Terms & Conditions

At Little Sizzlers Hotel, the well-being and happiness of all dogs – our own and our guests – is our top priority. We strive to create a safe and enjoyable environment for every dog in our care. Please take a moment to review these Terms and Conditions, which will help us ensure a happy and healthy stay for your Sausage while you're away. We may update these terms from time to time, so we encourage you to read these periodically for any changes.

TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMPLETING THE REGISTRATION FORM CONSENTS

1. OUR DOGS AND GUEST DOGS

You consent for your dog to be boarded and mix with the resident dogs of Little Sizzlers Hotel and dogs from multiple other households.

We have three resident Sausages (Nellie, little Dave and Cookie). Our licence enables us to also have 7 guest Sausages from multiple other households on any one day or night. All the dogs live and mix together with us in our home as one happy pack.

2. ENRICHMENT & EXERCISE

You consent for your dog to be exercised with the resident dogs of Little Sizzlers Hotel and dogs from multiple other households.

All our guest Sausages can wander freely around our home and secure garden, wherever and whenever they want to go. Please be aware that Sausages who are new to day care/boarding may experience higher levels of physical and mental activity than perhaps they are used to at home. This may result in your dog being more tired than usual when they return home.

Outdoors - We have a spacious 1/3 acre wraparound garden, fully enclosed, safe and secure with ample grass for running and sunbathing, apple trees for those who enjoy a fallen treat, a shaded Woodland Corner for digging, a summer dipping pool for water enthusiasts, and plenty of balls and toys for energetic retrievers. Our kitchen garden, with its fragrant summer herbs and roses, provides delightful scents for curious noses.

Indoors - For space, guests have free access to most rooms in the house, and constant access to a large toy-box filled with teddies & balls to play with if they're not running around with each other, and lamb horns if they want to have some time on their own quietly having a chew. We provide healthy treats for snack-loving pups and numerous soft, cosy beds, throws, and blankets to snuggle into, if they're not curled up with us on one of the sofas.

Your dog will be exercised by way of playing with our own dogs/other Sausage guests and ad hoc free-running off lead around the secure 1/3 acre gardens of Little Sizzlers Hotel several times each day (at a minimum of twice a day for at least 20 minutes each time). Your dog will not be taken outside of the property unless it is an emergency. If you have any specific requirements or requests regarding your dog's exercise routine, please let us know before their stay.

3. PUPPIES/YOUNG DOGS UNDER 1 YEAR OLD

You consent for your dog to be boarded, mix with and exercised with puppies less than a year old.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept males of any age if they are intact. We welcome females over 12 weeks old, as long as they're at least 14 days past their primary vaccinations. Before any daycare or boarding, we'll chat with you about your puppy's needs so we can make sure they get the best care. This includes feeding, exercise, and rest. Puppies need lots of attention, so we'll keep a close eye on your pup to make sure they're happy and not showing any signs of distress, separation anxiety, or any concerning behaviours. We will of course provide you with regular updates throughout their stay. In addition, for young intact females, please note our policy regarding their Seasons in section 4.2 below.

4. VACCINATIONS/FLEA & WORMING

You consent for your dog to be boarded, mix with and exercised with dogs who are either vaccinated or Titer tested and you confirm your dog's vaccinations are current and have provided their vaccination records.

All dogs staying with us need to have current core vaccinations for:

DHP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus) or a Titer test.
And Leptospirosis (L2 or L4)

We will need to see a copy of your dog's up-to-date vaccination record in advance of your booking. If any of these vaccinations expire before your dog's scheduled arrival, we will require proof of a booster vaccination before we can accept them for daycare or boarding.

Puppies/Restarting Vaccinations: If your puppy is getting their first (primary) vaccinations, or if your older dog is restarting their vaccinations, these need to be completed at least two weeks before your dog can come for daycare or boarding.

Boosters: If your dog has had a booster, they can come for daycare or boarding immediately.

Flea and Worming: All dogs must be up-to-date on flea and worming treatment.

5. KENNEL COUGH (BORDATELLA) VACCINATION

You consent for your dog to be boarded, mix with and exercised with dogs who may, or may not, have had the Kennel Cough vaccine.

Kennel Cough vaccination is not required for your dog's stay. However, if you choose to vaccinate them, specific waiting periods apply before your dog can visit us in order to minimize any potential shedding to other dogs who may have weaker immune systems. We prioritise the safety of all dogs in our care and adhere to the vaccination guidelines outlined in the NOAH Compendium (Special Precautions section) and on defra.gov.uk.

The following waiting periods apply from the date the vaccination was given:

Nasal Vaccine: Most brands: 6 weeks. Versican Plus BbPI: 11 weeks.
Oral Vaccine: Versican Plus Bb Oral: 10 weeks (70 days).
Injectable Vaccine: No waiting period. We can accept your dog immediately following this vaccination.

6. INFECTIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM/IVDD/INJURY

You confirm that your dog has been free from any contagious diseases or conditions for the past 60 days.

We're dedicated to providing the best possible care for your dog at Little Sizzlers Hotel, but it's important to understand our liability and health policies. We can't be held responsible for injuries, illnesses, losses, or damage unless it's proven negligent on our part. We also can't be held responsible for situations that occur outside of our control.

Before Your Dog's Stay: Please be honest with us if your dog develops any signs of an infectious health problem (like fleas, worms, kennel cough, sickness, or diarrhoea, IVDD or an injury) before they're due to arrive. To protect all the dogs here, we may have to refuse admission if your dog isn't well. If this happens, please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.

During Your Dog's Stay: If your dog becomes ill or shows signs of an infectious health problem as described above, IVDD, or an injury while they're staying with us, we may have to discontinue their stay. This means you or your Emergency Accommodation Person may be asked to come and collect your dog, and the remainder of your booking will be cancelled. If this happens, please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.

6.1 A Note About IVDD

We take lots of precautions to minimize the risk of IVDD episodes – use of the stairs is restricted by barriers, we have ramps for all exit doors and patio steps, no jumping off sofas where possible, and all dogs monitored for any change in demeanour. However, IVDD episodes can still happen unexpectedly, even in healthy dogs. The process can develop slowly or happen in an instant. By leaving your dog with us, you understand and accept the risks associated with IVDD. While we'll give your dog the best possible care, we can't be held responsible for IVDD episodes that happen during or after their stay. Unfortunately, we do not have the facilities to take Grade 5 Sausages in wheels, pushchairs or who need bladder expression. If this is the case, we can recommend an alternative Sausage home-boarder who may be able to offer this service.

7. MEDICATION

You consent for your dog to be medicated with medication you will provide, if applicable to do so.

Please let us know if your dog is on any medication which you would like us to continue to administer for the duration of your dog's stay.

8. INTACT AND NEUTERED

You consent for your dog to be boarded, mix with and exercised with dogs who are either fully neutered, intact (females), or chemically implanted (males).

8.1 MALES

Intact: Unfortunately we cannot accept intact males of any age.

Neutered: We welcome neutered boys as long as they have been neutered at least 8 weeks before they visit here.

Chemically Neutered: We also welcome chemically implanted boys. The implant needs to have been in place for at least 8 weeks before your dog can visit here. It is essential there are no gaps between the expiry of the implant and a re-implant. If the gap between expiry and re-implant is more than 2 weeks, there will be an 8 week wait from the date of re-implant before your dog can visit here. It is your responsibility to keep up with your dog's implant schedule to make sure it stays active.

8.2 FEMALES

We welcome both spayed and intact girls. However, please note that we cannot accept intact girls who are in season, or about to come into season for daycare or boarding. If you're unsure whether your girl might be coming into season, we suggest you do a 'white-tissue test' for a few days before her stay to check for any spotting. Please let us know immediately if you think she might be coming into season before her booking starts.

If your intact girl comes into season:

Before Her Stay: If your dog comes into season before her stay begins, we won't be able to accept her until at least 30 days after her season starts. This means her booking will have to be cancelled. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.

During Her Stay: If your girl comes into season while she's staying with us, we'll need you or your Emergency Accommodation Person to come and collect her on the same day we notify you. This means we'll have to cancel the rest of your booking. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.

Since seasons can be unpredictable, it's a good idea to have a contingency backup boarding plan just in case. By making a payment to book, you understand and accept that, in the event your intact female comes into season, your payment(s) will not be refunded or transferred to another booking. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.

9. UNSOCIABLE/UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOURS

You consent for your dog to be separated from other dogs if problems arise.

These are behaviours that negatively affect the safety and happiness of other dogs or humans, which might mean we need to separate your dog from the group to prevent something more serious from happening. If we determine that your dog poses a threat to the well-being of others, we reserve the right to cancel your booking (or the remainder of it) and request that you or your Emergency Accommodation Person collect your dog the same day that we notify you. In such cases, please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.

9.1 Examples include, but are not limited to:

Severe separation anxiety:- If your dog is so distressed in your absence that it cannot settle (excessive barking, howling, crying, hiding, avoidance, or refusal to socialize), it would be kinder to find a homesitter instead.
Resource guarding:- Any history of aggression regarding toys, balls, food, or a bonded dog from the same household.
Any history of aggression towards other dogs:- We cannot accept dogs who may be aggressive towards our resident dachshunds, or any guest dachshunds.
Any history of aggression towards humans:- Nipping, snapping, teeth-baring, growling, biting .
Excessive obsession with other dogs.
Excessive humping.
Scent-marking in our home.
Dominance:- Challenging or dominating other dogs in play, sleeping areas, food, or toys.
Excessive barking:- We have neighbours and must be considerate.
Excessive fear or avoidance:- Your dog will not allow itself to be approached, touched, or picked up when necessary.
Untrained:- Refusal to comply with human requests without bribery (recall, moving off furniture, coming indoors, etc.), and therefore cannot be controlled if necessary to do so in an emergency.
Lack of basic manners:- Wired, hyper, non-stop.
Not house-trained:- Puppies under 1 year old are excluded from this requirement.

10. FEEDING

You consent to your dog being fed with the resident dogs of Little Sizzlers Hotel and other dogs from the same or different households.

To ensure the safety and comfort of all our sausage guests, all guest dogs are fed in the same room at the same time, but are separated from each other by secure temporary fencing panels whilst eating to avoid competition or potential food aggression.

11. SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

You consent for your dog to be crated at night if a crate forms part of your dog's normal routine.

To ensure your Sausage feels comfortable and at home during their stay, we offer a variety of night-time sleeping options. We have a dedicated dog bedroom specifically for our Sausage guests, equipped with plenty of freshly-washed soft beds and blankets where they can either cuddle up together or relax on their own bed. Alternatively, they are welcome to sleep in the lounge or in our bed/bedroom with the resident Sausages. While we typically allow dogs to sleep where they are most comfortable at night, we understand that some owners prefer their dogs to sleep in a closed crate. Our licence stipulates a dog must not be confined in a crate for longer than three hours in any 24-hour period. Therefore, you consent to the use of a crate only if your dog is already habituated to it and forms part of your dog's normal routine. Please specify if this is your preference on the Registration form.

12. HUMAN COMPANY 24/7

You consent to your dog being kept together with, or separated from, dogs from other households if the Proprietor has to leave the property in an emergency.

We provide continuous care and supervision for all dogs in our care. Your dog will not be left alone at any time, except in the unlikely event of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance. Should such a situation arise, we will ensure our emergency backup carers are on hand to look after the dogs in our home until our return.

13. EMERGENCY CONTACT & EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION PERSON

I confirm that I have notified my designated Emergency Contact and Emergency Accommodation Person of their roles and responsibilities during my dog's stay at Little Sizzlers Hotel, and they have agreed to act in these capacities.

13.1 Emergency Contact

For emergency medical situations involving your dog, you are authorising this person to make decisions on your behalf if you are unreachable. We will always attempt to contact you first. If we are unable to reach you, we will then contact your designated Emergency Contact to act as your representative.

Please ensure the person you nominate meets the following criteria:-

Is not yourself or your partner (if you are joint owners),
They are easily contactable while you are away.
They have been made fully aware of their responsibilities to include having to make health and welfare decisions for your dog on your behalf.

13.2 Emergency Accommodation Person

In the unlikely event your dog needs to be removed from our premises for its safety or the safety of other dogs, you authorise this person to collect and accommodate your dog if you are unable to do so. We will attempt to contact you first, but if unsuccessful, we will contact your designated Emergency Accommodation Person. This can be the same person as your Emergency Contact if you wish. Please ensure that the person you nominate meets the following criteria:

They are not away while you are on holiday.
They have been made fully aware of your absence and that they may need to collect and accommodate your dog for the remainder of your holiday.
They are within a reasonable traveling distance from Little Sizzlers Hotel.

Should this person be unable or unwilling to collect or accommodate your dog in an emergency, we reserve the right to cancel the remainder of your booking and place your dog in the care of the Dog Warden. The Dog Warden will arrange alternative foster care for your dog until your return, at which point you will need to contact them directly to retrieve your dog and pay any associated charges. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.

14. VETERINARY INTERVENTION

Vet Release form must be signed by owner.

Please be assured that we monitor all dogs constantly throughout their stay with us. However, by the very nature of the service we provide, it's important to remember that when dogs interact in a group setting, there's always a risk of accidents, injuries, or illness. All dogs are regularly checked for any injuries, and if we observe any abnormalities, signs of sickness, or significant changes in weight, we will contact you or your designated Emergency Contact immediately. We will then discuss the best course of action, which may include seeking veterinary advice. If this is necessary, we will keep you updated on your dog's condition and treatment.

While we take every precaution to ensure your dog's safety, Little Sizzlers Hotel cannot be held liable for any accident, injury, or illness that may occur during daycare or boarding, provided that we promptly seek veterinary attention. However, we will cover medical bills through our liability insurance if the incident is caused by our gross negligence.

15. REGISTRATION FORM

By completing the Registration form, you confirm that you have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions prevailing at the time of any booking. Additionally, you acknowledge that the information you provide in your registration form may be relied upon, and you have the option to update it as necessary.

16. PAYMENTS

We accept payment by electronic bank transfer.

17. BOOKINGS

With only 6 guest spaces available, we recommend booking early. Bookings are confirmed upon receipt of payment, on a first-come, first-served basis.

17.1 Homeboarding

25% Deposit - To reserve your dates, we require a 25% non-refundable deposit. This deposit secures your booking and allows us to hold your chosen dates just for you. Your booking is confirmed once the deposit is received. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.

75% Final Balance - payable 14 days before the first day of boarding. Once paid, this is non-refun dable and non-transferable.

A remaining payment reminder will be sent to you 14 days prior to your dog's scheduled arrival. The outstanding balance, as per your initial quotation, is due upon receipt of this reminder. Failure to remit the final payment on the reminder date may result in the cancellation of your booking. In the event of cancellation due to non-payment, your deposit will be retained, and the reserved dates will be made available for other bookings. We reserve the right to decline future bookings in cases of repeated non-payment.

If you cancel your booking before the final 75% balance is due, your 25% deposit is non-refundable but you will not be charged the remaining balance. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy.

If you cancel after paying the final 75% balance, this payment is non-refundable and non-transferable. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for details.

Bookings made within 14 days of your dog's arrival date require full payment at the time of booking.

17.2. Daycare

Full payment is due 14 days before your dog's stay.

17.3 Bank Holidays, Xmas and New Year

Our holiday periods, especially Christmas and New Year, tend to book up quickly, sometimes even years in advance. We encourage you to plan ahead and book early to avoid disappointment. To confirm your dog's booking at Xmas/New Year, we require a 25% non-refundable deposit as usual at the time of booking, but the remaining 75% balance is due 28 days prior to your Xmas holiday (rather than the usual 14 days). For cancellations, please refer to our Cancellation Policy.

18. CANCELLATION POLICY

Because cancellations can impact our ability to fill those spaces with other bookings, refunds are generally not offered. This policy helps us ensure the continued operation of Little Sizzlers Hotel. However, we understand that circumstances can change, and if we are able to rebook the cancelled dates, we will happily refund the payment for those days. We will notify you if we are successful in rebooking.

18.1 Payments made to secure a booking are non-refundable and non-transferable if:

You cancel your booking. We recommend ensuring your holiday or pet insurance covers lost boarding fees due to cancellations for any reason.

We cancel your booking (either before or during your dog's stay) due to:
- Your dog being due or coming into season.
- Your dog having an infectious health problem.
- Non-payment of the final balance by the due date, and a lack of communication from you.
- Your dog exhibiting unsociable/unacceptable behaviours (see section 5 of our Terms and Conditions).

18.2 If we are unable to fulfill your booking prior to your dog's arrival due to an unforeseen emergency on our end, we will contact you as soon as possible in order that you may be able to make alternative arrangements. Your booking will be cancelled, and you will receive a full refund.

18.3 In the unlikely event that an unforeseen emergency prevents us from continuing your dog's care during their stay, we will immediately contact you or your designated Emergency Accommodation Contact to arrange for their prompt collection. You will receive a refund for any remaining days of your booking

19. PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

We regularly take photos and videos of the dogs in our care and enjoy sharing them with their owners. We may also use some of these media on our social media platforms, ensuring no personally identifiable information (such as name tags or human faces) is visible. All photos and videos are the copyright of Little Sizzlers Hotel and may be used in our marketing materials, public media platforms or publications.

20. COLLARS AND IDENTITY TAGS

For the safety and well-being of all dogs, we have a policy that dogs do not wear collars within the Little Sizzlers Hotel. This helps prevent injuries that can occur from collars getting caught in other dog's teeth or on objects.. In the event of a veterinary emergency requiring transportation, we will use your dog's provided harness and a temporary collar with our contact information for identification purposes.

21. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

Please note that we reserve the right to refuse or withdraw our services for any dog at any time, without prior warning. While not legally obligated to do so, we have provided Terms & Conditions for your clarity. By using our services, you agree to these Terms & Conditions, which may be subject to change without notice.

22. DISCLAIMER

We may occasionally recommend or introduce you to third-party providers of complementary services, such as alternative home boarding, home sitting, training, or behavioural services. These recommendations may be made at your request or at our discretion. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that any third-party services you choose are suitable for you and your dog. We do not assume any liability for these services or any loss arising from them.

23. PERSONAL DATA

Your Registration Form will be kept on file for repeat services and retained for a minimum of three years from our initial contact, or longer if you continue to use our services. We respect your privacy and will not share your personal details with other organisations. However, as a professional courtesy, we may occasionally share information about your dog with your veterinarian. If you prefer that we do not do this, please let us know.

24. LIABILITY

Under no circumstances will Little Sizzlers Hotel be liable for consequential damages or damages beyond the replacement value of your dog.

25. GOVERNING LAW

These terms and conditions (and the Registration Form referred to above), and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter (including non-contractual disputes or claims arising in connection with our agreement to provide services to you), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of England and Wales and the English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any such dispute or claim.

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