Daily Operations

1. Meal Preparation and Feeding

  • Prepare food according to dogs dietary requirements
  • A maximum of FOUR dogs grouped into a gated area for feeding
  • Dogs are ‘Placed to wait’ and bowls set to individual areas ready for ‘feeding roll call’
  • Monitor feeding of each dog and send dog back to placement area when done
  • Clean all dog bowls and sanitise all feeding areas.
  • Check food stock and set Raw food to defrost if necessary, check feeder for adequate levels of drinking water.
  • Allow a minimum of ONE HOUR for food to digest before any vigorous exercise.

2. Daycare Walks and Training

  • All dogs must wear a collar and contact information tag during walks/training
  • Important:- Do not walk or meet or mix with any other dogs from dog walkers outside the K9 Exclusive Walks pack.
  • Each dog handler must have a minimum of THREE trained dogs to a good level of recall and general obedience to be walked within a group of FIVE.
  • No dog will not be let off the leash unless the handler is confident of its recall.
  • Up to Four hours of exercise and training per day.
  • Training on all walks to include:
    Recall
    Heal both on and off leash
    Sit and Stay
    Leave
  • Pictures, training and exercise video updates must be taken off all dogs during the day and submitted to the K9EXW.com group chat.

Also see Sighthound Care Program

3. Transportation

Transporting dogs safely is important to ensure their well-being during car journeys. Here is a dog safety transportation procedure for how dogs should be transported in a Mitsubishi Freelander PHEV, with a mileage not exceeding 10 miles per completed trip:

  • A harness and a seatbelt attachment are used to secure the dogs in the back of the vehicle. If a dog rides in the front seat and uses a harness seatbelt attachment, airbags are decommissioned to avoid injury if deployed.
  • If it’s a warm day, the windows are slightly open to provide ventilation. However, never let dogs stick their head out of the window, as it could be injured by passing objects or debris.
  • If the journey is longer than 30 minutes, make a stop to give the dogs some water and a chance to stretch their legs, keep dogs on a leash and stay in a safe area away from traffic.
  • Avoid feeding your dogs right before the journey to prevent motion sickness.
  • Never leave dogs alone in the car, even for a short period of time. Temperatures inside a car can quickly rise or drop, causing dogs to become uncomfortable or even suffer from heatstroke or hypothermia.
  • Vehicles are cleaned, and the interior is disinfected weekly using an anti-bacterial solution to ensure the hygienic safety of your dog.

4. Medication

All medications must be in their original container and must include the dog’s name, the name and strength of the medication, and directions including dosage, number of times per day, how it is to be given, illness to be treated, areas to be treated, etc.

5. Safety Issues

Any dog that shows aggressive behaviour is separated from the pack and given solitary time to calm down. If the dog is repeatedly aggressive and cannot be controlled the dog will be caged, the owner will be contacted, and the dog will be removed from the daycare or boarding facilities. If it is felt that your dog is a risk to either guest or public at any time, K9 Exclusive Walks reserves the right to withdraw its service from the client without refund.

Also see K9 Welfare Record

6. Hygiene and safety

  • All dog bedding must be kept clean and washed if necessary on a weekly basis.
  • boarding areas to be sanitised and hovered daily
  • Food and prep areas to be sanitised daily
  • All medicines, food and cleaning products to be kept safe and out of reach from animals.
  • Play and training areas including the garden to be kept clean and free from hazards.

7. Dog Waste Procedures

Daycare:- Dog handlers must pickup and correctly dispose of dog facies during the walk

Boarding:- Dog handlers must regularly patrol the boarding areas including the garden area and dispose of dog facies either by bagging and binning or disposal in the allocated dog waste compost area.

8. Weather Policy

The most extreme weather conditions. “Extreme” shall be defined as a wind, rain, snow or ice event resulting in extremely hazardous road conditions, usually with closures to offices as well as schools. K9 Exclusive Walks reserves the right to cancel and/or reschedule its boarding and daycare service due to bad weather conditions.

Also see  Fire and Extreme Weather Emergency Plan

9. The prevention of, and control of the spread of, disease

  • Vaccination: Check the vaccination record all dogs insisted into K9 Exclusive Walks are current and up to date
  • Hygiene: Regularly wash and disinfect dog’s living quarters, food and water bowls, and toys to prevent the spread of disease.
  • Quarantine: Keep new dogs separate from existing dogs until they are relocated either to the nominated vet or returned to the client/owner.
  • Parasite control: Regularly treat dogs for internal and external parasites, such as fleas and ticks, which can carry and transmit diseases.
  • Good nutrition: Maintain a balanced diet for dogs to support their overall health and reduce their susceptibility to disease.
  • Avoid overcrowding: K9 Exclusive Walks is equipped for a maximum of eight dogs for Boarding and six dogs for Daycare per handler.
  • Monitoring: Regularly monitor dogs for signs of illness and seek veterinary treatment immediately if any symptoms are noticed.
  • Education: Educate dog owners on the importance of preventing and controlling the spread of disease in their dogs.

By implementing these measures, the spread of disease in dogs can be effectively prevented and controlled.

10. Monitoring and ensuring the health and welfare of all the animals

  • Daily Monitoring: Conduct a daily check of each dog, including a visual examination of the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, skin, and coat. b. Observe each dog’s behaviour and monitor any changes, such as lethargy or loss of appetite. c. Check each dog’s water and food intake. d. Check the cleanliness of each dog’s living area and make any necessary changes.
  • Exercise and Socialization: Provide each dog with daily exercise and playtime. b. Ensure that each dog receives appropriate socialization with other dogs and people. c. Provide toys and other forms of mental stimulation for each dog.
  • Housing and Environment: Provide each dog with a clean, safe, and comfortable living area. b. Ensure that each dog’s living area’s temperature, ventilation, and lighting are appropriate. c. Keep each dog’s living area free from hazardous materials and potential dangers.
  • Record Keeping: Document any incidents or changes in behaviour, health, or environment.
  • Review and Update: Review and update the plan regularly to ensure the health and welfare of each dog are being met. b. Make changes to the plan based on lessons learned and the changing needs of each dog.

Also see K9 Welfare Record.

11. The death/escape of an animal (including the storage of dead animals)

  • Incident Response: a. In case of death, immediately remove the animal from its living area. b. In case of escape, initiate a search and rescue effort to locate the missing animal. c. Notify the relevant authorities, such as the local animal control or the police, as appropriate.
  • Storage of Dead Animals: Store dead animals in a secure and appropriate container, such as a heavy-duty plastic bag or a sturdy cardboard box. b. Label the container with the name of the animal and the date of death. c. Contact the approved Vet and take the necessary steps for mediate removal of the animal
  • After Incident Response: a. Review the circumstances of the death or escape to identify any potential hazards or areas for improvement. b. Take appropriate measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. c. Provide support and counselling for staff or volunteers who may be affected by the death or escape of an animal.
  • In the unfortunate event of euthanasia, a qualified veterinarian will carry it out. The owner or designated main point of contact must be contacted to give consent. Unless imperative for the welfare of the dog, euthanasia must not take place until consent is given and recorded in the K9 Welfare Record

12. Emergency relocation of dogs

  • In an emergency where we can no longer board or provide daycare, provisions are made to have your dog collected.
  • The Contract for Daycare and Boarding provides two emergency contact details. The emergency contact information for every client is available under this password-protected area.

Other Useful Links

Click here to see K9 Floor Plan

ADB-Risk-Assessment

Sighthound Training Program

Annual Appraisal Form