How is in-home daycare different from a dog walker?

A dog walker comes for a set visit. Daycare means the sitter stays with your pet for the day.

Is in-home daycare the same as a drop-in visit?

No. A drop-in is a short check-in, while daycare provides continuous company for a full or half day.

Do you take multiple pets on one daycare booking?

Yes. More than one pet in the household can be cared for during the same visit.

Can my pet share daycare with a neighbour's pet?

Yes, locally, when the pets already get along and one home works for both of them.

Can you manage feeding, medication or a specific routine?

Yes. Include the details in the pet care pack and the sitter will follow them exactly.

What if I do not know exactly when I will be back?

Let the sitter know as early as possible and they can stay until you are home rather than using a rigid cut-off.

Journal

What is in-home daycare, actually?

No drop-off queue, no bag to pack, no unfamiliar room full of other people's dogs. Just someone coming to you for the day, so your pet stays where they feel safe.

Border terrier enjoying one-to-one daytime care at home with Fetch Travels, London.

I get asked about this a lot, usually by someone who's pictured a traditional doggy daycare centre. What I do isn't the same thing, and the difference is the whole point.

So what is it, exactly?

In-home daycare means I come to your home for the day. I arrive in the morning, do the usual feed and walk, and stay on your pet's normal routine until you're back. No van pickup, shared play pen, or adjusting to a new environment.

What you don't have to do

There's no bag to pack, vaccination card to remember, opening time to meet, or collection deadline. You leave for work like any other day. I let myself in, and your pet's day carries on with company.

What actually happens during the day

Morning feed and walk at the usual time
Company throughout the day
Their usual naps and favourite spot
A second walk or garden time if that's their routine
I stay until you're home

Why it tends to suit pets better

No car journey or van ride
No room full of unfamiliar animals
One-to-one attention
Their own bed, toys and smells
Often easier for older, anxious or sensitive pets

Full day or half day

Some people need a full day; others need an afternoon after a morning meeting. It's built around your schedule, not a fixed daycare-centre timetable.

Get on well with a neighbour's pet?

If pets already get on, I'm happy to mind them together locally around Honor Oak, Forest Hill, Brockley, Crofton Park, Sydenham, Dulwich, Crystal Palace, Nunhead and Peckham.

Questions I get asked about this

How is this different from a dog walker? A walk is a set visit. Daycare means I'm there with your pet for the day.

Is it a drop-in? No. A drop-in is a short check; daycare provides continuous company.

Can you manage a specific routine? Yes, include it in the care pack and I'll follow it exactly.

Where I offer this

In-home daycare is available across the London neighbourhoods I cover, including Chelsea, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Islington, Westminster, Hampstead, Clapham, Balham, Battersea, Dulwich and Brixton.

Dog walking and drop-ins are local to Honor Oak, Forest Hill and surrounding SE23.

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Related notes from the Journal

Just got a puppy? Start thinking about pet care →Multi-home, multi-pet sits →

Got a long day coming up?

Whether it's a full day at the office or a one-off event, I'm happy to talk through whether daycare is the right fit.

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