Golden Rules
Five things to do before your first arrangement
HAPO is neighbours doing each other favours, not a company you are hiring. That works because people take these five seriously. They take about two minutes to read.
Meet first
Have a walk together before the arrangement itself, so you have both met and so have the dogs.
- Somewhere public you both know, with both dogs there.
- Watch how the dogs are with each other, not just how you get on.
- If it does not feel right, say so. Nobody has to explain themselves.
Start small
A short first swap tells you both far more than a long conversation about it.
- An hour before a whole day. A day before a night.
- Stay close by and reachable the first time.
- Build up to sleepovers once you have both done a shorter sit.
Keep their routine
A dog in a strange house copes far better when everything else stays the same.
- Same food, same amount, same times. Send it with them.
- Write down walks, meals, and anything they are frightened of.
- Bring their own bed, blanket or toy if they are staying over.
Stay in touch
A photo and a line takes ten seconds and saves the other person an afternoon of worrying.
- Agree before the day how often you will check in.
- Say straight away if anything changes or goes wrong.
- Keep it on HAPO messages so you both have it written down.
Be prepared
In the rare chance something happens, you will both be glad you sorted this out beforehand.
- Swap phone numbers, the vet's number, and someone else who can step in.
- Agree who pays if the dog needs a vet while they are being looked after.
- Ask whether they have third party insurance, and check your own. Many home insurance policies cover you for looking after someone else's dog, and many do not.
If something goes wrong
Tell the other person first, straight away, however awkward it feels. Almost everything is fixable when it is said early.
HAPO introduces neighbours to each other. We do not supervise arrangements, and we are not an insurer. That is exactly why rule five matters.