Dog Boarding & How to make a reservation
(This page is currently under construction and Not complete)
To make a boarding reservation you must complete the following steps:
Fill out the Contact Form here
Email the current vaccination record (which displays the expiration dates of each vaccination) to EarthGirlDogWalker@gmail.com
Sign the Boarding Contract (a link will be emailed to you)
After I receive the completed contact form I will reach out via text to setup a quick phone call. Then together we will setup a paid trial overnight to get your account setup.
The trial overnight allows me to get a better sense of your dog’s personality and behavior when you are absent. This way I can assess if your pup is a good fit and it helps to decrease your dog’s possible anxiety being in a new place. Let’s set them up for success. Practice makes perfect!
You will receive a Welcome Email which will invite you to setup a client profile using the ‘Time to Pet’ client portal (there will be a link to login on this website soon as well). After you have confirmed/setup your profile you will use this client portal to request any future boarding reservations. After I review your request you will get a notification that your reservation has been double confirmed and locked in.
Pay a deposit of half to hold the reservation. I will email you the invoice for the deposit which includes my Zelle information (EarthGirlDogWalker@gmail.com)
What are the requirements to be eligible for dog boarding?
Your pup must get along with other dogs and be very tolerant of most breeds and ages. Old, disabled and shy dogs welcome! Annoyance with younger dogs is common and not necessarily a deal breaker, but complete intolerance is not a good fit for this boarding setup. Ideally your dog can read the body language of other dogs and is Not considered a ‘tarazan dog’. Every dog has their set of unique triggers that can bring about big feelings so let’s discuss them. If your dog is a non stop barker, triggered by every little new sound even after the first day of boarding somewhere new then your pup is not the right fit here.
Dog(s) must already be spayed/neutered, have a microchip & a collar with ID tag
Proof of vaccination must be Emailed to EarthGirlDogWalker@gmail.com
(also please email vaccination records as they get updated)
-(a) Rabies
-(b) Distemper, including Leptospirosis
[usually denoted as DHLPP = Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus]
-(c) Bordetella [kennel cough]
Note: Canine Influenza Vaccine is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED but not currently required for boarding dogs.
Knowledge of your pet and complete transparency about the areas they may need improvement. If your dog is new to you then it won’t be fully possible to truly know if they have aggression issues or they get triggered by bicycles/skateboards and so on until more time has passed. If you have only recently adopted your dog (within the last 3 months) I highly recommend you reschedule your vacation as this is a critical time to set your new dog up for success. Google ‘The Rule of 3 for Dogs’. 3 months is the time it takes for a dog to truly feel comfortable, relaxed, and like themselves in their new home. A trip would disrupt the routines you've worked to establish and could cause your new dog to regress in their adjustment.
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What does ‘polite’ and ‘social’ mean for dogs?
approaches a new dog calmly without aggression or too much hyper energy as to scare a shy dog away, is non leash reactive. Meaning your dog needs to be socialized enough to understand the basic body language of other dogs, read the signals and respond appropriately.
Do you board intact dogs?
No.
How do I start service?
Please read the policies on this page, Then fill out the form here OR send an email to EarthGirlDogWalker@gmail.com OR call or text me at 415-760-1189, ideally during business hours. Please let me know your neighborhood location and briefly describe your dog(s) and leave your contact information. If you and your pup are a good fit we will setup a Free Trial pack walk to see if your dog may be a potential pack member. If the trial walk goes well then we will start service and have a 30 day trial month to make sure we are a good fit for each other. After the first 30 days of service you are now an official pack member (and will need to give 30 days notice to cancel service).
How do cancellations work?
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How will you bill me for walks? What is your late payment policy? How do I make payments?
Yes I email over a monthly invoice 1 to 5 days Before the 1st of every month. Payment is due upon receipt, no exceptions. Think of it like paying rent/gym membership on or before the 1st of every month.
You can make payments using (a) Zelle (which you access via your online banking account of the Zelle app) Or (b) via personal check made out to ‘Earth Girl Dog Walker’. I do not utilize paypal or venmo.
If payment is not received within 5 days of the invoice being emailed over service will be put on Hold and you will continue to be financially responsible for all scheduled walks. If payment is not received within 15 days service will be suspended, a late fee of 1.5% will be added for each day the invoice is past due. Additionally, your spot in the pack may be up for termination.
What is the policy on who’s financially responsible if my dog gets injured during a walk?
Any time you leave the house with your dog there is an inherent risk of something unplanned happening, including dog fights or accidents or foxtails etc. I have an excellent safety record and I have policies and procedures to avoid accidents and scuffles. I do my best to ensure all of my client dogs are already well-socialized with other dogs and people.
Dogs are animals and can be unpredictable at times so accidents/fights can happen. Any injury sustained to your dog during an outing will be your financial responsibility unless their injuries are a direct result of my own behavior/endangerment/negligence.
So what happens if another dog/person attacks my pup during boarding? Or if my pup attacks another dog/person during boarding?
If any serious injuries occur I will immediately take your pup to the nearest animal hospital and call you as soon as possible to inform you of the situation. If the injury is not life threatening I will first consult your authorization before proceeding to the animal hospital in case you prefer to wait and consult your usual vet of choice.
In accordance with California State Law if a dog bites a person, the dog’s owner must provide the person who was bitten with their name, address, telephone number, and the name and license tag number of the dog within 48 hours. The dog’s owner, within 48 hours of the bite, must provide the other person with information regarding the status of the animal’s vaccinations.
California is a "Strict Liability" Dog Bite State. This means that an owner cannot escape liability for a dog bite by claiming that they had no idea the dog would act aggressively. The owner is responsible for all damages resulting from a dog bite, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before.
So if any dog attacks your pup while in my care I will get that pet owner’s information so they can pay the bill directly to you (or reimburse me if I cover ER costs). In the case that this individual fails to provide accurate contact information or fails to pay any resulting vet bills it will fall on you to pay for your own pup’s vet bills.
And if your pup attacks another dog/person while in my care I will initially provide my information and consult with you first, before then passing on your contact information for you two to work things out directly without me. Also your dog would most likely no longer be welcome in the pack after that day.
Check out State of California—Animal Related Laws https://www.animallaw.info/statutes/us/california
Do you offer dog baths as an add on service?
No. I do recommend ‘Tender Loving Care’ Groomer in San Leandro however.
Do you group the dogs by size? How many dogs do you walk at a time?
No. I have extra large, large, medium and small dogs in my pack who get along famously with one another as I don’t take dogs with any aggression issues. For example, my Giant Schnauzer pack member knows how to play gently (with consent) with the much smaller Frenchie. Extra small dogs do travel with me in the front part of the van in a dog car seat. The dogs who prefer not to play and would rather sniff the whole walk also are left alone by the more outgoing pack members who love to wrestle.
I walk six dogs at a time.
Something came up, how far in advance do I need to a cancel walk?
You will be responsible for payment for ALL previously scheduled walks and scheduled service for the remainder of that 30 day period (even if you choose to not utilize those walks). If you are moving away and need to cancel service 30 days notice is still required. If you currently have 3-5 days a week of walks setup then No you cannot reduce service to 2 days a week for the final 30 days.
Will I always get daily photos or report cards?
Yes and no.
Yes I do tend to post photos on a daily basis BUT this is a courtesy, not a guaranteed part of the service.
Earth Girl Dog Walker’s Facebook , Instagram and TikTok accounts are used to post pictures of the pets I take care of. Note: If you do not use social media you can also see the daily photos on the HOME page of this website when you scroll to the bottom. I do Not text each and every client a daily picture, it is available for all online.
It is my policy that my priority on walks is pet safety, followed by pets' exercise and enrichment. This is an especially important prioritization for daily pack walks. Pressing matters like loose stool, mud puddle baths or any other incidents of importance will of course be communicated as they happen directly via text or phone call. I do usually post every day on social media, But again this is not a guarantee.
Regarding ‘report cards’—I will update you via text or phone call of your pups improvements Or regressive behaviors. Direct communication about areas for improvement are what you can expect from me. We are a team working together to help develop your pup into their best self for the long term. I am an extra set of eyes and ears here to help catch the little details that may fall through the cracks of daily dog parentship. However, I am only with them an hour or two a day so the majority of ‘the work’ and skill building will fall to you if behaviors become problematic, bad habits arise or hiring a certified Dog Trainer is needed. I do not create written report cards like a teacher.
Do you do package deals or give discounts for multiple dogs from the same household?
No.
I have more than one dog, do I get a discount?
No. Spots are limited and a spot is a spot. Also this would create an incentive for me to not book multi dog households.
If you the dog sitter are sick? Will there be someone to fill in for you?
Do you close on holidays?
I am closed the first week of July every year.
Do you ever take a vacation?
(10) Thanksgiving —-Fourth Thursday in November
(11) Black Friday —- Day after Thanksgiving
(12) Christmas Eve—-December 24th
(13) Christmas Day —-December 25th
My dog has injured/killed a cat/wild animal before, but never had issues with other dogs. Can I still become a pack member?
No.
I just adopted a new dog! Can I board my dog with you?
Congrats! Yes, but not right away. It’s important to set your dog up for success and limit vacations the first three months after you bring a new dog home.
Do use prong, choke, or shock collars while a dog boards with you?
No. I utilize only positive reinforcement methods (R+).
I do not use ‘balanced’, fear based techniques or punishment tools. Please take the time to learn more at sfspca.org/prong if you are currently using these items. “Need help with your dog’s behavior? Consider taking a private lesson or scheduling a behavior consultation in our Specialty Clinic at SF SPCA (info source credit SF SPCA).”