Your dog
Your dog MUST be microchipped with your details registered and up to date (this is required by law).
For the duration of their walk, your dog MUST be wearing a collar or harness with an identity tag attached displaying clear and up to date contact details (this is required by law). We are happy to put their collar or harness on when we pick them up or take it off when we drop them off provided you have requested this in advance.
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Please make sure you share details of any medical issues your dog may have, even if you don't think it's relevant to us. In the event of an emergency, having this information could be vital. Please also keep us informed of any ongoing illnesses, investigations and treatments.
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Your dog should have a reasonable level of recall training in order to join our group walks. Group walks are predominantly off-lead and adequate recall is therefore essential to keep all dogs safe. If your dog does not have adequate recall training, a group walk is not suitable for them, but we would be happy to provide a fully on-lead solo walk in this case.
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Female dogs who have not been spayed are not permitted to join group walks when in season.
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We generally do not allow entire male dogs to join our group walks. At our discretion, we may choose to allow well-behaved entire males to, on a trial basis, join select walks where no entire females are present and there is no conflicting behaviour with other dogs. The trial walks will be closely monitored with zero tolerance for conflict of any kind. In most cases, we recommend solo walks for entire males.
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The safety of all dogs is our top priority. If your dog causes any safety risk (including but not limited to regular conflict with other dogs, regularly showing unsociable behaviour, poor recall, excessive barking, or aggression to dogs or humans) then they will not be permitted to join future group walks. If your dog causes a significant safety risk, their walk may be cancelled with no notice or cut short. In this case, the walk will still be charged for and no refunds will be given.
What you can expect from us
Please be aware that for group walks, the time stated on your booking is approximate and your dog may be collected any time within 60 minutes of the stated time.
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We know that every dog has a unique personality and we'll spend time getting to know them and their needs so that we can provide the best possible experience for them. As well as getting to know how they like to play, what makes them nervous and the commands they're used to, this will also include learning which other dogs they enjoy spending time with and those they don't get on with so well so that we can arrange our walking groups accordingly.
Anyone working on behalf of Wilderwood Dog Care will have a full enhanced DBS check.
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Every walk will be supervised by someone qualified in canine first aid.
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Our vehicle has been fitted with purpose-built crates to ensure the best possible safety and comfort for our clients' dogs. We have a strict limit of one dog per crate, crates are locked at all times during transit, and dogs are always on-lead when entering and exiting the van or anywhere near a road.
Anyone driving our vehicle will have a full UK manual driving licence, be covered with comprehensive insurance, will be over 21 years old, and have zero current or historic driving convictions.
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Walkers will carry a GPS-enabled device with their location shared to ensure the best safety in the event of an emergency. Walkers also check in when beginning and ending a walk so that we know immediately if anything hasn't gone to plan.
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We will do our best to adapt to any weather conditions that come our way, for example by walking in shaded areas with lots of water when it's hot and staying out of the woods when it's windy. However, in extreme weather conditions where we don't believe it's safe to go out on walks, we reserve the right to cancel walks. We will do our best to provide as much notice as possible in these circumstances but this may not always be possible. We will contact you by telephone in the event of a cancellation.​​
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Your information will be stored securely and never shared with any third party, except in the event of a veterinary emergency. All records will be deleted 6 years after your dog's final walk with us. If you would like your information to be deleted before this, please contact us.
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While we will always do everything we can to keep your dog safe, there are some situations for which we cannot be held responsible including but not limited to: where your dog is injured by a member of the public or a wild animal, or where your dog falls ill due to having eaten something they found while on a walk, or where a third party driver causes a road traffic accident.
What we ask of you
We ask that walks are paid for in advance either by booking online, or BACS payment to the following account:
Miss B Sluman
40-47-61
44493966
If you are not able to make payment using one of the methods above, please get in touch so that we can find a solution.
If you need to cancel a walk for any reason, you can do so online by viewing your bookings, or get in touch and we'll cancel it for you.
Cancellations made more than 48 hours in advance of your booking will be refunded.
Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance of your booking will be charged in full except for in extreme circumstances such as a medical emergency, at the discretion of Wilderwood Dog Care.
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We are able to hold keys to your home or access a keysafe in the event that you will not be available when we pick up/drop off your dog. If you will not be available, please provide the key or details to access the property, along with your written consent for us to enter your home, at least 24 hours in advance.
If you have any specific instructions (e.g. leaving your dog in a particular room or staying quiet to avoid disturbing a night worker) then please let us know at least 24 hours in advance.​​
Please be aware of the weather and provide a coat for your dog if it's going to be especially cold or wet.
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While not a requirement, we will ask you to be as flexible as possible with the days and times we walk your dog so that we can arrange our walking groups according to their activity and social preferences.