Pet Visits, Evening Sitting and Small-Animal Care in Finchley

Calm care in your pet’s own home

You do not always need someone to stay overnight when you are working, attending an event or going away.

Sometimes your pet needs a reliable visit during the day, a few hours of company in the evening or someone to follow their familiar feeding and care routine while you are away.

I provide calm, personalised pet visits and evening pet sitting in Finchley, North Finchley, Finchley Central, East Finchley, Muswell Hill and selected nearby areas.

Depending on your pet and the service agreed, care may include:

• Feeding and fresh water
• Toilet breaks
• A short local dog walk
• Puppy care
• Cat feeding and litter care
• Rabbit and guinea-pig care
• Basic small-animal enclosure care
• Calm companionship
• Play or enrichment
• Straightforward medication support
• General welfare observations
• Photographs and updates
• A few agreed household tasks

I have provided professional dog walking and pet care since 2011.

I work locally and care for one household at a time. There are no anonymous carers or rotating teams. You know that it is me, Del, entering your home and following the routine we have agreed.

Contact Del about pet visits

View current pet-care prices

Pet visits and evening sitting at a glance

Service	Suitable for	Current price
One daytime pet visit	Feeding, toileting, companionship or routine care	£15
Two pet visits in one day	Pets needing morning and evening care	£25
Additional 15 minutes	Multi-pet homes or more involved routines	£6
Additional 30 minutes	Longer care, cleaning or companionship	£12
Evening sitting for up to two hours	Meals out, events or a longer evening absence	£35
Evening sitting for up to four hours	Pets needing company for most of the evening	£55
Additional evening hour	Care beyond the original evening booking	£15
Late finish after 11 pm	Added to the evening booking	£10

Prices apply to one household. Several pets are not automatically charged separately, but additional time may be needed where the routine cannot be completed properly within the standard visit.

All services are subject to location, availability, suitable access arrangements and an appropriate initial meeting.

What is a pet visit?

A pet visit means I come to your home for an agreed period and follow the care routine discussed before the booking.

This may be suitable when your pet needs:

• A lunchtime toilet opportunity
• Feeding while you are working
• Company during a long day out
• Puppy care
• A short local dog walk
• Medication at an agreed time
• Cat care while you are away
• Rabbit or guinea-pig care
• Additional checks because they are older
• Calm indoor care during hot weather
• Support during a temporary change in routine

A pet visit is not automatically the right service for every animal.

Some pets need longer visits, more frequent checks, overnight companionship or continuous supervision. I will tell you honestly if I believe house sitting, veterinary care or another arrangement would be more appropriate.

What can happen during a pet visit?

Every household and every pet is different.

One dog may need a toilet break followed by a quiet sniff in the garden. Another may benefit from a short local walk.

A confident cat may wait beside the food cupboard. A nervous cat may prefer me to prepare their food and clean the litter tray without trying to approach them.

A rabbit or guinea pig may need fresh hay, food, water, basic enclosure care and a careful check that they are eating and behaving normally.

The routine may include the following where agreed.

Feeding

I follow the written feeding instructions you provide.

Please leave:

• Enough food for the complete booking
• Clearly labelled portions where practical
• Suitable measuring equipment
• Instructions for treats and supplements
• Details of allergies or restrictions
• Extra food in case your return is delayed

I do not introduce new foods or make unnecessary changes to your pet’s normal diet while you are away.

Fresh drinking water

I refresh or top up drinking water as agreed.

Please show me:

• Where bowls and bottles are kept
• Whether your pet has several water stations
• Whether a water fountain is used
• How the fountain should be filled
• Whether a prescribed water additive is required

During warmer weather, I will also pay attention to obvious changes in drinking, appetite and where your pet chooses to rest.

Toileting and basic cleaning

Depending on your pet, this may include:

• Access to a secure garden
• A short local toilet walk
• Litter-tray cleaning
• Puppy-pad changes
• Cleaning a small accident
• Basic rabbit or small-animal litter care
• Checking for changes in normal toileting

Please explain what is normal for your individual pet.

I will observe and report concerns, but I do not diagnose medical conditions.

Companionship and enrichment

Not every pet wants the same type of interaction.

A visit may include:

• Gentle play
• A simple food search
• A scent activity
• Preparing an owner-supplied Kong or LickiMat
• Calm company
• Brushing where the pet enjoys it
• Sitting quietly nearby
• Affection on the pet’s terms

I do not force interaction.

A shy cat does not need to come out from under a bed. A nervous dog does not need to greet me enthusiastically. A rabbit should not be picked up simply because handling appears on a checklist.

Your pet’s behaviour and comfort guide the visit.

Daytime visits for dogs

A daytime dog visit can help when your dog needs:

• A toilet opportunity
• Feeding and fresh water
• A short local walk
• Calm companionship
• Simple enrichment
• Medication
• A break during your working day

This may suit:

• Puppies
• Senior dogs
• Dogs with restricted exercise
• Dogs adjusting to a temporary routine change
• Rescue or nervous dogs
• Dogs who find group care overwhelming
• Dogs who need home-based care rather than a full walk

Before accepting the booking, I will ask:

• How long your dog is normally comfortable alone
• How often they need to toilet
• Whether they bark, howl or become destructive
• Whether they show signs of separation-related distress
• Whether they can be handled and walked safely
• How they respond to someone entering the home
• Whether there are escape risks
• What should happen if you return late

Please be honest about how your dog copes when left alone.

A dog who sleeps comfortably between visits needs a different arrangement from a dog who becomes distressed after a few minutes.

A pet visit is different from a full dog walk.

A short local walk may be included where this has been agreed, and your dog can be handled safely.

If your dog needs regular 30 or 60-minute exercise, the dedicated walking service is more appropriate.

Read about Solo Dog Walks in Finchley

Pet visits are not overnight care for dogs

I do not provide daytime visits as the sole care arrangement for a dog who will then be left alone overnight.

For dogs, this service is intended to provide daytime or evening support.

House sitting is normally more suitable for:

• Dogs who cannot be left overnight
• Rescue dogs who rely heavily on routine
• Dogs with separation-related difficulties
• Senior dogs needing frequent toilet opportunities
• Puppies requiring closer supervision
• Multi-pet households
• Pets who become distressed when the home is empty

The correct service should be based on what your pet genuinely needs rather than simply choosing the lowest-priced option.

Read about House Sitting and Overnight Pet Care

Evening pet sitting

Evening pet sitting may help when you are:

• Going out for a meal
• Attending the theatre
• Going to a wedding
• Celebrating a birthday or anniversary
• Attending a family event
• Expecting to return later than your pet can comfortably manage alone

Rather than making a short visit and leaving again, I remain in your home for the agreed period.

Depending on your pet, evening sitting may include:

• Feeding and fresh water
• A local dog walk
• Toilet breaks
• Calm companionship
• Play or enrichment
• Straightforward medication support
• Following the usual evening routine
• Helping your pet settle
• A photograph or update
• Secure lock-up if I leave before you return

Evening sitting does not automatically include an overnight stay.

If there is a realistic possibility that you will not return that night, this must be discussed before the booking is confirmed.

Evening pet-sitting prices

Up to two hours: £35

Up to four hours: £55

Each additional hour: £15

A £10 late-finish charge applies where the agreed booking finishes after 11 pm.

Bookings expected to continue beyond midnight are quoted separately and may need to be arranged as late-night or overnight house sitting.

An overnight stay must be agreed in advance and remains subject to availability.

Puppy visits

Young puppies often need shorter and more frequent support than adult dogs.

A puppy visit may include:

• A toilet opportunity
• Feeding
• Fresh water
• Cleaning a small accident
• Gentle play
• Calm companionship
• A simple scent activity
• Reward-based routine practice
• Lead and harness familiarity
• A short walk when age, vaccination status and veterinary advice allow
• A photograph and update

These are supportive care visits rather than formal puppy-training lessons.

I can follow and reinforce the calm, reward-based routines you are already using at home.

For the full service details, visit:

Puppy Visits in Finchley

New puppy owners may also find my Bringing a Puppy Home Guide helpful.

Cat-sitting visits

Cat-sitting visits follow the same standard home-visit prices:

• One visit: £15
• Two visits in one day: £25

A cat visit may include:

• Feeding
• Fresh water
• Litter-tray care
• Play or enrichment
• Quiet companionship
• Grooming where welcomed
• Medication support where agreed
• Checking agreed doors, windows or cat flaps
• A photograph and update

Some cats meet me at the door. Others prefer to watch from a distance.

I work at the cat’s pace and do not force a nervous cat to interact.

This page gives the general pet-visit information. For the complete cat service, visit:

Cat Sitting in Finchley

You can also explore my Cat Care Advice Hub.

Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets

I provide home visits for suitable small animals, including:

• Rabbits
• Guinea pigs
• Hamsters
• Gerbils
• Degus
• Some birds
• Tortoises
• Other pets whose care falls within my experience

I do not provide snake care.

A small-animal visit may include:

• Feeding according to written instructions
• Topping up hay
• Changing or refreshing water
• Basic litter or bedding care
• Checking the enclosure
• Checking the room or enclosure temperature
• Observing normal eating and toileting
• Following the familiar routine
• Sending an update

Small animals should not be treated as low-maintenance pets.

Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals can become seriously unwell when they stop eating or show significant changes in normal behaviour. Leave clear instructions explaining what is normal for your pet and when veterinary help should be sought.

The RSPCA advises that a rabbit who is quieter than normal or not eating may be ill or in pain. The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund treats a rabbit stopping eating as an emergency requiring veterinary attention.

Read the RSPCA’s rabbit health guidance

Read the Rabbit Welfare Association’s emergency guidance

Guinea pigs can also deteriorate quickly if they stop eating or drinking.

Read PDSA guidance on guinea-pig health

For the full small-pet hub and related guides, visit:

Small Animal Care in Finchley

Rabbit owners may also find my Rabbit Holiday Care FAQ useful.

Senior pets

Older pets may need:

• More frequent toilet opportunities
• Slower movement
• Medication
• Easier access to food and water
• Closer observation
• More time to stand or settle
• A quieter visit
• Adapted enrichment

Please tell me about:

• Reduced mobility
• Hearing or sight changes
• Confusion
• Toileting accidents
• Changes in appetite
• Pain-related behaviour
• Falls
• Medication times
• Circumstances requiring veterinary help

I do not rush an older animal or expect them to follow the routine of a younger pet.

Where their needs become more involved, additional visit time or house sitting may be more appropriate.

Rescue and nervous pets

Many of the animals I care for need more space, patience or predictability.

A nervous pet may:

• Hide when I arrive
• Bark when I enter
• Remain at a distance
• Avoid touch
• Refuse food initially
• Need more than one introductory meeting
• Respond differently when their owner is absent

The first aim is not to force friendship.

It is to provide the required care without adding unnecessary pressure.

During the initial meeting, I may:

• Sit quietly
• Avoid direct eye contact
• Allow the pet to approach
• Discuss safe entry arrangements
• Learn the pet’s normal signals
• Agree what I should do if they hide
• Plan how feeding, toileting and medication can be managed safely

Read about Rescue Dog Support in Finchley

Medication support

I may be able to provide straightforward medication support where:

• The medication has been discussed before booking
• Written instructions are provided
• The medication is clearly labelled
• The prescribed dose is clear
• The method is within my experience
• The pet accepts the procedure safely

Depending on the pet and arrangement, this may include:

• Tablets given in food
• Tablets given using an agreed safe method
• Liquid oral medication
• Topical preparations
• Prescribed ear or eye preparations
• Routine supplements

Please provide:

• The medication name
• The prescribed dose
• The correct administration time
• Written instructions
• Original packaging where possible
• Your veterinary practice details
• Instructions for a refused or vomited dose
• Known side effects
• Enough medication for the booking and a possible delay

I do not:

• Diagnose illness
• Alter a prescribed dose
• Decide when an unprescribed medication should be used
• Automatically repeat a dose that may have been partly swallowed
• Use restraint that I consider unsafe
• Carry out procedures outside my training or experience

A trial visit may be necessary before medication support is accepted.

More complex medical care may require a veterinary professional or another suitably experienced carer.

Updates while you are away

I normally provide an update so you know how your pet is doing.

Depending on the service, this may include:

• A written summary
• A photograph
• A short video
• Confirmation that food was eaten
• Toileting information
• Medication confirmation
• Walk details
• Changes in behaviour
• Anything that concerns me

I will not manufacture a cheerful photograph by forcing a worried animal to interact.

Sometimes the most useful update is that a nervous cat remained in their safe place, their food and litter were cared for, and the home was left calm and secure.

Basic household tasks

A few short household tasks may fit into a normal visit without reducing the time available for your pet.

These may include:

• Bringing in post
• Moving a small visible delivery indoors
• Opening or closing agreed curtains
• Switching agreed lights on or off
• Putting out or bringing in one household bin
• Carrying out a simple visual check for an obvious problem
• Watering a few suitable indoor plants

Pet care remains the priority.

More involved tasks may require additional booked time.

I do not provide:

• Security patrols
• Professional property inspections
• Household cleaning
• Garden maintenance
• Repairs
• Management of tradespeople
• Guaranteed plant survival

Read about Pet Care Add-ons and Holiday Home Help

Cameras and recording equipment

Please tell me about every active camera or recording device before the booking begins.

This includes:

• Video doorbells
• Outdoor security cameras
• Indoor pet cameras
• Baby monitors
• Smart displays
• Audio-recording equipment
• Devices that can be activated remotely

Disclosed entrance and outdoor security cameras are normally straightforward.

Secret recording damages trust and may affect whether I can continue with the booking.

Full details are available in my Welcome Pack and Policies and Professional Standards.

Keys and home access

Reliable access is essential.

Before the booking, please make sure that:

• The key opens the correct door
• It has been tested from outside
• All locks and gates have been explained
• Alarm instructions are clear
• Key-safe details are accurate
• Other people entering the property are identified
• A backup access plan is available where appropriate

Do not leave an untested key on the morning you travel.

Where a key safe is used, check that:

• It opens reliably
• The code is correct
• The key fits inside
• The safe is accessible
• The mechanism is working

Keys are handled according to the arrangement agreed before the booking.

Meet-and-greet process

A meet-and-greet is normally required for a new client.

We can discuss:

• Your pet’s normal routine
• Feeding
• Toileting
• Health and medication
• Behaviour
• Walking equipment
• Home access
• Security
• Cameras
• Emergency arrangements
• Dates and visit frequency
• What your pet enjoys
• What your pet finds difficult

Your pet does not have to perform.

A dog does not need to greet me enthusiastically. A cat does not need to come out of hiding. A nervous animal does not need to accept touch during our first meeting.

More than one introduction may be appropriate where a pet needs additional time.

A meet-and-greet does not automatically guarantee that I will accept the booking. I may decline where the care is unsafe, falls outside my competence or is not suitable for a visit-based service.

Emergency arrangements

Before care begins, I will normally need:

• Your veterinary practice details
• Details of an emergency veterinary provider
• Your contact information while away
• A local emergency contact
• Permission and instructions for veterinary treatment
• Pet insurance information
• Arrangements for veterinary payment
• Relevant medical history
• Instructions in case your return is delayed

Your emergency contact should ideally:

• Not be travelling with you
• Know your pet
• Be available during the booking
• Be able to reach the property
• Have access to a spare key where appropriate
• Understand that they may be contacted

Please obtain the person’s permission before giving me their details.

What happens if you are delayed?

Contact me as soon as you know that your return time has changed.

Tell me:

• Your revised arrival time
• Whether another visit is needed
• Whether feeding or medication will be due
• Whether your emergency contact can help
• Whether overnight care may be required

I will help where reasonably possible, but any extension is subject to availability.

I may already have another confirmed booking.

Please leave enough food, medication and essential supplies to cover a reasonable delay.

When pet visits may not be suitable

A visit-based service may not be suitable where:

• A dog cannot cope between visits
• A dog would be left alone overnight
• Continuous monitoring is required
• A pet is medically unstable
• Complex veterinary procedures are needed
• The animal cannot be handled safely
• Medication instructions are unclear
• Specialist species care falls outside my experience
• Access to the property is unreliable
• There is no workable emergency plan
• The property falls outside my practical service area

Depending on the situation, a more suitable option may be:

• Overnight house sitting
• Veterinary boarding
• Specialist small-animal boarding
• Care from a veterinary nurse
• Help from a trusted local person
• A combination of professional visits and family support

I would rather decline an unsuitable arrangement than accept a booking that does not properly meet your pet’s needs.

Areas covered

Pet visits and evening sitting are available, subject to location and my existing commitments, in:

• Finchley
• North Finchley
• Finchley Central
• East Finchley
• Muswell Hill
• Selected nearby North London areas

Because this is a local service, your postcode and travel time matter.

Send me your postcode, the dates you need and the type of care required, and I will confirm whether I can help.

Check the Finchley Dog Walker service area.

Why choose Finchley Dog Walker?

I have provided professional dog walking and pet care since 2011.

My approach is based on:

• One-to-one care
• Calm handling
• Familiar routines
• Honest communication
• Respect for your home
• Practical experience with rescue and nervous pets
• Adapting care around the individual animal
• Staying within my competence

I am:

• Fully insured
• Enhanced DBS checked through my Scouting role
• Trained in canine first aid
• Experienced with dogs, cats and suitable small pets
• Committed to reward-based and welfare-led handling

There are no anonymous carers or rotating teams.

You know who is entering your home and caring for your pet.

Read more about Del

Frequently asked questions

What animals do you visit?

I care for dogs, puppies, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and other suitable small pets where the care required falls within my experience.

I do not provide snake care.

Can you visit my dog while I am at work?

Yes, subject to location and availability.

A visit may include a toilet opportunity, feeding, fresh water, companionship, enrichment or a short local walk.

Can my dog be left overnight with daytime visits?

No.

Daytime visits should not be used as the sole arrangement for a dog left alone overnight. Please ask about house sitting.

Can you stay with my pet for an evening?

Yes, subject to availability.

Evening sitting costs £35 for up to two hours or £55 for up to four hours. Each additional hour costs £15.

A £10 late-finish charge applies when the booking finishes after 11 pm.

Can an evening booking continue beyond midnight?

Bookings expected to continue beyond midnight must be discussed in advance.

They may need to be arranged as late-night care or overnight house sitting.

Can you administer medication?

Straightforward medication support may be possible where it has been discussed in advance, clearly labelled and can be given safely.

Some procedures or medical conditions may fall outside my competence.

Will I receive photographs?

I normally provide an update and photograph where appropriate.

I will not force a frightened pet to pose.

Do you care for nervous pets?

Yes.

Many of the pets I support are shy, nervous, reactive or rescued. The meet-and-greet helps us plan an approach that does not place unnecessary pressure on them.

Can you walk my dog during the visit?

A short local walk may be possible where it has been agreed, and your dog can be handled safely.

A home visit is different from a dedicated 30 or 60-minute solo dog walk.

Can you clean litter trays?

Yes.

Please leave sufficient litter, waste bags and suitable cleaning supplies.

Can you clean a rabbit or guinea-pig enclosure?

Basic litter, bedding and enclosure care may be included.

A complete deep clean or complicated husbandry routine may require additional booked time.

Can you water plants and bring in post?

A few short agreed tasks may be included where they do not reduce the care available for your pet.

Longer jobs can be booked with additional time.

Do I need a meet-and-greet?

A meet-and-greet is normally required for a new client.

It allows us to discuss the routine, access, behaviour, medication and emergency arrangements.

Do I need to disclose cameras?

Yes.

All active cameras and audio-recording equipment must be disclosed before the booking.

Can you accept a last-minute booking?

Sometimes, but availability is limited.

New clients still need enough time for the necessary information, introductions and access arrangements.

How do I book?

Please send me:

• Your name
• Your postcode
• The type and number of pets
• The dates required
• The number of visits needed
• A brief description of the routine
• Medication or behavioural information
• Whether daytime, evening or overnight care is required

I will confirm whether the service, location and arrangement are suitable.

Ready to discuss your pet’s care?

Tell me:

• Where you live
• Which pets you have
• The dates you need
• How often they need visiting
• What their normal routine looks like
• Any health, medication or behavioural needs
• Whether you need daytime visits, evening sitting or overnight care

I will tell you honestly which service is likely to be most appropriate.

View current pet-care prices

Check the service area

Important information

I provide routine pet care, general welfare observations and agreed medication support within my competence.

I am not a veterinary surgeon and do not diagnose illness, prescribe treatment or change veterinary instructions.

The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 reserves the diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment of animals to appropriately registered veterinary professionals.

Read the UK definition of veterinary surgery and regulated veterinary practice.

Contact your veterinary practice promptly if your pet is unwell or their normal eating, drinking, toileting, movement or behaviour changes significantly.

All bookings are subject to location, availability, safe access, suitable introductions and the needs of the individual animal.