a Kennel Cough vaccination is a mandatory requirement for all hour meet, trials, daycare, and boarding at The Long Dog Hotel.

Please note that both nasal and oral Kennel Cough vaccines contain a modified live virus that can be shed to other dogs for a period ranging from 5 to 6 weeks, depending on the vaccine brand. To protect all dogs in our care, especially those with medical conditions or who are elderly, we require a waiting period after vaccination before accepting your dog for daycare or boarding.

The following waiting periods apply, starting from the vaccination date:

Nasal Vaccine: Most brands: 6 weeks. Versican Plus BbPI: 11 weeks.
Oral Vaccine: Versican Plus Bb Oral: 5 weeks (35 days).
Injectable Vaccine: No waiting period. We can accept your dog immediately following the vaccination.

It is your responsibility as an owner to ensure your pup is up to date in good time before your pup comes to the hotel.

5 INJURY/IVDD/INFECTIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM

You confirm that your dog has been free from any contagious disease or conditions for the past 60 days.

We're dedicated to providing the best possible care for your dog at The Long Dog Hotel, but it's important to understand our liability and health policies. We can't be held responsible for injuries, illnesses, losses, or damage unless it's due to proven negligence on our part. We also can't be responsible for things outside of our control.

Before Your Dog's Stay: Please be honest with us if your dog develops any signs of an infectious health problem. (examples: fleas, worms, kennel cough, sickness, diarrhea, IVDD, or an injury) before they're due to arrive. To protect all the dogs here, we may have to refuse admission if your dog isn't well. In this case, our Cancellation Policy will apply. If your pup develops IVDD, we are unable to take them until 8-12 weeks after surgery or 6-8 weeks after crate rest (depending on level of recovery), the cost of boarding will very depending on care level.
During Your Dog's Stay: If your dog shows signs of an infectious problem as described above, IVDD, or an injury while they're staying with us, we may have to discontinue their stay. This means you or your emergency accommodation might need to come and collect them, and the remainder of the booking will be cancelled. Our Cancellation Policy will apply if this happens. If we are able to care for your pup for the remainder of your stay, there will be an increase in costs payable before collection.

5.1 Veterinary Intervention/Vet Release Form

For clarity our vets are:

The Hampshire Vets, Shortwood Copse Lane, Beggarwood, Basingstoke RG23 7LN. They are open 24/7 for both routine and emergency care. Tel: 01256 639707.

Emergency Veterinary Care: Please fill out and sign our Vet Release Form to confirm the needs of your pup should veterinary intervention be required during their stay.
Non-Urgent Veterinary Care: For non-urgent medical needs, we are happy to take your dog to our registered vet for a one-off fee of £40, should you wish them to be seen before collection. If the care needed is something we can deal with at the Hotel without veterinary intervention, we will discuss the care with you.

6 MEDICATION

You give your full permission for your dog to be medicated, if applicable to do so with medication that you have provided.

Please let us know if your dog/s is on any medication which you would like us to continue to administer during their stay.

7 INTACT & NEUTERED

You consent for dog to be boarded/mix with and exercised with dogs who are neutered or chemically neutered.

7.1 Males

Neutered: We welcome neutered dogs but they must have been neutered at least 8 weeks before they visit.

Intact: We do not accept intact dogs.

Chemically Neutered: We welcome dogs who have been chemically neutered. The implant needs to have been in place for at least 8 weeks before we can start the process of becoming a client. It is essential there are no wait gaps between the expiry of the implant and a re-implant. If the gap between expiry and re-implant is more than 2 weeks, there will be an 8 week wait from date of re-implant before you can visit. It is your responsibility to keep up with your dog's implant schedule to make sure it stays active.

7.2 Females

We're happy to welcome both spayed and intact girls. However, we cannot accept females who are in season or about to come into season for daycare or boarding. If you're not sure if your dog might be starting her season soon, a good idea is to do a quick 'white-tissue test' for a few days before her stay to check for any spotting. Please let us know right away if you think she might be coming into season before her booking starts.

If your intact female comes into season:

Before Her Stay: If your dog comes into season before her stay begins, we won't be able to accept her until at least 30 days after her season starts. This means we'll have to cancel her booking. Please see our Cancellation Policy for details.
During Her Stay: If your dog comes into season while she's staying with us, we'll need you or your emergency accommodation person to come and collect her as soon as possible. This means we'll have to cancel the rest of your booking. Please check our Cancellation Policy for more information.

Since seasons can be unpredictable, it's a good idea to have a backup boarding plan just in case. By making a payment to book, you understand that your intact female might come into season, which could affect your booking. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.

8 UNSOCIABLE BEHAVIOUR

You give permission for your dog to be separated from other dogs if problems arise.

The below are behaviours that negatively affect the safety and happiness of other dogs or humans, which might mean we need to separate your dog from the group to prevent something more serious from happening. If we determine that your dog poses a threat to the well-being of others, we reserve the right to cancel your booking (or remainder) and request that you or your emergency accommodation person collect your dog the same day that we notify you. In such cases, please refer to our cancelation policy for details.

8.2 Unacceptable behaviour examples (but not limited to):

Severe separation anxiety (if your dog is so distressed in your absence that it cannot settle and may be displaying excessive barking/howling/crying/avoidance or refusing to socialise it would be kinder to find a home sitter)
History of resource guarding (any history of aggression regarding food/toys/humans/bonded dogs from same household)
History of being aggressive towards humans (nipping/snapping/growing/biting/teeth showing)
Excessive humping/obsession with other dogs
Marking territory/scent marking inside our home
Dominant with other dogs (during play/around food/sleep)
Excessive Barking (we still have neighbours!)
Excessive fear or avoidance (not letting anyone approach, touch, handle, or pick them up when necessary)
Untrained (refusal to comply with human requests without bribery/recall/moving off furniture/coming indoors and cannot therefore be controlled in an emergency situation)
Lacking basic manners (untrained/wired/very excitable)
Not toilet house-trained (puppies under 1 year old are excluded)

9 FEEDING

You consent to your dog eating with other dogs (from the same or different households) and our resident dogs.

To ensure safety, all dog guests are fed seperately to avoid food competition or potential agression.

If your dog doesnt eat:

We usually feed breakfast between 7-7:30am and dinner between 5-5:30pm. If your dog doesn't eat their food at these times, we'll keep offering it throughout the day and evening. If they refuse their own food for more than two days (four meals), we'll give you a call to chat about some other options. Our dogs eat Benyfit Natural, a complete raw food diet. If your dog is already on a raw diet and you'd like us to use our raw food instead of you bringing yours, please let us know before their stay. There's a small extra charge of £2.50 per day for this.

10 SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

You agree to your dog(s) sleeping in the same room as other dogs (from different families) and our resident dogs.

To ensure a safe and comfortable night's sleep, all dogs sleep upstairs in our spacious bedroom with us. Your pup will need to be used to sleeping in their own bed/blanket/crate (if used). Please bring a t-shirt, blanket, or toy that carries your scent to help your dog feel secure. We cannot accomodate pups in our own bed. Our stairs are secured with baby gates top and bottom, and we will personally carry your dog up and down the stairs. We will take your dog out for a potty break before bedtime and again in the morning.

We understand that leaving your dog can be stressful, and we will do everything we can to make their stay with us comfortable and enjoyable.

11 CRATE USE (IF YOUR DOG USES ONE)

You consent to your dog being crated only at night during their stay at The Long Dog Hotel to maintain your dog(s) routine.

While we typically allow dogs to sleep where they are most comfortable at night in our bedroom, we understand that some owners prefer their dogs to sleep in a closed crate. Our licence stipulates a dog must not be confined in a crate for longer than 3 hours in any 24 hour period. Therefore, you consent to the use of a crate only if your dog is already habiuated to it and forms part of your dog's normal routine. You will provide a suitable crate for this purpose.

12 EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION PERSON/EMERGENCY CONTACT

I confirm that I have notified my designated Emergency Contact & Emergency Accommodation Person of their roles and responsibilities during my dog's stay at Long Dog Hotel, and they have agreed to act in these capacities.

In the unlikely event that your dog needs to be removed from our premises for its own safety or the safety of other dogs, we will contact your designated Emergency Accommodation Person to collect your dog. This can be the same person as your Emergency Contact if you wish. Please ensure that the person you nominate meets the following criteria:

They are not away while you are on holiday.
They have been made fully aware of your absence and that they may need to collect and accommodate your dog for the remainder of your holiday.
They are within a reasonable traveling distance from the Long Dog Hotel.

Should this person be unable or unwilling to collect or accommodate your dog in an emergency, we reserve the right to cancel the remainder of your booking and place your dog in the care of the Dog Warden. The Dog Warden will arrange alternative foster care for your dog until your return, at which point you will need to contact them directly to retrieve your dog and pay any associated charges. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.

13 VOLUNTEER HELP

You consent to your dog to be kept ‘together with, or separate from, dogs from other households, if the Proprietor has to leave the property in an emergency.

Sometimes, due to appointments or events, your dog(s) may be looked after by our trusted volunteers, my husband Simon, or our dog sitter/walker Stephen. They are both covered by our insurance. Simon and Stephen always spend plenty of time with me and the dogs to build trust before they are left to help look after and care for the pups.

ADDITIONAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

14 BOARDING AGREEMENT

By completing the boarding ageement, you confirm that you have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions prevailing at the time of any booking. Additionally, you acknowledge that the information you provide in your boarding agreement may be relied upon, and you have the option to update it as necessary.

15 PAYMENTS

We accept payment by electronic bank transfer and cash. Sorry, we don't take card payments.

16 BOOKINGS

We only have 8 spaces available at any one time and highly recommend booking early to avoid disapointment. Bookings are confirmed upon receipt of payment on a first come first served basis. We do not hold dates provisionally.

Boarding/Daycare/Trials (3 nights or less): Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Boarding (4 nights or more):

50% Booking Fee- Required to reserve your dog's stay. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable and allows us to hold your chosen dates just for you. Your booking is confirmed once the deposit is received.
50% Final Balance- Payable 14 days before the first day of boarding. Once paid, this is non-refundable and non-transferable.

We will send you a Whatsapp/text 14 days before your dogs scheduled arrival reminding you to make your outstanding balance payment as per your initial quotation. Failure to send your final payment on time, may result in the cancellation of your booking. In the event of cancellation due to non-payment, your booking fee will be retained, and the reserved dates will be made available for other bookings. We reserve the right to decline future bookings in cases of repeated non-payment.

If you cancel your booking before the final 50% balance is due, your 50% booking fee is non-refundable but you will not be charged the remaining balance. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy.
If you cancel after paying the final 50% balance, this payment is non-refundable and non-transferable. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.
Bookings made within 14 days of your dog's arrival date require full payment at the time of booking.

Bank Holidays/Xmas/New Year:

Our special holidays times of year get booked up very quickly and usually months in advance, we therefore encourage you to plan ahead to avoid disappointment. To confirm bookings for these times of year, we require a 50% non-refundable Booking Fee and the remaining 50% final balance is due 28 days prior to your holiday. For cancellations, please refer to our Cancellation Policy.

17 CANCELLATION POLICY

We understand that unforeseen circumstances can sometimes necessitate changes to travel plans. While we strive to be accommodating, we must also protect our business from financial loss due to cancellations. If we are able to rebook your dog's reserved dates with another client, we will gladly refund the payment for those rebooked days. We will, of course, inform you after your holiday dates if we were able to achieve this, .

Non-Refundable and Non-Transferable Payments:

Payments made to secure a booking are non-refundable and non-transferable to another booking in the following circumstances:

You cancel for any reason: We strongly recommend that your holiday insurance or pet insurance policy covers any loss of boarding fees due to cancellations, regardless of the reason.
We cancel the booking (either before or during your dog's stay) due to:
1. Unacceptable behavior exhibited by your dog.
2. Your dog due or coming into season.
3. Your dog developing an infectious health problem, injury, IVDD, or any other illness.
4. Overdue final balance payment, and our inability to contact you.

18 DOG COLLECTION

To pick up your dog(s), we ask that only one person come for the collection. If someone else needs to collect your dog(s), please let us know beforehand. We'll need their full name, phone number, and their car's make and registration number. After your dog(s) has been released back to your care, the Long Dog Hotel can't be held responsible for any injuries or illnesses that may occur afterward, except in cases where negligence on our part can be proven.

19 LONG TIME NO SEE

Every so often, we review our client list to make sure we have space for new pups wanting to join the Long Dog Hotel family. If it's been over a year since your last booking, you'll get an email asking if you'd like to stay on our list. We understand that things change, and if you do not need a boarder anymore, that's perfectly fine – we'll just remove your information in accordance with our Data Protection terms.

If you are planning on booking with us again, we may need to do a quick trial or day stay and document update so we can check in on how your pup is doing and make sure they're still happy and comfortable here. This is just because pups can change as they get older, or new health issues might pop up. We want to make sure all our guests get along and have a great time!

20 PERSONAL ITEMS

We'll do our best to look after your dog's things, but all personal items are left at your own risk. We can't be held responsible for any loss or damage, no matter how it happens.

21 CAR

You agree to your dog traveling in our vehicle with other dogs (even if they're not from the same family) and our resident dogs.

22 PHOTOS/VIDEOS

We kindly request that you do not share photos or videos on social media that feature other people's dogs. We sometimes take photos and videos of the dogs in our care and may use these on our social media channels or for other promotional purposes. This helps us showcase our services and share the fun the dogs have here. We will always make sure any images we use are appropriate and respectful, and we will never share any information that could identify your dog without your permission.

23 PERSONAL DATA/GDPR

Your Registration Form will be kept on file for repeat services and retained for a minimum of three years from our initial contact, or longer if you continue to use our services. We respect your privacy and will not share your personal details with other organisations. However, as a professional courtesy, we may occasionally share information about your dog with your veterinarian. If you prefer that we do not do this, please let us know.

Occasionally, we may (upon request or otherwise) provide recommendations or introductions to third-party service providers who offer complementary services that may be of interest to you, such as alternative home boarding, pet sitting, training, or behavioral services. It is your sole responsibility to evaluate the suitability of these services for your dog(s) and yourself. We make these recommendations in good faith but accept no liability for the services provided by any third party or any loss arising from or in connection with their services.

Complaints:

If you have any concerns about how we handle your data, please contact us in the first instance at lucy@longdoghotel.co.uk. If you are not satisfied with our response or believe we are not processing your data in accordance with the law, you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

24 GOVERNING LAW

These terms and conditions and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter (including non-contractual disputes or claims arising in connection with our agreement to provide services to you), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of England and Wales and the English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any such dispute or claim.

25 RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

Please note, we reserve the right to refuse or withdraw our services for any dog at any time, without prior warning. Whilst not legally obligated to do so, we have provided Terms & Conditions for your clarity. We reserve the right to update these Terms and Conditions at any time without prior notice. We encourage you to review them periodically for any changes.