Pet and Home Readiness Visit in Finchley

Practical preparation for your pet, your home and the unexpected

Updated August 2026

Bringing home a new pet, arranging a pet sitter or preparing to travel can reveal small problems that are easy to overlook.

Is the garden secure?

Could your dog slip through the front door when someone delivers a parcel?

Would another person know where your cat carrier, medication or veterinary details are kept?

What would happen if you were delayed, taken ill or temporarily unable to return home?

My Pet and Home Readiness Visit helps you review these practical details before they become urgent problems.

I visit your home, talk through your pet’s routine and help you identify straightforward changes that could make everyday care, holidays and unexpected situations easier to manage.

The visit can be particularly helpful if you are:

• Bringing home a puppy
• Adopting a rescue dog
• Preparing to use a pet sitter
• Going away for the first time since getting a pet
• Caring for an older animal
• Managing medication
• Living with several pets
• Worried about doors, gates or escape risks
• Trying to organise emergency information
• Moving home
• Leaving your pet with a friend or relative

This is a practical preparation service based on my experience in professional pet care since 2011.

It is not a veterinary examination, behaviour consultation, dog-training lesson or professional security survey.

Contact Del about a readiness visit

View current prices

Pet and Home Readiness Visit at a glance

Service detail	Information
Standard visit	Up to 60 minutes in your home
Standard price	£75 per household
Written follow-up	Personalised checklist included
Emergency information sheet	Blank template included
Personalised emergency pack	Optional add-on for £25
Additional time	30 minutes for £25
Pets included	All pets in the same household
Suitable for	Puppies, rescue pets, senior animals, multi-pet homes and holiday preparation
Main areas	Finchley, Muswell Hill and selected nearby areas
First step	Complete a short pre-visit information form
Professional inspection?	No. This is a practical pet-care review

The £75 charge is per household rather than per pet.

A household with several pets or a particularly involved routine may need additional booked time.

What is a Pet and Home Readiness Visit?

A readiness visit is a structured conversation and practical walk-through of the areas of your home that affect your pet’s daily care.

We look at the arrangements you already have and consider questions such as:

• Is the normal routine written down clearly?
• Could somebody unfamiliar with the home follow it?
• Are food, medication and equipment easy to identify?
• Are doors and gates managed safely?
• Is there a realistic plan if you are delayed?
• Can a pet carrier be reached quickly?
• Does the emergency contact know what may be expected of them?
• Are veterinary details available?
• Are there obvious escape opportunities?
• Does a sitter know about cameras, alarms and other people entering?
• Are several pets’ routines clearly separated?
• Would a change in eating, drinking or behaviour be noticed?

I do not attempt to inspect every corner of your property.

We concentrate on the rooms, routines and practical concerns relevant to your pets and the reason you requested the visit.

What is included?

The standard £75 service includes:

• A short pre-visit information form
• Up to 60 minutes in your home
• A discussion of your pets and normal routine
• A practical walk-through of relevant areas
• Discussion of doors, gates and escape risks
• Discussion of access and key arrangements
• Emergency-planning guidance
• A review of food, medication and equipment organisation
• A personalised written checklist
• Clear priorities for anything needing attention
• A blank Pet Emergency Information Sheet
• Links to appropriate welfare information
• Suggestions for specialist help where something falls outside my role

The written checklist is intended to help you act on the visit rather than trying to remember every part of the conversation afterwards.

Who is this service for?

You do not need to have a serious problem before requesting a readiness visit.

It may help if:

• You are preparing for a new puppy
• You have recently adopted a rescue dog
• You are using a professional pet sitter for the first time
• A friend or relative will care for your pet
• Your pet is getting older
• Your pet has started medication
• You have recently moved
• A new baby or family member is arriving
• You have several pets with different routines
• Your dog has rushed through a door or escaped previously
• Your cat has begun trying to get outside
• You are unsure whether your holiday instructions are clear
• Your emergency contact details are out of date
• Nobody else knows where important pet information is kept
• You want a practical second pair of eyes

The service can also help you organise information for a future emergency even when no holiday or immediate change is planned.

Preparing for a puppy

A puppy explores the world using their mouth, paws and curiosity.

Items that seemed harmless before the puppy arrived can suddenly become accessible.

During a readiness visit, we may discuss:

• Food and water locations
• Toilet areas
• Sleeping arrangements
• A quiet resting space
• Electrical cables
• Cleaning products
• Medicines
• Houseplants
• Bins
• Small objects
• Stair access
• Doors and gates
• Garden fencing
• Compost
• Puppy-safe toys
• Lead and harness storage
• Feeding and toilet schedules
• Veterinary details
• Plans for short periods alone
• Future puppy visits

The visit is not a puppy-training lesson.

It helps you organise the home and routine so that everyday care is easier to manage.

Blue Cross recommends preparing and puppy-proofing the home and garden before the puppy arrives, including securing wires, food, medicines, cleaning products, fencing and potentially harmful garden items.

Read Blue Cross advice on puppy-proofing your home and garden

You may also find these services useful:

Puppy Visits in Finchley

Bringing a Puppy Home: The Complete Guide

Preparing for a rescue dog

A rescue dog may behave differently in a home than they did in kennels or foster care.

They may need time to:

• Rest
• Observe
• Learn where things are
• Understand new sounds
• Become familiar with the people in the household
• Learn the new routine
• Develop trust
• Feel safe enough to sleep properly

During the visit, we may discuss:

• Where your dog will rest
• Creating a quiet space
• Feeding areas
• Safe entry and exit routines
• Front-door management
• Garden security
• Leads, harnesses and identification
• The first walks
• Visitors
• Deliveries
• Children and dogs
• Introductions to other pets
• Escape risks
• Safe boundaries
• What to do if your dog hides or shuts down
• What to do if unexpected behaviour appears
• When to speak to your vet or a behaviour professional

Dogs Trust recommends preparing a safe area, checking the home for hazards, avoiding forced interaction and allowing a newly adopted dog to settle at their own pace.

Read Dogs Trust guidance on helping a rescue dog settle

The readiness visit does not replace post-adoption support from the rescue organisation, your vet or an appropriately qualified behaviour professional.

Explore my Rescue Dog Help and Advice Hub

Preparing to use a pet sitter

A pet sitter needs more than a key and a message saying that everything is straightforward.

Clear instructions should cover:

• Feeding
• Fresh water
• Walks
• Toileting
• Litter trays
• Medication
• Sleeping arrangements
• Behaviour
• Handling
• Doors and gates
• Escape risks
• Cameras
• Alarms
• Veterinary information
• Emergency contacts
• Other people entering
• Household tasks
• Your return arrangements

During the readiness visit, we can look at whether:

• The instructions are understandable
• Supplies are easy to find
• Medication is clearly labelled
• Keys have been tested
• The pet carrier is accessible
• Leads and harnesses are safe
• The sitter can secure doors and gates
• Emergency contacts are realistic
• Your pet’s normal behaviour is explained
• There is a plan if your return is delayed

This does not replace the meet-and-greet required by the person providing the care.

It helps you prepare before that meeting and makes it easier to give the sitter useful information.

Read the Homeowner’s Pet-Sitter Checklist

Read the Finchley Dog Walker Welcome Pack

Front doors and escape risks

Many escapes happen during ordinary moments.

A dog or cat may slip out when:

• A parcel arrives
• A child opens the door
• A visitor enters
• Shopping is carried inside
• A tradesperson leaves a gate open
• The sitter is attaching a lead
• Several people arrive together
• The household routine changes

During the visit, we may discuss:

• Where your pet should be when the door opens
• Whether a second barrier would help
• Baby gates
• Internal doors
• Secure lead attachment
• Instructions for deliveries
• Visitor routines
• Warning signs
• Outdoor gates
• Side access
• Shared entrances
• Cat-flap arrangements
• What to do if an escape occurs

I do not test whether your pet will attempt to escape.

I make practical observations based on the information you provide and the areas you have asked me to review.

No visit can guarantee that an animal will never get out.

Owners and carers must continue to manage doors, gates and animals carefully.

Garden and outdoor access

A garden may look enclosed without being secure for the individual pet.

Potential concerns can include:

• Gaps beneath fencing
• Loose panels
• Low boundaries
• Climbable objects
• Open side gates
• Damaged catches
• Shared access
• Holes behind plants
• Compost
• Chemicals
• Tools
• Toxic plants
• Uncovered water
• Building materials
• Areas where a pet cannot be seen

I carry out a basic visual discussion of agreed areas.

I do not:

• Test fencing strength
• Climb structures
• Move heavy objects
• Certify a garden as escape-proof
• Identify every toxic plant
• Provide a professional security or structural inspection

Where fencing, locks, gates, landscaping or building work may be required, you should use an appropriately qualified professional.

Preparing for a senior pet

Older pets often have routines that become gradually more involved.

They may need:

• More frequent toilet opportunities
• Several water stations
• Lower-sided litter trays
• Medication
• Easier access to food
• Non-slip surfaces
• Shorter walks
• Help with steps
• A warmer resting area
• Better lighting
• More detailed emergency instructions

During the readiness visit, we may discuss:

• Mobility
• Sleeping
• Feeding
• Drinking
• Toileting
• Medication
• Pain-related behaviour
• Confusion
• Hearing or sight changes
• Access to furniture
• Safe routes through the home
• Emergency transport
• Veterinary instructions
• What carers should report

The visit does not assess or diagnose your pet’s health.

New or significant changes should be discussed with your veterinary practice.

Read the Dog Health and First Aid Hub

Medication organisation

Medication instructions should be easy for another person to follow.

Consider recording:

• The pet’s name
• Medication name
• Prescribed dose
• Administration time
• How it is normally given
• Storage requirements
• Expiry dates
• Known side effects
• What to do if a dose is refused
• What to do if the pet vomits
• Whether a tablet can be crushed
• The veterinary practice
• The prescribing veterinary surgeon
• Whether additional supplies are available

Medication should remain clearly labelled and preferably in its original packaging.

Do not rely only on verbal instructions given while you are rushing to leave.

I do not:

• Diagnose conditions
• Alter prescribed doses
• Recommend unprescribed medication
• Decide whether a missed dose should be repeated
• Assess whether medication remains clinically appropriate
• Provide veterinary treatment

Questions about medication must be directed to your veterinary practice.

Multi-pet households

Several pets may have very different needs.

A household might include:

• Dogs who must be walked separately
• Cats on different diets
• A rabbit needing medication
• Pets who cannot share feeding areas
• Animals who must remain in separate rooms
• Several litter trays
• Several enclosures
• Different veterinary practices
• Different emergency arrangements

During the visit, we may consider whether:

• Food is clearly labelled
• Each pet can be identified
• Medication cannot be confused
• Feeding areas are explained
• Doors between animals are managed
• Carriers are available
• Individual normal behaviour is recorded
• The carer can complete the routine within the booked time

Photographs can be helpful where pets look similar or where a friend or emergency carer may not know them well.

Organising veterinary and emergency information

Your emergency information should be available even if your phone cannot be reached.

Consider including:

• Your normal veterinary practice
• Out-of-hours veterinary details
• Pet-insurance information
• Relevant medical history
• Medication
• Microchip information
• Your contact details
• A local emergency contact
• Permission regarding veterinary treatment
• Payment arrangements
• Carrier locations
• Where leads and harnesses are stored
• A recent photograph of each pet
• What should happen if your return is delayed
• Who can enter the home
• Where spare keys are kept

The RSPCA provides an emergency pet-care form for recording who can help and important information about the animals in the home.

View the RSPCA emergency pet-care form

The readiness visit includes a blank Pet Emergency Information Sheet.

I can also prepare an optional personalised emergency information pack using the information you provide.

Choosing an emergency contact

Your emergency contact should ideally:

• Live locally
• Not be travelling with you
• Know your pets
• Understand their routine
• Be able to reach the property
• Be comfortable making practical decisions
• Know where a spare key is kept
• Be willing to help

Please ask for their permission before giving somebody their personal information or naming them as your emergency contact.

An emergency contact who is abroad with you or unable to enter the property is unlikely to provide useful practical support.

Carriers and emergency transport

Carriers should not be buried behind boxes in a loft, locked shed or inaccessible cupboard.

Consider:

• Whether every cat or small pet has a suitable carrier
• Whether the carrier closes securely
• Whether it is the correct size
• Whether a nervous animal can be placed inside
• Whether the carer knows where it is
• Whether a towel or bedding is available
• Whether transport is realistically available
• Whether several pets require separate carriers

Cats Protection recommends knowing where the carrier is and keeping it ready for use so a cat can be taken to a vet without unnecessary delay.

Read Cats Protection cat first-aid guidance

I do not provide emergency pet transport as part of the readiness visit.

We can discuss the plan you would want a future carer to follow.

Keys, alarms and access

A care plan is not useful if the carer cannot enter the property.

Before travelling or handing over care, confirm that:

• The key opens the correct door
• It has been tested from outside
• A key-safe code is accurate
• The key fits inside the safe
• Smart locks are working
• Alarm instructions are clear
• Gate keys are labelled
• Shared-entrance arrangements are understood
• Backup access is available
• Other people entering the home are identified

Do not assume that an old spare key still works.

Locks may have been changed, doors may have shifted and copied keys may not function properly.

The readiness visit is not a locksmith or alarm inspection.

I can help you identify what a carer needs to know and suggest that uncertain equipment is tested by the appropriate person.

Cameras and recording equipment

All cameras and audio-recording devices should be disclosed to a professional sitter before care begins.

This includes:

• Video doorbells
• Outdoor security cameras
• Indoor pet cameras
• Baby monitors
• Smart displays
• Audio-recording systems
• Remotely controlled cameras

During a readiness visit, we can discuss whether:

• Every device is documented
• The sitter knows where it is
• Audio recording is active
• The camera can move remotely
• Anybody else can view it
• Private areas are free from recording
• The camera is genuinely useful to the care arrangement

A readiness visit is not a CCTV, data-protection or surveillance-system inspection.

Read my Policies and Professional Standards

Household fire and evacuation preparation

Pet owners should think about what another person would need to know during an emergency.

This may include:

• The number and type of animals
• Likely hiding places
• Carrier locations
• Accessible leads
• Who can help
• Emergency contact details
• Where animals normally sleep
• Which rooms they can access
• Whether cages or enclosures can be moved safely

I do not provide:

• A professional fire-risk assessment
• A building evacuation assessment
• Fire-safety certification
• Emergency-services planning
• Advice to enter an unsafe building
• A guarantee that animals can be rescued during an emergency

Always follow instructions from the emergency services.

Never put yourself or another person at risk by attempting to enter or remain in an unsafe property.

Preparing for an unexpected delay

Travel problems, illness and other events may prevent you returning when expected.

Prepare by leaving:

• Additional food
• Additional medication
• Spare litter
• Extra hay or bedding
• Updated contact information
• Instructions for extending the care
• A local backup person
• Veterinary payment arrangements
• Enough essential supplies for several extra days

Your pet sitter may already have another confirmed booking and may not be able to extend the service automatically.

A written backup plan reduces the need to make every decision during an already stressful situation.

What happens before, during and after the visit?

Before the appointment

I will ask you to complete a short information form.

This helps me understand:

• Which pets live in the home
• Why you requested the visit
• Whether a new pet is arriving
• Whether you are preparing to travel
• Any areas that concern you
• Relevant medical information
• Relevant behavioural information
• Whether you need an emergency-information pack

The form helps us use the appointment time efficiently.

During the appointment

We walk through the relevant parts of the home and discuss the routine.

I may:

• Ask questions
• Look at access arrangements
• Discuss escape risks
• Review where food and medication are stored
• Ask about emergency contacts
• Look at carriers and walking equipment
• Discuss future pet-care arrangements
• Make notes for the written checklist

Your pet can be present where this is safe and comfortable for them.

I will not deliberately provoke behaviour, test an escape route or carry out an invasive examination.

After the appointment

You receive a personalised written checklist divided into:

• Priority actions
• Useful improvements
• Points to keep under review

It may also contain links to:

• Veterinary guidance
• Animal-welfare organisations
• Behaviour or training registers
• Government information
• Relevant Finchley Dog Walker guides
• Appropriate specialist services

The checklist reflects the information and visible arrangements available during the appointment.

It is not a professional certification that your home or care arrangements are free from risk.

Personalised emergency information pack

An optional personalised emergency information pack costs £25.

I prepare the pack using the details you provide.

It may include:

• Household contact details
• Pet names and descriptions
• Feeding information
• Medication
• Veterinary details
• Emergency contacts
• Carrier locations
• Access information
• Key care instructions
• A simple emergency summary

You remain responsible for:

• Checking the information
• Correcting mistakes
• Keeping it updated
• Storing it securely
• Providing revised details when circumstances change

The pack does not replace veterinary records, legal documents, insurance documents or detailed instructions for a professional carer.

Price

Standard Pet and Home Readiness Visit: £75

The standard service includes:

• A short pre-visit information form
• Up to 60 minutes in your home
• A practical review
• A personalised written checklist
• A blank Pet Emergency Information Sheet
• Relevant resource links

The charge is per household rather than per pet.

Personalised emergency information pack: £25

This is an optional add-on prepared from the information you provide.

Additional 30 minutes: £25

Additional time may be suitable where you have:

• Several pets
• Different medication routines
• A larger property
• More complicated access
• Several enclosures
• A long list of concerns
• More involved emergency arrangements

Where I believe additional time is necessary, this will be discussed before the appointment.

View all Finchley Dog Walker prices

What the service does not include

The Pet and Home Readiness Visit is not:

• A veterinary examination
• A health diagnosis
• A behaviour consultation
• A dog-training session
• A professional security survey
• A CCTV or alarm inspection
• A locksmith service
• A fire-risk assessment
• A building survey
• An electrical or gas inspection
• A garden or fencing certification
• A legal-compliance inspection
• A formal risk assessment
• An insurance inspection
• An emergency-response service
• A guarantee that a pet cannot escape
• A guarantee that an accident cannot happen

I will only make visual observations in the areas you have asked me to review.

I will not:

• Move heavy furniture
• Climb ladders
• Test electrical equipment
• Dismantle fittings
• Handle hazardous substances
• Enter unsafe areas
• Certify locks, fences or structures

Where specialist advice is required, I will explain the limitation and suggest the type of professional you should contact.

Why book the visit with me?

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

Much of my work involves:

• Rescue dogs
• Nervous pets
• Senior animals
• Multi-pet households
• Medication routines
• House sitting
• Cat and small-animal care
• Working in clients’ homes
• Handling keys and personal information
• Preparing for unexpected changes

I am:

• Fully insured
• Enhanced DBS checked through my Scouting role
• Qualified in Ofqual Level 3 Canine First Aid
• Experienced with rescue, nervous and sensitive dogs
• Used to following detailed household routines
• Focused on calm, one-to-one care

My Scouting experience has also reinforced the value of:

• Planning
• Accurate information
• Clear responsibilities
• Practical risk awareness
• Emergency contacts
• Backup arrangements

Before establishing Finchley Dog Walker, I worked for many years in a private investigation and security office.

That experience does not make this a professional security inspection.

It does mean I understand why access instructions, confidentiality, accurate information and dependable procedures matter.

Read more about Del

Areas covered

Pet and Home Readiness Visits are mainly available in:

• North Finchley, N12
• Finchley Central, N3
• East Finchley, N2
• Muswell Hill, N10
• Selected nearby parts of Finchley and North London

Visits outside my usual area may be considered depending on:

• Travel time
• Existing bookings
• The purpose of the appointment
• The amount of additional time required

Please include your postcode when enquiring.

Check the Finchley Dog Walker service area

Frequently asked questions

How much does the readiness visit cost?

The standard visit costs £75 per household.

It includes the pre-visit form, up to 60 minutes in your home, a personalised written checklist and a blank Pet Emergency Information Sheet.

Is the price per pet?

No.

The £75 charge is per household.

Additional time may be required where several pets have different or complicated routines.

How long does the appointment last?

The standard appointment lasts up to 60 minutes.

An additional 30 minutes costs £25.

Is this a pet-sitting booking?

No.

The readiness visit helps you prepare your home and pet-care information.

Pet visits, cat sitting and house sitting are separate services.

Do I have to use Finchley Dog Walker afterwards?

No.

The visit can help you prepare for care from Finchley Dog Walker, another professional, a friend or a relative.

Is this a security survey?

No.

I may discuss practical access, doors, gates, keys and visible escape risks, but I do not provide professional security assessments or certifications.

Is this a risk assessment?

No.

It is a practical pet-care review based on visible arrangements and the information you provide.

It is not a formal workplace, fire, insurance, security or legal risk assessment.

Can you tell me whether my garden is completely secure?

No.

I can discuss visible concerns, but I cannot certify that a garden is escape-proof.

Animals may climb, dig, squeeze through small spaces or behave unexpectedly.

Is this a dog-training session?

No.

I may discuss practical routines, but I do not provide formal training or behavioural diagnosis as part of this service.

Can you assess my rescue dog’s behaviour?

No.

I can discuss preparation, management and everyday routines based on the information available.

Behavioural concerns may require your vet and an appropriately qualified behaviour professional.

Can you check my pet’s medication?

I can help you organise written medication information.

Only your veterinary practice should confirm whether a medication, dose or treatment remains correct.

Can you prepare my emergency information?

Yes.

A blank emergency information sheet is included.

A personalised pack prepared from the information you provide costs £25.

Will you inspect every room?

No.

We focus on the areas relevant to your pets and the reason for the appointment.

Will you provide a written report?

You receive a personalised practical checklist rather than a professional inspection report.

Can this help before I bring home a puppy?

Yes.

The visit can help you prepare the home, routine, equipment, access and emergency information before the puppy arrives.

Can this help before adopting a rescue dog?

Yes.

We can discuss safe spaces, front-door routines, garden access, equipment, visitors, initial walks and settling-in arrangements.

Can you visit before I go on holiday?

Yes.

The service can help you organise pet-care instructions, keys, supplies, medication, carriers and emergency arrangements.

Do my pets need to be present?

Not necessarily.

They can be present where this is safe and comfortable, but the service does not require them to demonstrate particular behaviours.

How quickly will I receive the checklist?

The expected delivery time will be confirmed before the appointment.

More involved households may require longer to prepare accurately.

Related readiness and pet-care guides

Continue with:

• Finchley Dog Walker Welcome Pack
• Homeowner’s Pet-Sitter Checklist
• Bringing a Puppy Home Guide
• Rescue Dog Help and Advice Hub
• Dog Health and First Aid Hub
• House Sitting and Overnight Pet Care
• Pet Visits and Evening Sitting
• Cat Sitting in Finchley
• Pet Care Add-ons and Holiday Home Help
• Policies and Professional Standards
• Dog and Cat Care Guides Hub

Book a Pet and Home Readiness Visit

The visit may be useful before a new pet arrives, before you travel or simply because your current information and arrangements need updating.

Please send me:

• Your postcode
• The pets living in your home
• Why you would like the visit
• Whether a new pet is arriving
• Whether you are preparing to travel
• Any particular concerns
• Whether you want the optional personalised emergency pack
• Your preferred days and times

I will confirm whether the service is suitable and whether I cover your location.

Contact Del about a readiness visit

WhatsApp: 07707 763344

Email: info@finchleydogwalker.co.uk

View readiness-visit prices

Check current availability

Important information

The Pet and Home Readiness Visit provides practical, general observations based on the areas viewed and the information available during the appointment.

It does not replace advice from a:

• Veterinary surgeon
• Qualified animal behaviourist
• Dog trainer
• Locksmith
• Security professional
• Fire-safety professional
• Building professional
• Electrician
• Gas engineer
• Gardener
• Insurance adviser
• Legal professional

You remain responsible for:

• Your pets
• Your property
• The accuracy of the information you provide
• Decisions made following the visit
• Maintaining equipment and household arrangements
• Obtaining specialist advice where needed
• Updating the written information when circumstances change

No home, garden or pet-care routine can be guaranteed to be entirely free from risk.

Read my Policies and Professional Standards