Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

How do I sign up for your services?

Getting started is easy!  Just click here and complete our contact form with some brief information about your pet and the services you require.  One of our pet sitters will contact you within 24 hours to arrange your free consultation.  You may also contact us by phone at (877) DOGS-FUN.

I just signed up for my initial consultation. What do I do now?

Getting started with Superdoggies is easy.  Here's how to set up your new account.

Step 1: Set up your online profile
You will have access to our easy online system to handle all of your appointment scheduling and payment. Please complete your online profile prior to your initial consultation.  To set up your profile, follow these steps:
  1. Click the “click here to register” button at the top left corner of the homepage.
  2. Enter your ZIP code and click "continue."
  3. On the profile page, fill in the information as completely as possible, including the “questions” section at the bottom.
  4. Click “continue.”
  5. Add a profile for each of your pets.

Step 2: Complete intake forms
We require 2 completed and signed forms from you before we start services.  The forms are the vet release and service agreement, which we will email to you when you sign up.  Please print, review, and sign these forms prior to your initial consultation.  Your pet sitter will collect these forms from you during that meeting.

Step 3: Provide Keys
Superdoggies requires 2 working copies of your house key prior to providing services.  Please have these ready before your initial consultation.

Step 4: Schedule appointments
Visit our website at www.superdoggies.com and click the “client login” link.  That will take you to our online scheduling system.  Once logged in, click the “Schedule an Appointment” tab and follow the instructions to schedule online. For detailed instructions for our online system, click here.

Also, take a few minutes to read over the FAQ section of our website, which explains our services, policies, and procedures

Individual and Group Outings

What do you do on a neighborhood walk?

We come to your house, and walk your dog on leash from your house around the neighborhood. We take care of the cleanup and make sure they have fresh water when they return. We can also feed your dog from a bowl or Kong toy at no extra charge. The time starts when we enter the house, so make sure to have a collar/harness and leash readily available, and that your dog is trained to have it put on.

What do you do on a group adventure?

We make sure the dogs have fun! We pick up your dog and head out to a local park or hiking trail, varying our locations to keep it interesting for the dogs. We provide fresh water, toys, and treats (unless you specify otherwise). We make sure that all the dogs are having fun and getting exercise. On trail adventures, we will also check them for burrs and ticks at the end of the outing. Then we bring your dog back to your house, making sure that water is available.

Timing of Services

We provide our services in “time blocks” rather than specific times. We try to accommodate your ideal time, however, we ask for a 3-hour window of time for each service. We create our schedule based on the following factors: client work schedules; potty needs for puppies, elderly, and indoor dogs; and your home location. These time blocks help our dog walkers to save time and gas. If you have a preferred time, add that to the notes of the appointment in the online scheduling system, and we will try to accommodate it if we can (although it is not guaranteed). If for some reason you absolutely need a guaranteed specific time, we may be able to accommodate it, for an extra charge, subject to availability.

Our time blocks are as follows:

* Early Morning: 7AM-8AM

* Morning: 8AM-11AM

* Midday: 11AM-2PM

* Afternoon: 2PM-5PM

* Evening: 5PM-8PM

* Overnight: 6:30PM-6:00AM (overnight pet sitting only)


Will my dog be with other dogs?

Yes, unless you specify otherwise, or we deem your dog to be non-social. Dogs prefer to be with other dogs, and it’s good for them to meet new friends!

Will my dog be in a large group of dogs?

No. We purposely keep our groups down to 4 dogs or less per walker, to make sure each one gets individual attention, and to ensure each dog’s safety. Large, unruly packs are difficult to control and sometimes encourage bad behavior.

Will my dog be allowed to run off-leash?

Yes, if you use our Group Adventure service. We make sure that your dog is 100% safe, and is never allowed off-leash until in a fenced or otherwise safe area free from cars or other dangers. Neighborhood walks are always on-leash.

If your dog is misbehaving during an off-leash group walk (e.g. not coming when called, harassing other dogs, chasing people, etc) we may put your dog back on a leash and give them closer supervision.

Weather Conditions

Weather Conditions: We care for animals rain or shine. On rainy days, we suggest you have a dog rain jacket handy for us, as well as a towel at your entrance. We towel off your dog as much as we can after the outing and use baby wipes if there is mud or dirt on your dog. If there is a hose at the park, we may use it to wash dirt or mud off of your dog. We do our best to remove burrs and ticks from your dog. If you would like your dog to get a bath after dirty outings, we offer that service and your dog can come back smelling like mangoes instead of mud!


Boarding/Pet Sitting

I’m going out of town. Should I choose boarding or pet sitting?

Overnight Boarding is great for any well-behaved dog. Our boarding partners care for your dog in their homes, providing everything you would – love, play, and attention. We will also provide 2 walks a day and a trip to the park. Your dog may also get to meet a small number of new sleepover buddies!

Overnight Pet Sitting is perfect for dogs with special needs or ones that are not social. Your dog will get to stay in their familiar home environment and get our undivided attention. Our pet sitter will stay at your house from 6:30PM to 6:00AM the next day – it’s just like you’re home!

Pet Sitting Visits are great for pets that don’t mind having the house to themselves while you’re gone. We’ll come to your house 2-3 times a day to feed your dog, go for a walk, and provide companionship! This service is also perfect for clients who would like a house sitter – we can turn on your lights, water your plants, and bring in your mail.


Is my dog a good candidate for boarding?

To qualify for boarding, your dog must be healthy, up to date with vaccinations, and free of fleas and other bugs. They must get along with other dogs and people, and not chew household items. We may also ask that they get along with cats and/or not dig. We will also need documentation of your pet’s most recent vaccinations.


Is my dog a good candidate for pet sitting?

If your dog is independent, accustomed to being alone, and well potty-trained, we can provide pet sitting visits. If your dog does not fit this description, we suggest overnight boarding or in-home pet sitting.

Isn't it better to take my dog to a boarding facility?

No! Your dog is accustomed to living in a home environment, and needs structure and routine. A chaotic and/or crowded boarding facility or kennel can be stressful! Many of our clients report that their pets have returned from boarding facilities with behavior problems learned from a pack of under-supervised dogs. Some come back with health issues, and we even know of some that refuse to eat the entire time at the facility. Even the best-run facility can’t promise to provide as much structure and individual attention as your pet will receive in our boarding partners’ loving homes. Our commitment to individual attention ensures that your dog will come back happy and healthy!


I’m leaving town right away. Can I drop my dog off right now?

We are sometimes able to accommodate last-minute requests if we have availability. If you are not a current client, we will need you to complete an online profile and prepay with a credit card, and you and your dog must meet our boarding partner before you leave to make sure that your dog gets along with the other dogs. We recommend that you have a backup solution in case your dog is not a good fit for boarding. Note that we require a minimum 2-night stay for new clients.


Do you require a deposit to reserve boarding or pet sitting?

Yes. We require a 100% nonrefundable deposit upon booking. If you must cancel, we will apply your deposit as a credit for use on a future appointment.


What if I want to know how my pet is doing while I’m away?

We prefer not to bug you while you’re out of town, and most of our clients assume that “no news is good news,” and we will definitely contact you in case of emergency. If you want to check in on your furry friend, feel free to contact your pet sitter to request an update.

What do I need to bring when I drop off my dog?

Please bring your dog’s regular food, toys, bedding, and medications. If you do not provide food, we can purchase food for you and add it to your bill.


What if my dog has potty accidents while in your care?

Some dogs, such as puppies, have housebreaking challenges, and we understand that.

Boarding

If your dog has regular accidents while boarding with us, we charge a fee of $10 per day to cover cleaning.  If the amount of accidents is excessive (e.g. marking all over the house) and causes damage to any property, we may invoice you for extra cleaning costs.

Pet Sitting Visits

If your dog has regular accidents while you are away, that's a sign that they need more care, so we may add an additional daily visit.  We will notify you in that event.



Scheduling and Cancellation

How do I schedule services?

Current clients: Please use our online appointment scheduling system. To access the system, click here. That will take you to our online scheduling system. Once logged in, click the “Schedule an Appointment” tab and follow the instructions to schedule online. For detailed instructions on how to use our online system, click here.

New Clients: Please refer to our getting started section for information on how to sign up for our services.

Appointments must be made in the online system by 5 PM the day before the appointment; for last-minute services, please call your primary pet sitter so they can schedule Superdoggies On Call service (on-call service rates apply).

 

How do I cancel services?

Dog Walking Services: To cancel an appointment before 5PM the day before the start of the appointment, please use the “review my appointments” section in the online scheduling system. For last-minute cancellations, please call your primary pet sitter. Any appointment not cancelled by 5PM the day before is subject to a charge of 50% of the scheduled service rate. If you do not notify the office and your sitter arrives at your home for your scheduled service, you will be charged in full for the visit. If you decide to come home from work early, just relax and let us walk your dog!

Boarding and Pet Sitting: We require a 100% nonrefundable deposit upon booking. If you must cancel, we will apply your deposit as a credit for use on a future appointment. Cancellations must be made by 5PM the day before the appointment. Cancellations after this time are subject to a $20 cancellation fee.

Can I schedule an appointment last-minute?

Superdoggies was founded by 2 busy professionals, so we understand that stuff happens, and your busy lifestyle doesn’t always let you schedule in advance. Whether you’re stuck at work, want to catch a movie, or got invited to dinner, our Superdoggies On Call services are just what you need! Call us at (877) DOGS-FUN and we can take care of your pet so you don’t have to worry or rush home. On-call service rates apply.

Do you charge a premium for holidays?

Yes.  We charge an additional 50% for each service performed on major holidays, but only on the actual holiday, not the days before or after.  Our holidays are the following:

New Year's Eve

New Year's Day

Memorial Day

4th of July

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day


Your Online Account

How do I sign up for your online scheduling and payment?

Click Here. On the window that opens, enter your ZIP code. On the profile page, fill in the information as completely as possible, including the “questions” section at the bottom. Click “continue.” Add a profile about your pet.

Help! I forgot my username/password.

Click Here. Your username and password will be emailed to you.

I need more help with scheduling online. Can you give me detailed instructions?

Log in to your account.  If you have not created one yet, click here to create one.

  • On the "schedule an appointment" screen, give your appointment a name such as “Iceland trip”, “weekly walks”, "weekly adventures,” etc.
  • Enter a start date by clicking the calendar icon.
  • Enter an end date by clicking the calendar icon.
  • Click the button next to your choice for recurring appointments.
  • Click “continue.”
  • On the next screen, choose the days within your requested date range that you require service.  Note:  all days are checked by default.  If you don't need all the days, please uncheck the box under each day you don't need.
  • Click the button that asks if the schedule will be the same for all days. Note: if the schedule is not the same for each day, you will be asked to complete a separate screen for each day.
  • On the next screen, please click the box next to the services that you would like for that day.
  • Select a time for the service.  Note: please do not select multiple times unless you require multiple visits in the same day.
  • Select any add-on services that you would like (additional charges apply).
  • Click "continue" to finish creating your appointment.

 

Why do I have to fill out an online profile?

We ask all of our clients to complete an online profile for them and their pets.  The benefits of a complete profile include:

  • In case we need to use backup sitter, we have all of your information in one place for the backup sitter, ensuring that they have all of the important information about your pet.
  • You can update important information (payment, pet information, health, etc) without calling.
  • We will always have the most up-to-date information about you and your pet.

 

I didn't get an appointment confirmation for some reason. Is a sitter coming?

If you don’t get a confirmation email, log in and check the “review my appointments” section to see if the appointment is approved.  If the appointment is “approved,” that means a sitter is assigned to the appointment and that the sitter has confirmed their availability and will be coming for the appointment.

If the appointment is not approved, it means we are still confirming availability with our sitters.


Payment

When do I pay for services?

We require payment prior to providing service. If paying by credit card, we will automatically bill your card prior to service, during the week that the service was provided.

How should I pay for services?

We accept payment by credit card through our secure online scheduling system. Just enter your credit card information in your online profile, and we will bill your card automatically during the week that we will provide the service. If it is not possible for you to pay by credit or debit card, please call the Superdoggies main office to discuss payment options. We do not accept cash or personal checks, unless it is a tip for your pet sitter.


Non-Social Dogs and Behavior Problems

What if my dog is not social?

All dogs deserve a chance to be better! We do not charge an extra fee for non-social dogs on private neighborhood walks, as long as they are not aggressive, hyperactive, or severe leash pullers. We may charge a $5 non-social dog fee on group adventures, depending on the nature and difficulty of their behavior.

We also offer dog training services to help socialize your dog and cure any problem behaviors.

What if my dog is aggressive?

Any dog that has been aggressive towards people or dogs must have his/her own protective muzzle that – and this is important - they are trained to wear and is always in a convenient location for us to put on. We charge a $5 aggressive dog fee for every visit. Depending on the severity of the aggressive behavior, we may not be able to bring them on Group Adventures. Neighborhood walks are fine though! We reserve the right to refuse service if we deem your dog to be too dangerous for our dog walkers.

What if my dog is difficult to walk?

Every dog can improve their behavior, and we can help! Having a dog walker is a great way to help reduce behavior problems, and we can help reinforce your existing training. All of our walkers are trained in techniques to minimize common behavior problems such as leash pulling, leash aggression, and hyperactivity. Because of the extra care and physical strain required to walk a dog with these behaviors, we charge an additional $5 per visit unless their behavior improves with a no-pulling harness or head collar such as a Gentle Leader or Sensi harness (that you provide).

We also offer dog training services to help cure any problem behaviors such as leash issues.


Puppies

What if my dog is a puppy?

Congratulations! Puppies are great fun but do present their own set of challenges. For puppies and hyperactive dogs, we charge an extra $5 for walks, and $10 per day for boarding.

My puppy can’t be left alone. Can you watch him while I’m gone for a few hours?

Sure! We offer a puppy-sitting service and will give your pup our undivided attention in your home. Subject to availability.


Training

I’m working on training. Can you help me?

Yes! We will reinforce your existing training methods when your dog is in our care. Just tell us what you’re working on and how you’re doing it, and we will do the same. Our staff is knowledgeable about basic positive-reinforcement training techniques and will always incorporate them into our services. We also offer individual dog training packages if you need more help.


Our Staff

How do you choose your walkers and sitters?

Our dog walkers and pet sitters are genuine animal lovers! We only hire people who are trustworthy, reliable, and experienced. We run full background checks on all staff and ask for frequent progress reports on each client’s pet. But most importantly of all, we make sure that each staff member is having fun with your pet!

Will the same person be caring for my pet each time?

Superdoggies operates as a team! We will assign you a primary pet sitter, but your dog may also meet a few of our walkers and sitters, which allows us to have coverage in case your primary sitter is not available. We’d be happy to introduce you to anyone caring for your pet before we give them access to your home.

Do you have insurance and bonding?

Yes. We have both liability insurance and bonding “just in case.”

Interacting with your pet sitter

Your pet sitter is always there for you! You will be assigned primary, secondary, and backup pet sitters. Your primary will be your main contact and will handle scheduling, pet sitting, etc. It’s best to contact them directly for all your needs (we will provide their direct contact info). We understand that things come up at the last minute, and our pet sitters are trained to respond quickly to all contacts. If you have feedback about your pet sitter (good or bad), please send it to a Superdoggies manager (Jill or Wes).


In your home

Leave No Trace

Our policy is to “leave no trace” and make sure your home is just as you left it when we arrived. Our pet sitters don't touch anything except the doorknob and your dog.  You won’t even know we were there, except for your happy dog!

Keys

Superdoggies requires 2 working copies your house keys, unless your dog will always be accessible from outside. For security reasons, we do not allow leaving a door unlocked or a key outside, and we cannot be responsible for anything that happens if you choose to do so. We store your keys in a secure lock box when we’re not using them, and we will inform you if we make a copy. If you do not have 2 copies of your key, we can make a copy for you, for a $10 fee.

Key Pickup/Return

If you would like your key returned to you, or are an existing client and would like us to pick up a new key outside of a regularly scheduled visit, a $10 fee applies. We will not leave keys outside, in mailboxes, or locked in the house.

Security

Our policy is to always check the door twice to make sure it’s locked when entering or leaving your home. If you have an alarm, we can arm it before leaving, as long as you provide the code. We do not allow anyone but Superdoggies staff into your home unless they have their own key.

Food and Water

We will feed your pet if you want us to, and we will always make sure they have plenty of fresh water before we leave.

Cleaning Messes

If your dog has a small accident in the house or makes some other kind of small mess, we will do our best to clean it up with the cleaning supplies available in your house. If your pet has excessive accidents in the house, we may add a $10 per day cleaning charge for boarding or add an additional daily visit to pet sitting engagements.


Health and Medication

What vaccinations do you require?

We require that all dogs in the care of Superdoggies be current on the following vaccinations: rabies, bortadella, distemper, and parvo.  We do not accept dogs that have not been vaccinated.

Medication

Please keep us informed about your dog's health. We can administer medication during our visit. If your dog eats medication as easily as a treat, there is no extra charge. If we have to “force swallow” the pill for your dog (place the pill in the dog’s mouth and hold it closed), we charge $5. Administering creams or ointments is $5. To administer a shot, we charge $15. We will notify you immediately if your dog shows any signs that it is sick or in pain.


Referral Bonus

Earn Free Services: Superdoggies Referral Bonus

Tell your friends about us! Existing clients - receive a free walk (or $25 off any other service) for each person you refer that becomes a Superdoggies client!


Satisfaction Guarantee

Satisfaction Guarantee

We strive to provide top-notch service. If for any reason you are not satisfied with our service, please let us know! We will make it right and ensure that you are satisfied – guaranteed!