Frequently Asked Questions
About Our Company
- How long have you been in business?
- Do you have insurance?
- Do you have references that I may contact?
About Visits
- Will I have the same sitter each visit?
- What time will you visit?
- Should I do anything when I return home?
Signing Up
- What will you need from me before service can begin?
- Is it necessary to have an initial consultation before service begins?
- Will I need to sign a contract?
- Why do you need two sets of keys?
Billing/Cancellation
Q: How long have you been in business?
A: Doggy Workout was formed at the beginning of 2004 by myself, Robert McCormack. I wanted a business that could serve the people of Alexandria while also fulfilling my passion to work with animals.
What started out as a few dog walking assignments has now grown into hundreds of clients in Alexandria. I always make a point to be present at each initial consultation, which helps me to better understand you and your pet, and also lets me make a more informed decision about how we can best care for them.
I'm also the main point of contact, so I want you to be able to put a face to the person you'll be talking to or emailing during our service for you!
Q: Do you have insurance?
A: Yes. Doggy Workout and its employees are insured and bonded with an additional coverage for damage to a client's property. We are happy to provide copies of our insurance policy.
Q: Do you have references that I may contact?
A: Absolutely! We realize that hundreds of written testimonials can't add up to one given by a live person. We encourage you to ask for reference contact information which we are more than happy to provide.
Q: Will I have the same sitter each visit?
A: In most cases, you should have the same person visiting your pet each time. The only time you may have a different person is if the regular walker/sitter is sick or on vacation.
Q: What time will you visit?
A: We ask for a two hour window for all visits. This allows us to coordinate your walks with other walks on your caregiver's schedule. We can come at a more exact time if the pet requires it (e.g. puppies and senior dogs), so please let us know during the initial consultation.
Q: Should I do anything when I return home?
A: Yes. Please notify our office when you return home. If we don't hear from you, we will attempt to contact you. If we are unable to contact you before the next visit time, we will continue our service until we are able to get in touch with you.
Q: What will you need from me before service can begin?
A: During the initial consultation, we'll just need two sets of keys and we're ready to go!
Visits to a local dog park will require a few more documents (proof that your dog is at least four months of age, current rabies vaccination, and current dog license).
Q: Is it necessary to have an initial consultation before service begins?
A: Yes. This is the only way we can be guaranteed that our services and your pet(s) will be a good match. It allows us to understand your pets' needs, learn where the essentials are (e.g. leash, water dish, treats)
and gives us a chance to see how your pet(s) interact with our chosen caregiver.
Q: Will I need to sign a contract?
A: Yes. This ensures that you've read, understood and agreed to all of the policies of our company.
Q: Why do you need two sets of keys?
A: This lets us ensure that we can provide service in case the unexpected comes up. For example, your primary caregiver may be delayed, or you may have an unexpected need for an additional walk that your primary caregiver is unable to accommodate. We always have backups that can fill in, but they will need a spare set of keys to do this. All backup keys are kept in a locked filing cabinet.
Q: How do I pay for service?
A: All services will be billed during the first week of the month following service. Payment is due on the 15th of the month. Clients paying by credit card will be charged on the 15th of the month.
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: We accept check or credit card. We currently accept Visa and Mastercard. We request that all clients paying by check have a credit card on file also. Credit cards will be charged automatically on the 15th of the month.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: There is no charge for cancelled visits, with three exceptions:
- Weekend Visits: Visits scheduled on Saturday or Sunday must be cancelled by 12pm Friday to receive a full refund. Otherwise, there will be a $10/day charge for each day scheduled.
- Holiday Visits: Visits scheduled on a holiday must be cancelled two days prior to the start of the holiday to receive a full refund. Otherwise, there will be a $10/day charge for each holiday day scheduled.
- Monthly Clients: Because of the greatly reduced rate for monthly clients of five walks/week, daily cancellations will have no effect on your monthly bill. However, vacations of three or more consecutive days will be fully discounted for each day taken off.
For any of your questions not answered here, please feel free to call, email or submit an online request here.