✿ Frequently Asked Questions ✿

✿ ​Is Spotty Dog Hiking insured?

Yes! As of January 16, 2023, we have been insured through Pet Sitter's Associates! Please check out their website for details: https://www.petsitllc.com/​ 

✿ ​Is Spotty Dog Hiking Pet First Aid & CPR Certified?

Yes! As of February 26, 2023, I have earned my Pet First Aid and CPR certification through Four Footed Family! Very happy to be able to provide your pets with even better care, although I hope I never have to use it! https://www.fourfootedfamily.com/

✿ ​Do you have breed restrictions on dogs you'll accept?

Not at all! I love dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds. I do not discriminate based on breed alone. I will only reject a dog if I feel for some reason I cannot handle them, or feel that they are a safety risk to myself, themselves, or others. A decision like this will be based solely on behavior of the dog, not the breed. 

✿ ​What does a Meet & Greet entail?

A meet & greet is a free 1/2 hour casual meeting in your home to ask each other questions, meet your pets, and determine if we are a good fit for each other before jumping the gun and scheduling services. This will allow you to show me around your home, where your pet's supplies are located, what kind of food and toys they like, commands your dog knows, how to get into your home for services, anything you can think of that will be involved in caring for them and anything I'll need to know when picking them up for their hike. You will also be able to ask me any questions you have, and get to know me a little better before entrusting your pets into my care.

✿ ​What is PetPocketBook?

PetPocketBook is the scheduling system that I use to schedule all of your services. You'll be able to message me through it, request services, receive invoices and make payments for services, receive a report card and photos after every service, see our signed waivers and agreements, and you'll be able to fill out a profile for each one of your pets. Please provide as many details about your pets as possible on their profiles. Behavioral notes, feeding schedule and amounts, allergies, house rules, commands the pet knows, locations of items, etc. There is no such thing as "too much info" when it comes to caring for your pets!

✿ ​Do you offer boarding or daycare services at your home?

I live in a small apartment, so I am unable to offer these options at this time. 

✿ ​What is your cancelation policy?

If you have forgotten to inform me of an absence or cancelation after I have already arrived at your home for our scheduled hike, I will still charge for the hike. Otherwise, I do not enforce any cancelation fees. Sometimes we need to cancel due to weather, sickness, etc, and I fully expect those situations. Of course I do appreciate notice of vacations and time off in advance so that I can try to have another dog fill your spot for that day. ☺

✿ ​What types of payment do you accept, and when is payment for services due?

We accept credit cards through PetPocketBook, checks, venmo, and cash.
PetPocketBook will send invoices typically the day after services are completed, or once a week on Mondays, and it will give you options for payment. PetPocketBook does add a fee for using a credit card through their app, so if you'd like to avoid that, I also accept checks, venmo, and cash. If you've already paid me before the invoices roll out, I will apply the payment to the invoice so that it will show as $0. 

✿ ​What if there is an emergency with my pet?

In the event there is an emergency, we will contact your primary vet on the Veterinary Release Form that you fill out upon scheduling with us. We will also contact you right away, and if we are unable to reach you we will contact your secondary contact on your PetPocketBook profile. If your vet is unavailable, we will go to the closest available emergency vet. 

✿ ​What are some other ways you practice safety for our pets?

• I am Pet CPR & First Aid Certified through Four Footed Family.

• My vehicle is equipped with 4 Ruffland kennels so that each dog may ride safely and separately, helping to keep them protected in the event of an accident, and to keep them from being a distraction to me while driving.

• My vehicle also has a dash camera on during all driving times.

• My vehicle is kept up to date on oil changes, gets regular check ups, and inspections. 

• We take precautions around water, and do not let the dogs swim in any suspicious looking water. We keep an eye on local news in the area of where there may be dangerous algae blooms so that we can avoid them.

• Each dog is leashed up in parking lots, and while approaching the car after hiking, even if they are off leash hikers. I'll leash up the off leash pups any time there is a concern, for examples a steep ledge, questionable wildlife, or a train passing through.

• We take weather seriously, and will adjust our hikes for safety as needed. In hot weather we will stick to shaded trails, especially if they have a water source, rather than open fields baking in the sun. We have a cold canteen of water and dishes in the car, as well as working air conditioning. If it is too hot we may cancel or shorten our hikes. During the winter I have a variety of doggy coats that I will put on the pups during below 35°F temperatures. We get a lot of ice on the trails in the area, so if anyone's paws look uncomfortable we will go back to the car to warm up. If we hear any thunder rumbles we will return back to the car. If rain or snow is accumulating so much that my sight or hearing is impaired we will return to the car. We will return to the car in any instance where your pup looks like they might be uncomfortable and unable to continue. If road conditions are becoming unsafe, we will cancel or shorten our hikes. If we are on the trail and the conditions look unsafe, we will head back.

• During hunting season every dog, on or off leash, will wear a neon bandana, even on trails where hunting is not allowed. I also wear a neon orange vest so that we are very visible to any potential hunters in the area. That being said, I have never had any run ins with hunters in our area during the times of day that we hike, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. 

• I carry a few things in my doggy treat pouch such as an air horn for aggressive dogs or wildlife, a slip lead in case a leash breaks, a whistle, etc. Our hikes are not more than an hour, so we always have quick access to the supplies in the car as well. I have a small doggy first aid kit in my car, and thankfully we have a good amount of vets and emergency vets within my service area if needed.

• We practice good trail manners, and keep our distance from suspicious strangers or leashed dogs. The dogs with me are not allowed to approach strangers or dogs outside of our group without permission, and I will always call them back to me while we pass others.

• If a dog is sick with any infectious disease, most commonly kennel cough/bordetella, they will be required to stay home for 2 weeks or until cleared by a vet so that they do not spread anything around my vehicle that the other dogs could catch. I will still provide home potty breaks in place of their hikes if needed! 

✿ ​How will I know that you have been to my home?

I always send an "on my way" text to you when I am headed to you from my previous appointment. Upon finishing any services, I will always message you with a report card via PetPocketBook of how the visit went, and send photos of our time together. I love taking photos of your pets having fun and being cute, so there are no shortage of picture updates! If we have good service on the trail, I'll sometimes text you a photo as I take it! ☺

✿ ​Will I be able to see photos of my pets when they are spending time with you?

Of course! I will send many photo updates during/after our hikes. I also post them on our Facebook Page and Instagram at the end of the day! Sometimes on a hike we may not have great reception in the woods, so texts might not come through until we are back at the car again!

✿ ​Do you have any positive reviews from previous pet parents?

Any review I get, good or bad, is copy and pasted onto the Reviews page!
You can also see them live on our Facebook Page or Google Reviews. 

✿ ​What days are you closed?

I do my best to plan my time off before January of each new year so that everyone can plan accordingly. I'll typically hand out these flyers (below) as well so you have it on hand for your calendar or refrigerator!  While I do try my best, I can't always predict every day off in advance, so these flyers are always subject to change!
Here are the closed dates for 2025:
Please add Thursday September 18th to this list!