What services do you offer?

We can provide:

• Full-day doggy daycare

• Overnight boarding (added together for longer stays)

• Weekend stays

All in a warm, homely environment, fully insured, DBS checked and run by a lifelong dog lover. If you require a service that is not listed above please get in touch as we may still be able to help you.

Where are you located?

We are located in St Albans, AL3 5 and provide care in our home where myself and my partner Connor live. We have a lovely big garden and sofa for play and comfy relaxation. There are no children living at the address and very unlikely to be around the dogs but if your dog doesn’t bode well with children please make us aware. We service all of Hertfordshire so don’t worry if you are not St Albans based.

Do we have to meet before a booking is confirmed?

It is a license requirement to always do a trial prior to any service. We want to make sure your dog is 100% comfortable for your’s and your pup’s peace of mind! For day care we conduct a meet and greet in advance which consists of a 2 hour session with a short walk included charged at £15.

For overnight stays, an overnight trial is required in advance of the main booking and is the same as a normal 24 hour stay so is chargeable at the standard rate (£40 on a weekday for an adult dog).

We highly recommend getting in touch with us as soon as possible to ensure we can conduct a trial well in advance. This gives you as much time as possible to arrange an alternative should the trial not be successful. Trials must be conducted at a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the main service commencement and is subject to availability.

How do I make payment?

Payment is always required prior to service commencement, without exception. There are several ways you can make payment. The preferred method is by card via your Time To Pet account. When signing up with us online you have the option to add your card details which are securely held by our payment processor. This would enable auto-charging 24hours before any service. We find that this is the easiest and most fuss-free for everyone. If this method is not possible for any reason we can also accept cash or BACS transfer upon drop-off. Please note that we cannot accept your dog for any service without payment being made prior in full.

Do you use an online booking system?

We use ‘Time To Pet’ to manage bookings, schedule and payments. This is where you can sign consent forms, add your card details for auto-payments, fill in personal details and give us information about your dog so that we have it to hand at all times. We will book your services here and you can download the app to view your bookings on-the-go. Sign up to our portal here.

How can I keep track of what my dog gets up to?

Feel free to follow us on Instgram @snoutsstalbans where we post regular pup-dates. If you don’t use Instagram we will gladly update you with pics and videos over text or whatsapp so you can track your bestie’s adventures.

How do I book in/ask a question?

Please get in touch either via our instagram DMs (@snoutsstalbans), email (snoutsstalbans@gmail.com), phone call/text/whatsapp (+44 7780998285) or our contact form on our website here.

Do you offer drop-off/pick-up?

We may be able to offer drop off and/or pick up on a case-by-case basis. If you require please enquire.

What are pick-up and drop-off times?

We are able to accommodate a range of timings so please ask and we can arrange something that works. Generally for daycare, drop off would need to be before 8:30am and pick up before 7pm. Pick-up required after 7pm carries a surcharge of £5 per hour until 9pm, after which time a full overnight boarding cost will be charged.

Are the prices the same for all dogs?

All dog breeds and sizes are charged at the same rate. However, we do charge slightly more for puppies due to the extra care required.

Puppy prices:

< 12 months old

Daycare = £40*

Overnight boarding = £55*

*+£10 for weekend days

Weekend stay (Friday & Saturday nights, Saturday & Sunday days) = £130

< 18 months old

Daycare = £37*

Overnight boarding = £50*

*+£10 for weekend days

Weekend stay (Friday & Saturday nights, Saturday & Sunday days) = £120

Are the prices the same every day?

Prices vary, with weekdays being the standard pricing but weekends and special holidays carry a surcharge.

Special holidays are: New Years Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Years Eve.

Special holidays are charged at a double rate and weekends are £10 extra per day for daycare and overnight boarding. For example, Saturday morning to Sunday morning would be £50 for an adult dog. Non-special bank holidays are charged at standard weekend rate.

What do walks at Snouts look like?

All of our walks are high quality and great for all types of dogs. We walk all of the dogs together unless specifically requested (please enquire if your dog needs to be walked solo). Likewise, if your dog needs to be kept on a lead on the walks this is no problem but please let us know. We usually walk in the woods or in large field areas as it is safer (and more fun!). Walks usually last 45 minutes to an hour, come rain or shine. We quite often throw balls and sticks during walks, so if your dog is injured or prone to injury please do let us know as the walks can get very active! We may also take the dogs to larger areas such as Whippendel woods, Hertwood forest etc. on good weather days. If your dog has a special walk requirement please let us know.

What do I need to bring with me?

For daycare and boarding please bring the following:

• Collar

• Lead

• Bed (for overnight)

• Enough food for all meals

• Optionally, any other items that you feel your dog may want to feel comfortable i.e. bowl, crate, special treats, favourite toy, blanket etc.

Can you provide food for my dog?

We are unable to provide food for your dog as they will be used to what they have always been given at home. Changing diet can cause a whole host of uncomfortable issues for your dog and adds unnecessary stress. We do however give small treats on the walks and for good behaviour provided by us. If your dog is not allowed treats for any reason please notify us.

Who should my emergency contact be?

For daycare it is fine for your emergency contact to be someone like your partner, friend or close relative who lives no further than 1 hour drive away. However, for holidays abroad please provide details for someone who will not be travelling with you and would be willing and able to collect your pup in case of a serious emergency while you’re out of the country. This person would only be contacted if your dog is seriously injured or injures another dog/person.

What vaccinations does my dog need?

We require up-to-date vaccinations against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus & Parainfluenza (DHPPi), Kennel Cough, Leptospirosos and Rabies (only I your dog has travelled abroad in the past 12 months) at a minimum. Proof of vaccination must be provided before your dog’s first stay. If you have a physical card please bring it with you so that a copy can be made for our records. Digital copies can be emailed to us before the trial.

Are any other treatments required?

We also require that your dog is on a regular flea, tick and worming treatment. Any other regular medication can be administered while your dog is in our care if required.

Must my dog be neutered?

We prefer your dog to be neutered to minimise the risk to themselves or other dogs but it is not a requirement. Intact males can cause issues with other males, intact or otherwise and Snouts is not responsible for any vet bills caused as a result of your or another dog’s pregnancy. We may have to refuse a service if your dog is intact and another intact dog of the opposite sex is already booked in.

Must my dog be insured?

It is not a legal requirement for your dog to be insured by you as the owner whilst in our care. We do however strongly recommend that your dog is covered to reduce risk. Snouts has a comprehensive business policy but vet bills are the responsibility of the owner unless caused as a result of our negligence.

Must my dog be toilet trained?

Yes we require your dog to be toilet trained before starting with us. We are unable to provide toilet training. Your dog will have access to our garden at all times except during the night. We always let them out before bedtime to avoid accidents but do understand that sometimes they happen which is not a problem if infrequent.

What is your cancellation policy?

Services of 48 hours or less must be cancelled at leats 24 hours prior to commencement. Services lasting more than 48 hours must be cancelled at least a week in advance. If cancellation occurs after this time we will unfortunately have to charge 50% of the service cost as a cancellation fee. If Snouts has to cancel a service for any reason we will endeavour to let you know as far in advance as possible but are not liable for any costs associated with arranging alternative care. If payment has already been made for a service that has to be cancelled by Snouts a refund will be given for the remaining service time.

What if my dog doesn’t get on with other dogs?

We can assess your dog’s temperament during the trial but any overly aggressive or problematic dogs may be refused as we will always make sure all of our dogs feel comfortable, including yours.

Do you accept all breeds?

We do accept all breeds with some exceptions e.g. American XL Bullies. We will assess your dogs temperament and compatibility as part of our trial process.

Will my dog be supervised at all times?

We endeavour to supervise dogs at all times. However, there may be very short periods of time where your dog is left unattended in the case where it is strictly necessary. If your dog cannot be left alone, even for small periods please make us aware.

What if my dog can’t be let off the lead?

We understand that recall doesn’t always come easy, especially with puppies. If your dog cannot be trusted off-lead please do let us know and we can keep them with us at all times.