A first stay at a Torquay boarder or day care
Whether your dog is booked into a home boarder's house, a kennels or a day-care unit in Torquay, a first stay usually starts with a shorter visit first, so both sides can see how the dog settles before a longer booking. Ask whether a trial or meet-and-greet is available even where a business's own site does not mention one.
Before you book: ask for a trial
Wickham Walkies, in Teignmouth, asks for a one-night trial stay before a longer booking, and Dandy Dogue Services, in Paignton, offers an introductory trial stay before a full one. It is worth asking any of Torquay's twenty-eight for the same even where their own page does not say so.
What to pack
Take your dog's usual food for the length of the stay, any medication with clear written instructions, a bed or blanket that smells of home, and a lead and collar with an up-to-date tag. Dartmouth Canine Care lets dogs free-range in the house rather than kennelling them unless asked, which is worth knowing before you pack a crate that will not be used.
Handover on the day
Give the person taking your dog a clear account of feeding times, any health issues and how your dog behaves around other dogs, since this is the point at which a boarder or kennels can adjust its plan for your dog specifically. Happy Dogs R Us, which runs day care from a unit on the Yalberton Tor industrial estate in Paignton, groups dogs by age, size and temperament and lets owners view the day on CCTV, but is cash only and closed at weekends and bank holidays, so check its hours match yours before the first visit.
Collection and drop-off
The Dog Lodge, near Slapton, opens daily 7:30am to noon and 5pm to 7pm for drop-off and collection. Ask what happens if you are early or late, and whether a bank holiday changes the price, before you book anywhere on this page.
Day care rather than an overnight stay
If you only need a day looked after rather than an overnight stay, Monty's Friends, working from a house in central Dawlish, prices a half day (9am to 1pm) and a whole day (9am to 5pm) separately from its overnight rate. See our day care or boarding guide for the full list of who offers day care.
Meeting a home boarder first
Because a home boarder's address is only given once you book, the first proper look you get at where your dog will stay is usually at a meet-and-greet, not before. Twenty-three of Torquay's twenty-eight listed businesses are home boarders; use the visit to see the house and garden, ask how many other dogs might be there at the same time, and find out what a typical day looks like, rather than relying on a description alone.