Questionnaire – The Customer agrees to fill in a questionnaire regarding the health, behaviour and wellbeing of the pet(s) listed in this contract. The Customer agrees to complete this questionnaire with accurate and honest information that is necessary for The Dog Walker to provide proper care of the pets listed in the contract.
Invoicing – The Dog Walker will invoice the Customer weekly on a Friday. The invoice will be sent by text message. Invoices are due on receipt, to be paid by bank transfer using the details provided on the invoice. Invoices that are not settled on time will be subject to a 20% late payment fee. Repeated failure to settle invoices on time may result in your place being terminated without notice.
Time Slots – If you have requested, or been offered, a specific time slot, please note that although we try out best to always stick to this time slot, it is subject to short notice change, as sometimes for reasons beyond our control we need to make small changes to the layout of our day. If your slot needs to be changed for any reason, an alternative slot between the hours of 10am and 2pm will be offered instead. If this is a last minute change, we may not have time to inform you of this.
Time Slot Durations: Please note that the time slot you’re paying for (30, 45 or 60 minutes) starts from the time your walker arrives at your house, not from the time the walk commences. Any time taken to harness/lead up your dog(s) and leave the house with them is taken out of your time slot, so please ensure everything is easy to hand for when your walker arrives so they can leave swiftly. Similarly, at the end of your slot, your walker will leave exactly 30, 45 or 60 minutes after they arrived, which means your dog(s) will be returned a few minutes before this to ensure their walker has time to refresh their water bowl and settle them with an end-of-walk treat before they go.
Walk Feedback: Your dog(s) will have a designated WhatsApp group chat which both myself (Kimberley, business owner) and your designated walker will join. This will be used to provide feedback, photos and/or videos at the end of each walk. Please note this feedback may not always come directly after a walk. On busy days, we may not get chance to send this until the afternoon.
Compliance – The Customer retains The Dog Walker as an independent contractor. No employer/employee relationship is implied with this contract. The Dog Walker is solely responsible for procuring the required insurance and ensuring compliance with any necessary regulations.
The Dog Walker Responsibilities – The Dog Walker agrees to carry out their services in a professional and reliable manner, taking care to treat all pets with care and respect. The Dog Walker shall ensure that any faeces are picked up and properly disposed of whilst carrying out their duties. The Dog Walker shall not be liable for any other duties that are requested which are not detailed in this contract.
Equipment – The Customer should provide all necessary equipment for the pet(s) listed, such as collars, leads, muzzles and harnesses. It is The Customer’s responsibility to ensure all provided equipment is correctly fitting, in good condition and fit for purpose. The Dog Walker may provide their own equipment such as leads or long lines. In this instance, The Dog Walker is responsible for ensuring this specific equipment is correctly fitting, in good condition and fit for purpose.
Customer Cancellations – The Customer agrees to provide a minimum of 24 hours notice if any of the services listed in this contract are no longer required. If The Customer cancels any listed services with less than 24 hours notice, they agree to pay the full cost for that service.
The Dog Walker Cancellations – Should The Dog Walker need to take absence for holiday or illness, they will forfeit the entire fee for those cancellations. The Dog Walker will endeavour to provide as much notice as possible for booked holidays, however The Customer must accept that in some situations this may not be possible. A minimum of 24 hours notice will always be given for holidays. Cancellations due to illness will be communicated to The Customer as early as possible on the affected day(s).
Emergencies – In the event of a non-life threatening emergency, The Dog Walker will contact the phone numbers provided in the questionnaire that The Customer has filled in. The Customer will be contacted first followed by the phone number of the 2nd parent if required. If neither The Customer or the 2nd parent can be reached, the emergency phone number detailed on the questionnaire will be used. Where no contact can be made with any of the listed numbers on the questionnaire, or if the emergency presents a life threatening danger to either The Dog Walker or the listed pet(s), The Dog Walker is authorised to take any necessary action to protect either themselves or the listed pet(s). This includes seeking veterinary or medical advice without consulting The Customer first.
Liability – The Dog Walker will hold valid and in date liability insurance at all times. Proof of this insurance should be shown to The Customer if requested. The Dog Walker shall not be held responsible for damage or loss of The Customer’s property if the property is left unlocked by The Customer or if keys are left in an unsecure location. The Customer shall be fully liable for any damage, loss or injury caused by the pet(s) listed in this contract.
Indemnification – The Customer and The Dog Walker agree to indemnify and hold each other harmless from any and all claims or liabilities arising from their party’s wilful or negligent actions.
Offlead – The Customer accepts that if they have given permission in the questionnaire for the pet(s) listed within this contract to be let offlead, The Dog Walker is not responsible or liable for any injury or loss that occurs during this time. The Customer accepts that there is always an element of risk whilst pet(s) are offlead and by giving permission for The Dog Walker to let the pet(s) offlead, they are accepting liability for this risk.
Weather – The Dog Walker is entitled to make decisions on whether it is safe to walk the pet(s) listed within this contract. If The Dog Walker deems it to be unsafe, they reserve the right to change the service offered for a more suitable option. For example, in hot weather or snow/icy conditions, an enrichment home visit will be offered instead of a walk.
Infectious diseases – The Customer must inform The Dog Walker if the pet(s) listed in this contract develop any infectious conditions (e.g. Kennel cough, conjunctivitis). Any dog with an infectious condition will not be walked until cleared to do so by a vet. House visits will be offered until it is safe and appropriate for walks to resume.
Keys – If The Dog Walker is required to keep a key for The Customer’s property, this will be stored with no identifying information on other than a tag with the pet(s) name on.
Travel by car – The Dog Walker is responsible for ensuring any vehicle that the pet(s) listed in this contract may travel in is road legal, suitably insured and compliant with all regulations. The pet(s) listed in this contract may only travel by car if permission has been given to do so by The Customer in the questionnaire.
HiKo Hounds 