Doggone Coach’s
Policies & Procedures

Doggone Coach services may be modified or suspended following local school closings and delays.

If roads are unsafe for travel, walks will be cancelled to allow our sitters to prioritize care for our pet sitting and overnight clients.

Inclement Weather

Overnights & Drop-In Visits

In the case of inclement weather, Doggone Coach prioritizes pet sitting visits to ensure each pet left in our care is safe, happy, and comfortable. Pets with time-sensitive medications are prioritized first.

Depending on road conditions, the time of your pet’s visit may be earlier or delayed. Updates will be provided as needed.

Walks & Happy Hour Visits

If your area is experiencing extreme weather conditions at the time of your scheduled visit, walks may be shortened to 5-minute bathroom breaks and the rest of your dog's visit will focus on indoor enrichment, training refresher, and/or play with your sitter.

If roads are unsafe for travel, walks will be cancelled to allow our sitters to prioritize care for our pet sitting clients.

Pet Care Reservations

Making Reservations

  • All services must be scheduled in advance. We recommend booking as early as possible, especially for holidays and weekends to ensure availability.

  • Availability is not guaranteed. Reservations are booked on a first come, first serve basis.

  • A Waitlist may be available if your requested dates are unavailable. There is no guarantee of services if you choose to be added to our waitlist. Waitlisted clients are notified of cancellations on a first come first serve basis.

Meet & Greets

A Meet & Greet is required before scheduling your first pet care service. This visit gives us a chance to meet your pet(s), go over their routine, and make sure we’re a good fit.

For overnight care, clients must complete the following before the first reservation.

  • New Client Registration Form

  • Signed Service Agreement

  • Complete a Meet & Greet

 Note: If the client form and agreement are not completed before the scheduled Meet & Greet, the appointment will be cancelled. Clients are welcome to reschedule their appointment once the above requirements have been met.

 Add-on Services

  • All add-on services must be requested in advance. Last minute add-ons are not guaranteed; they are dependent on our pet sitter’s availability and schedules.

  • Midday visits are not included in the overnight rate. Midday visits may be added to you reservation for an additional $30 per visit, per pet.

  • Walk Visits: All walk visits 30 minutes long, starting when your sitter enters your home, and ends when they depart. Your dog’s walk duration may vary based on how long it takes to leash up your pup.

  • Drop In Pet Sitting Visits: Pet sitting visits are either 30 minutes or 1 hour long, starting when your sitter enters your home and ending when they depart. Multiple pet sitting visits may be scheduled per day.

  • Overnight Visits: Your overnight Pet Care Coach will arrive at 8:00pm-10:00pm* and stay on premises until 7:00am. An earlier evening visit will be conducted by one of our Pet Care Coaches between 4:00pm - 7:00pm to provide evening meals, medications, potty breaks, and enrichment. Midday visits are available for an additional fee.

Pet Care Service Details

Holiday Policies

Holiday Fees & Deposits

The holidays are our busiest time of year!
Availability is very limited and reservations are often made months in advance.

  • A non-refundable holiday deposit (50% of total pet sit reservation) may be required to hold your spot.

  • Overnights over holidays may be cancelled 14 days in advance without fees. Overnights cancelled within 14 days of their scheduled start date will incur a $150 cancellation fee.

  • Holiday pet sitting and overnights are subject to a $25 surcharge fee per holiday night.

  • Walks are subject to an additional $5 holiday surcharge fee on the holidays listed.

Observed Holidays

We observe the following major holidays:

  • New Year’s Eve & Day

  • Easter Weekend (Fri-Sun)

  • Memorial Day Weekend (Fri-Mon)

  • Independence Day

  • Labor Day Weekend (Fri-Mon)

  • Columbus Day Weekend (Fri-Mon)

  • Thanksgiving

  • Christmas Eve & Day

Payments, Cancellations
& Refunds

Payments

  • Full payment will be automatically charged to the card on file on the last day of your pet sitting or overnight reservation.

    • For holiday reservations, the remaining balance will be automatically charged to the card on file on the last day of your pet sitting or overnight reservation.

    • Prepayments are available, please email us for more information.

  • We accept payments via Square.

  • Receipts are sent via email.

  • Recurring Walk or Happy Hour clients may arrange for weekly or monthly billing.

  • Dog Training:

    • Payments for Training Consultations & Private Lessons are taken at the time of your appointment.

Cancellations & Refunds

  • Walks and Pet Sitting cancellations may be made 24 hours in advance of your reservation for a full refund. Walk or Pet Sitting cancellations made within 24 hours of your reservation are non-refundable.

  • Overnights may be cancelled 7 days in advance without fees. Cancellations within 7 days of your scheduled service will incur a $150 fee.

    • Overnights spanning over holidays must be cancelled 14 days in advance.

  • Holiday Deposits are non-refundable if cancelled less than 30 days before the start of your reservation.

  • Training Consultations & Private Lessons may be canceled or rescheduled without penalty up to 24 hours before your scheduled appointment.

Additional Charges

Multi-Dog Walk Fee

  • + $25/30 minutes per additional dog, per visit.

Pet Sitting & Overnight Multi-Pet Fee

  • $25 per additional pet, per night, applies for households with more than one pet

Mid-Day Visits for Overnights:

  • Mid-day visits during overnight stays are not included in the overnight rate and are available for an additional fee of $30 per mid-day visit, per pet.

Health, Vaccinations & Illness

Pets currently diagnosed or in treatment for a contagious illness are not eligible for our pet sitting, walks, or overnight services until deemed in writing to be non-contagious by a veterinarian.

Clients must disclose any and all illnesses to Doggone Coach or risk breaking their service contract.

Dog Vaccinations

  • Rabies

  • Distemper & Parvovirus

    • Often given as combination vaccine, this may appear as DHLPP, DHPP, or DAPP on your pet’s records.

  • Bordetella (recommended, but not required)

Cat Vaccinations

  • Rabies

  • Feline caliciviruses

  • Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)

  • Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), also known as feline infectious enteritis or feline distemper

  • Feline viral rhinotracheitis, also known as herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1)

Contagious Illness

  • Pets diagnosed with or exhibiting signs of a contagious or communicable illness may be deemed ineligible for care. This includes, but is not limited to, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, nasal discharge, lethargy, fever, skin infections, rash, or any condition that may pose a health risk to other pets, clients, or staff.
    While the pets in our care do     not interact with animals or people outside of their immediate household, certain illnesses may be transmitted through indirect contact. Some pathogens can remain viable on skin, clothing, or objects for a period of time after exposure, increasing the risk of transmission.

  • Clients are required to disclose any known or suspected contagious illness prior to the start of services. Doggone Coach reserves the right to decline, cancel, or discontinue services if a pet is suspected of having a contagious condition, whether disclosed in advance or observed during care.

  • If a contagious illness is identified or suspected during an active reservation, services may be immediately discontinued at Doggone Coach’s discretion. Any associated cancellations or early terminations will be handled in accordance with the cancellation and refund policies.

  • Doggone Coach is not responsible for the care, treatment, or outcomes related to contagious illnesses and may require veterinary clearance before services can resume.

Training, Behavior, & Aggression

Fear- Free Methodology
& Care Practices

  • Doggone Coach utilizes force-free, fear-free, and reward-based handling and training techniques. We do not use aversive tools (e.g., prong, shock, or choke collars).

  • At no time will Doggone Coach’s staff use aversive tools or methods, including those provided by clients, while a pet is in Doggone Coach’s care. Doggone Coach is committed to providing care that prioritizes each pet’s emotional well-being and safety. Research in animal behavior and learning theory clearly shows that the use of aversive tools or handling methods can increase stress, fear, and defensive responses, particularly in animals with anxiety or behavioral challenges. Elevated stress can negatively impact welfare and safety and may increase the risk of escalation rather than reduce unwanted behavior.

Behavioral Disclosure Requirement

  • Clients MUST disclose their pet(s) behavioral history, including aggression, reactivity, or behavioral concerns during their Meet & Greet. Accurate disclosure is essential to ensure the safety of pets, clients, and staff and to determine whether services are an appropriate fit.

  • Doggone Coach reserves the right to require private training session(s) or multiple relationship-building visits before accepting a pet for ongoing services, pet sitting, or overnight care.

  • Doggone Coach prioritizes the safety and well-being of all pets and staff. Pets exhibiting high levels of stress or behavior that is unsafe or unmanageable may not be eligible for services. A pet’s suitability for services is continuously evaluated. Behavioral changes over time may affect eligibility for future reservations.

 Key & Home Access Policy

Home Access

  • Clients must provide reliable access to the home (via key, lockbox, keypad, or smart lock) before the first pet sitting or dog walking service begins.

  • Unless otherwise requested in writing, Doggone Coach reserves the right to create and retain a duplicate key for emergency or backup access. All keys are stored securely and are not labeled with client-identifying information.

  • In the event Doggone Coach is unable to access the residence due to access-related issues, including but not limited to dead batteries, incorrect access codes, or lock malfunctions, Doggone Coach may contact a locksmith to gain entry. Any locksmith fees, lockout charges, or related expenses incurred may be billed to the client.

Access Changes & Issues

  • Clients must notify Doggone Coach promptly of any changes to access methods, codes, locks, or alarm systems prior to service. Doggone Coach is not responsible for service disruptions resulting from undisclosed home access changes.

  • If the home is equipped with a security or alarm system, clients must provide clear instructions for disarming and rearming the system. Doggone Coach is not responsible for false alarms or penalties resulting from incorrect or incomplete instructions.

  • Doggone Coach is not liable for delays, missed services, or additional expenses resulting from access issues outside of its control.

Emergency Access Authorization

Clients authorize Doggone Coach to take reasonable measures, including contacting a locksmith or emergency services, to access the home if deemed necessary for a pet’s health or safety.

 Liability Disclaimer

While every effort is made to provide safe, loving care, Doggone Coach LLC is not liable for illness, injury, escape, or death of pets under our care if caused by circumstances beyond our control (e.g., pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, third-party actions).

By booking with Doggone Coach LLC, you agree to our policies and release us from liability within reasonable limits.