Charlie & Friends | Your Manchester Dog Walking Service

Are you still working during the COVID-19 pandemic?
We are open and operating as normal throughout the pandemic. We are not required to close down during lockdowns. We keep up to date with government guidance, practice social distancing and have implemented strict hygiene practices. 

Will my dog be safe with your dog walkers?
The safety and wellbeing of every dog in our care is always our top priority. We provide extensive training on security, canine first aid, canine behaviours and canine communication. All training is given and/or supervised by Scott, our Founder & Head Dog Walker. Our dog walkers are carefully selected following our two stage interview process and we carry out DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks and reference checks before they start working with us. 

Will my dog be walked by the same dog walker every day?
Yes. Your dog will be walked by the same dog walker every day. There may be occasions in the event of absence or holiday where another one of our dog walkers takes your dog out, but your dog should've met that dog walker before while out on our walks. 

Where will my dog be walked?
We take our groups to a large park in Manchester or Salford. 

Will my dog be walked on or off the lead?
With owner permission we walk all dogs off the lead providing their recall is satisfactory. If your dogs recall isn't great we can help to improve this, but your dog will be walked on the lead until we're comfortable with their progress. 

How many dogs are walked at a time?
Our groups are kept to a maximum of four dogs per walker. Groups are carefully selected with the breed, age, sex and personality in mind and will be discussed with you beforehand. 

Will you message me everyday to let me know how my dog is on your walks?
We'll give you daily updates on how your dog gets on for the first few weeks or so until you're happy that they are fully settled in. Once you're happy that they are fully settled in we'll stop messaging daily. You'll be able to see how they get on everyday on our social media pages and you'll always be welcome to ask any questions or request specific updates about your dog. Due to the amount of dogs we walk it is impractical to message every owner with an update every day. We will of course still message you when it is necessary.

Are you insured to take my dog out?
Yes. We are fully insured with PBI (Pet Business Insurance) who provide our cover for accidents and injury to animals, public liability and employer's liability.

What areas do you cover?
The main areas we are cover Manchester City Centre, Ancoats, New Islington, Northern Quarter, Green Quarter and Hulme. We also cover the Blackfriars, Greengate and Chapel Street districts of Salford. 

What time will my dog be walked?
We have set walk times for different areas. These will be discussed with you. On the rare occasion we may need to change set times for areas, but we will contact you if we need to do this. This is normally due to change in traffic conditions eg. major roadworks. 

What happens in case of emergency?
In the unlikely event of an emergency we'll immediately call you or contact your nominated emergency contact person if you're unavailable. All of our dog walkers are trained in canine first aid. If veterinary assistance is needed we'll take your dog to your named vet or to the nearest possible one. 

Do we need to meet before you take my dog out for the first time?
This is optional. We can arrange to meet you at your home, meet at a park or even video call if you would like to, but it is not essential. We will discuss all your requirements via email, Whatsapp message or phone call and agree a start date. We do request that you are home on the start date to make sure your dog is comfortable coming with us and to give us keys and/or fobs. You'll also need to show us where your dogs harness or collar is kept and tell us where they're allowed to go in the home when you aren't home. 

My dog is anxious. Would you take them out? 
We can take anxious dogs on our walks as long as they are comfortable coming with us. We will update you how your dog gets on after each walk until they are fully settled in. An anxious dog may take a couple of weeks or even a month to fully settle depending on the frequency of their walks. 

What if my dog dislikes one of the other dogs on their walk?
If we find an imbalance within a group and it is causing a problem we'll consult with you. We would look at changing groups if deemed necessary. 

I’m worried my dog may get sick or get fleas if they are exposed to lots of different dogs. Will they be okay?
This shouldn't be anything to worry about as long as your dog has their annual booster vaccinations. 
There are many products on the market that provide effective protection against worms and fleas. If you keep on top of their treatment every month you shouldn't have any issues with fleas or worms.

My dog isn’t neutered. Will you take them out? 
Yes. We would just monitor their behaviour. If we deem their behaviour to be a problem at any point we will consult with you. 

My female dog isn’t spayed. What happens if she comes in to season? Will you still take her out?
A female dog in season attracts unwanted attention from numerous male dogs in the park and often causes male dogs to fight. There is also a risk that the female may stray to seek a mate. We would have to temporarily suspend your dogs walks until their season has finished and they no longer give off the scent that attracts male dogs. This is normally a few weeks, but in some cases this can be up to a month.

Would you walk my older dog?
Our group walks are suitable for dogs of all ages as long as they are fit, healthy and their booster vaccinations are kept up to date.

Can you walk my aggressive dog?
Our walks are not suitable for an aggressive dog to be on.

Do you do solo walks?
We only offer group walks.

Would you collect my dog from my office?
Yes. We would just ask you to meet us with your dog on a street nearby due to the many parking restrictions in the city centre. 

Can I make a same day booking?
We require at least 24 hours notice for new client bookings. We cannot accept same day bookings. There is important paperwork that must be prepared and electronically signed before a service can start. 

How do I book? 
You can WhatsApp us on 07507 033684 to check our availability and you must book via the concierge app. 

Do I need to be at home when you pick up my dog?
No. You will just need to get us a key and/or fob cut. All keys and fobs in our possession are coded and securely stored.

Do you work evenings and weekends?
We work Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00.

What is your cancellation policy?
Our cancellation policy is applicable to all services. All services must be paid for in advance for the week ahead. Payment days may be subject to change due to bank holidays and any honoured late requests. Any changes to agreed regular services must be submitted by 20:00 on Wednesdays. Any ad hoc bookings must also be submitted by 20:00 on Wednesdays. We will always try to accommodate changes and late requests, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to honour every request. We reserve the right to charge 50% of the service price when a service is cancelled with less than 7 calendar days notice. Cancellation under exceptional circumstances will be honoured. We will process a refund directly on to the credit/debit card used to make the booking.

How to make a complaint
We're confident that you won't need to make a complaint, however, we recognise that you may deem something necessary to contact us about. In this case you must put your complaint in writing and send it to our email address: hello@charlie-n-friends.co.uk. Upon receipt of your complaint we will investigate the matter and contact you to discuss it. We aim to resolve all complaints within 24 hours. Sometimes this may take longer if our investigation takes longer than anticipated, but we will always keep you up to date. 

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 09:00-17:00
Mobile: 07507033684
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlieandfriendsmanchester
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlieandfriendsmanchester