• Check-in: 2:00–4:00 pm (early 10:00–12:00 for +£20; earlier from 8:00 am by booking the previous night).
• Check-out: 10:00 am–12:00 pm. Late check-out 2:00–4:00 pm is available for £40, or collection up to 9:00 pm by booking an additional night.

Consistent windows keep the hotel calm for everyone 🧘‍♀️.

• Food (labelled; fridge/freezer available).
• Medication with clear instructions (oral meds only; no injections).
• Lead/harness your dog is used to.
• Optional bedding/comfort item (avoid chokeables like small balls/ropes).

We supply bowls, treat puzzles, go‑slow options, and enrichment set‑ups.

Three days before check‑in you’ll get a pre‑arrival email with a link to our digital form. Members are prompted to review & update saved profiles whenever we add new questions ✅.

At The Dogchester, your dog’s health and happiness are paramount. We want to ensure we can care for your dog appropriately in all conditions (including weather and normal holiday stresses), and that we fully understand any medical needs so we can prepare thoroughly and advise you honestly.

• Please discuss any medical conditions with us before arrival and prior to placing new bookings. This helps us assess safety and reasonable adjustments.
• If, after a booking is made, we discover an undisclosed medical condition that we believe could be impacted during the stay (or reasonably exacerbated by boarding), we may refuse or cancel the booking. If disclosure occurs after the refund window closes, the booking may be refused without refund. ⚠️
• Grandfathered bookings: If you have an existing booking made before September 2025, we will honour it under our previous approach, but we still require the medical details below so we can prepare responsibly.

Membership, acceptance & medical conditions

Even if you are a previous customer who has visited The Dogchester many times, as new owners with rigorous risk‑assessment protocols we have designed our medical policy with welfare first and with a realistic view of our capabilities (we are not medically trained). Accepting bookings for dogs with medical conditions carries responsibility: if we take your money, we must feel adequately prepared to keep your dog safe. 💛

Accordingly, if your dog has stayed with us before and now has any medical condition, this must be declared before any future booking. If your dog is an active member and develops a new medical condition, you must disclose this when placing a new booking; membership will be paused (null/void) until a re‑trial confirms we can safely support the new needs.

For any dog with a current or past medical diagnosis, please email a vet letter that includes:

• Diagnosis and date of diagnosis.
• Prognosis and typical course (stable/episodic/degenerative).
• Treatment plan (medications, dosing times, monitoring needs).
• Early warning signs that the condition is worsening, and clear action steps we should take.
• Risk assessment: how severe could outcomes be if the condition escalates during boarding?
• Suitability for non‑medical staff: whether non‑clinically trained staff can reasonably follow the plan, noting that dogs spend periods unsupervised in their rooms.
• Handling considerations (e.g., mobility aids, lifting restrictions) and any temperature/heat or stress sensitivities.
• Emergency protocol: preferred vet, out‑of‑hours contact, and when to seek immediate care.

If a condition requires extra staff time beyond standard care, an additional fee may apply (we’ll confirm in writing before proceeding). Should veterinary treatment be required during the stay, our Veterinary Emergency Treatment policy (below) applies.

• Dogs who take oral medication happily. Dogs with additional medical needs MUST be discussed before placing a booking.
• We can accept dog‑dog reactive dogs provided they have not physically injured another dog in the previous 12 months. Solo walks are provided.
• Shy dogs who allow a lead to be attached.
• Dogs with stable, minor medical conditions.
• Dogs suited to a calm, structured environment.
• Non‑destructive indoors.

• Human‑directed aggression.
• Dogs requiring injections (e.g., insulin).
• Dogs with a seizure in the last 6 months or multiple seizures in 12 months.
• Dogs who must be physically forced to take essential meds.
• Dogs with grade ≥2 heart murmurs.
• Destructive dogs: given our homely rooms with soft furnishings (not concrete pens), we cannot accommodate destructive behaviours.
• Dogs not safely handled for basic care.

We decide case‑by‑case with welfare & safety first.

Your dog, your choice. You choose the vaccination approach that matches your comfort with protection level. We accept titre testing as evidence of immunity and we accept a kennel‑cough waiver when you acknowledge the added risk. Please upload records/waiver before check‑in.

We accept intact males and un‑spayed females. Based on 20 years’ professional experience managing group play:

• Adolescent intact males (≈9–18 months): often experience a temporary testosterone surge and may be unsuitable for Social Club. Social Club is for dogs who already have excellent social skills—not a space to practise. We may re‑trial later as your dog matures, and we can often pair boisterous playmates for field time outside Social Club.
• Females “in season” (in heat): If your dog is likely to be, or arrives, in season during their stay, we may decline/curtail the booking depending on the guest mix. Please do not bring a dog in season. Bookings affected by a planned/likely season are non‑refundable and non‑transferable.
• Unexpected seasons: We’ll try to facilitate where safe, but we require confirmation that your emergency contact is available to collect at short notice if the current or incoming mix becomes unsuitable.

Why: a female in season can cause distress to other dogs, potential damage from attempts to access rooms, and—though extremely unlikely—a small risk of pregnancy if an intact male were to breach containment. By boarding, you acknowledge these risks.

• Provide a local emergency contact who can attend a vet if needed.
• If not possible, we can transport your dog to your vet/our partner clinic (£50/hour handling & transport).
• If we cannot reach you or your contact, we’ll act in your dog’s best interests and may authorise treatment up to £1,000.
• All veterinary costs are the owner’s responsibility.

• Fully supervised sessions; no toys (avoids resource guarding).
• Recall & whistle with positive reinforcement.
• We encourage calm, respectful play; we interrupt mounting, chin/paw‑overs and excessive barking.
• We channel energy into sniffing & thinking games, not frantic zoomies.
• Staff trained by Nanci Creedon (20 years’ experience; group walks/daycare since 2010).
• Dogs who guard treats around other dogs are not suitable for Social Club.

• Standard Deluxe — Private room with chandelier, TV, tiled floors, half‑hatch door, and a private terrace via French doors. Includes 1 daily update and a choice of nature walk or enrichment or cuddle session.
• VIPooch Suites — Human bed + themes (Disneyland for Dogs, Scuba Pup Adventures, Hawaian Hound‑iday, Pawris Getaway, Safari Tail‑Trails). Includes 2 daily updates, daily walk, daily enrichment, and daily cuddle session.
• Sunshine Cottage — Premier — Lodge‑style suite with TV, sofa bed, armchairs & rug. Includes company at meals, daily walk, enrichment, cuddle session, plus a gift bag (Christmas ornament & photo keyring keepsake).

• Standard Deluxe: £45/night + £22.50 per additional dog.
• VIPooch: £70/night + £22.50 per additional dog.
• Sunshine Cottage: £90/night + £22.50 surcharge per extra dog.

Christmas/New Year surcharge: +£20 per room on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day.