Pet Care Add-ons and Holiday Home Help in Finchley

Practical extras alongside your pet’s normal care

When you go away, your pet may not be the only thing that needs attention.

You might also need somebody to:

• Bring in the post
• Put out or bring back one household bin
• Open or close agreed curtains
• Switch agreed lights on or off
• Water a few plants
• Move a visible delivery indoors
• Prepare your pet’s enrichment
• Carry out a simple visual home check
• Help prepare the pet area before you return

I offer a limited range of practical add-ons alongside:

• Cat-sitting visits
• Dog and puppy visits
• Rabbit and small-animal care
• Evening pet sitting
• House sitting
• Hot-weather comfort visits

Some small tasks can be included within the normal booked visit when they take only a few minutes.

Where additional tasks would reduce the time available for feeding, litter care, medication, companionship or welfare checks, extra time must be booked.

Your pet’s care always comes first.

This is practical holiday help rather than a gardening, domestic cleaning, security, maintenance or property-management service.

Contact Del about pet-care add-ons

View current add-on and home-check prices

Pet-care add-ons at a glance

Service	Current charge
Small agreed task completed within a normal pet visit	Usually included where it takes only a few minutes
Additional time added to a visit	£6 for 15 minutes
Additional time added to a visit	£12 for 30 minutes
Standalone home or container-watering check	£18 for up to 30 minutes
Standalone home or container-watering check	£30 for up to 60 minutes
Hot-weather dog comfort visit	£18 for up to 30 minutes
Hot-weather dog comfort visit	£25 for up to 60 minutes
Pet and Home Readiness Visit	£75 per household

Add-on prices are charged in addition to the main pet-care service where additional booked time is required.

All tasks must be agreed before the booking begins.

What can normally be included in a pet visit?

I do not charge separately for every tiny household task.

The following can normally be included where they take only a few minutes and do not interfere with your pet’s care:

• Bringing in post
• Moving a small visible delivery indoors
• Putting out or bringing back one household bin
• Opening or closing agreed curtains
• Switching agreed lights on or off
• Watering a few suitable indoor plants
• Checking that an agreed appliance appears to have power
• Looking for an obvious visible leak or household problem
• Preparing one simple owner-supplied enrichment item
• Sending an update and photograph

Whether a task fits within the standard visit depends on the complete routine.

For example, bringing in the post may take less than a minute.

Watering twenty-five pots, filling several enrichment toys and moving several bins will require additional booked time.

Your pet’s care remains the priority

The main purpose of a pet visit is to care for your pet.

That may include:

• Feeding
• Fresh water
• Litter-tray care
• Toileting
• Medication
• Basic enclosure care
• Exercise
• Enrichment
• Companionship
• Welfare observations
• Photographs and updates

Household tasks must not reduce the time needed to complete this care properly.

If I arrive and discover that your pet needs additional attention, I will prioritise them over a non-essential household task.

For example, a plant can normally wait if:

• Your cat has vomited
• Your dog has had an accident
• A rabbit’s water bottle is not working
• Medication is taking longer than expected
• A nervous pet needs additional time
• Something about your pet’s behaviour concerns me

I will let you know if an agreed non-essential task could not be completed because your pet needed the available time.

When additional time is needed

Additional time may be booked where the normal visit would not be long enough for both the pet-care routine and the extra tasks.

Additional 15 minutes: £6

Additional 30 minutes: £12

Additional time may be suitable for:

• Watering a larger number of plants
• Watering outdoor pots and containers
• Cleaning several litter trays
• Caring for several enclosures
• Preparing several enrichment toys
• More involved feeding routines
• Different diets for several pets
• Additional companionship
• Return-home preparation
• Several agreed household tasks
• Pets who must be cared for separately
• A longer medication routine

The additional time and total charge will be agreed before the booking begins.

Do not leave a significantly larger list on the day and assume that it can be completed within the original visit.

Indoor plant watering

I may water a reasonable number of indoor plants during a pet-care visit.

Please provide:

• Clear written instructions
• Suitable watering cans
• Easy access to water
• Information about plants that should not be watered
• Approximate quantities where important
• Details of plants in less obvious rooms
• A simple order where several areas are involved

Plant pots should have suitable trays or saucers to reduce the risk of water damage.

Please move delicate or valuable items away from the watering area before you travel.

I will take reasonable care, but I cannot guarantee:

• Plant health
• Flowering
• Growth
• Recovery from an existing problem
• Protection from pests
• The survival of individual plants
• That every plant will respond well to the instructions provided

I do not diagnose or treat plant diseases.

Outdoor pots, hanging baskets and containers

I may be able to water:

• Outdoor pots
• Hanging baskets
• Window boxes
• Patio containers
• Greenhouse containers
• A limited number of raised containers

This depends on:

• The number of containers
• Their location
• The amount of water needed
• Access
• Weather
• Hose availability
• The time required
• My existing bookings

Please provide:

• A working hose or suitable watering cans
• Clear written instructions
• Safe access
• Information about outdoor taps
• Details of containers that should be avoided
• Instructions about greenhouse doors or ventilation
• Photographs where the layout is complicated

A few outdoor pots may fit into additional visit time.

A larger container-watering routine may need a standalone 30 or 60-minute booking.

I do not provide:

• Lawn watering
• General border watering
• Garden maintenance
• Weeding
• Mowing
• Pruning
• Plant feeding or treatment
• Pest control
• Use of ladders
• Heavy lifting
• Use of unfamiliar garden machinery

Garden and container-watering prices

Where watering is added to an existing pet-care booking:

• Additional 15 minutes: £6
• Additional 30 minutes: £12

Where no pet-care visit is required:

• Standalone visit of up to 30 minutes: £18
• Standalone visit of up to 60 minutes: £30

A particularly large or complicated container-watering routine must be discussed individually.

Photographs or a short video may be requested before I confirm that the work fits within the proposed time.

Standalone holiday home checks

You do not necessarily need to have a pet to request a basic holiday home check.

Subject to location and availability, a standalone visit may include:

• Bringing in post
• Moving a visible delivery indoors
• Putting out or bringing back one household bin
• Opening or closing agreed curtains
• Switching agreed lights on or off
• Checking that accessible doors and windows appear closed
• Looking for an obvious visible leak
• Looking for visible water damage
• Checking whether a fridge or freezer appears to have power
• Watering agreed plants
• Sending a photograph and update

Up to 30 minutes: £18

Up to 60 minutes: £30

This is a simple visual check.

It is not a professional security inspection, property survey, inventory service or guarantee that your home is secure and undamaged.

What a visual home check means

A visual check means looking at the agreed accessible areas for something obviously unusual.

Examples might include:

• Water visible on a floor
• An accessible window standing open
• A freezer display with no visible power
• A parcel left outside
• A fallen curtain rail
• A door that does not appear to have closed properly
• Obvious storm damage visible from a safe location

I do not:

• Move furniture
• Enter lofts or crawl spaces
• Test electrical systems
• Test plumbing systems
• Check roofs
• Climb ladders
• Enter unsafe areas
• Inspect every room unless agreed
• Certify locks, windows or alarms
• Diagnose the cause of a problem
• Carry out repairs

If I notice an obvious concern, I will contact you or your nominated emergency contact.

Preparing your home before travelling

A home check does not replace properly securing your property before you leave.

Before travelling, you remain responsible for:

• Locking doors and windows
• Testing keys
• Setting alarms
• Securing side gates
• Putting valuables out of sight
• Checking appliances
• Arranging appropriate insurance
• Cancelling unnecessary deliveries
• Giving accurate instructions
• Providing a suitable local emergency contact

Police guidance recommends following a consistent lock-up routine, securing doors, windows, side gates and outbuildings, and considering timed lighting or help from a trusted neighbour while away.

Read the Metropolitan Police checklist for securing your home while away

My visits provide an additional practical check. They do not replace your own security arrangements, alarm company, trusted neighbour or professional property-management service.

Post and deliveries

I can normally bring in ordinary post during an existing visit.

I may also move a small visible delivery indoors where:

• It is accessible
• It can be lifted safely
• It does not require identification or a signature
• It can be stored in an agreed location
• Doing so does not create a risk to your pet or the property

I do not provide:

• Parcel collection from another address
• Collection from a depot or shop
• Acceptance of large deliveries
• Heavy lifting
• Assembly
• Returns
• Management of damaged goods
• Storage of unusually valuable deliveries

Please avoid arranging large or complicated deliveries during your holiday unless another responsible person is available to manage them.

Bins

I can usually put out or bring back one normal household bin where:

• The collection day is clearly stated
• The bin is accessible
• The route is safe
• No heavy lifting is required
• The task has been agreed in advance

Please explain:

• Which bin is involved
• Where it is stored
• Where it should be left
• The correct collection day
• Whether the collection changes during a bank holiday

I do not clear garden waste, building waste or unusually heavy bins.

Curtains and lights

I may open or close agreed curtains and switch specific lights on or off.

Please identify:

• The exact rooms
• The correct curtains or blinds
• Any delicate mechanisms
• The light switches involved
• The required times
• Anything that should not be touched

I do not programme or repair timers, smart-home equipment, automated blinds or alarm-linked lighting systems.

These should be tested before you travel.

Simple appliance observations

Where agreed, I may check whether a fridge or freezer appears to have power.

This may involve checking:

• Whether an internal light works
• Whether a visible display is illuminated
• Whether an obvious alarm is sounding
• Whether there is visible water nearby

This is not an electrical or appliance inspection.

I do not:

• Dismantle equipment
• Test sockets
• Move heavy appliances
• Diagnose faults
• Handle exposed electrical parts
• Guarantee food safety
• Arrange repairs unless separately agreed with your emergency contact

If something appears wrong, I will contact you or your nominated person.

Return-home preparation

A little preparation before you return can make the end of your journey easier.

Where time has been booked, this may include:

• Refreshing water bowls
• Completing the final feed
• Cleaning the pet-feeding area
• Removing litter waste
• Spot-cleaning an enclosure
• Bringing in post
• Bringing back an agreed bin
• Opening agreed curtains
• Leaving an agreed light on
• Moving an arranged pet-food delivery indoors
• Completing a final visual check
• Making sure the pet-care supplies used during the visit are left tidily

Additional 15 minutes: £6

Additional 30 minutes: £12

This is light return-home preparation.

It is not a domestic cleaning or housekeeping service.

Enrichment preparation

Simple enrichment can often be included within a normal pet-care visit.

Depending on the animal and the items you provide, I may:

• Fill an owner-supplied Kong
• Prepare a LickiMat
• Set up a snuffle mat
• Create a short treat trail
• Scatter part of a meal
• Hide treats for a supervised search
• Rotate suitable toys
• Prepare a simple cardboard search activity
• Offer familiar cat play
• Prepare species-appropriate small-animal enrichment

You must provide:

• Suitable food or treats
• The enrichment equipment
• Clear instructions
• Information about allergies
• Dietary restrictions
• Information about guarding
• Cleaning materials where required

I will not leave an item unsupervised where I consider it unsafe.

Additional time may be needed where several items must be prepared, cleaned or stored.

Read the Dog Enrichment and Mental Stimulation Guide

Hot-weather dog comfort visits

There are days when completing a normal walk would not be the safest choice.

A hot-weather comfort visit may include:

• A brief toilet opportunity where safe
• Fresh drinking water
• Calm indoor enrichment
• A simple scent game
• A treat search
• Preparing an owner-supplied Kong or LickiMat
• Feeding
• Agreed medication
• Closing agreed curtains to reduce direct sunlight
• Quiet companionship
• A general comfort observation
• A photograph and update

Up to 30 minutes: £18

Up to 60 minutes: £25

Where a comfort visit replaces a regularly booked walk, the normal booked walk price applies.

A comfort visit is not intended to exhaust your dog through strenuous indoor exercise.

The focus is:

• Toileting
• Hydration
• Calm mental activity
• Rest
• General comfort
• Avoiding unsafe outdoor exercise

The Met Office advises ensuring pets have fresh water, ventilation and shade, and avoiding dog exercise during the hottest part of the day. The Royal Veterinary College also identifies excessive exercise in warm conditions as an important cause of heat-related illness.

Read the Met Office’s hot-weather pet guidance

Read the Royal Veterinary College’s heatstroke guidance

Read my Extreme Weather Policy

What happens if a pet appears unwell during a comfort visit?

A comfort visit is not a veterinary examination.

However, I will pay attention to obvious changes such as:

• Unusually heavy panting
• Distressed or noisy breathing
• Excessive drooling
• Restlessness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Collapse
• A significant change from normal behaviour

If I am concerned, I will:

1. Stop any activity.
2. Move the pet to a cooler, safer area where possible.
3. Begin appropriate immediate cooling where indicated.
4. Contact you where reasonably possible.
5. Contact your veterinary practice or emergency provider.
6. Follow the emergency plan provided.

Heatstroke can become life-threatening quickly.

A pet showing concerning signs needs veterinary advice rather than a longer enrichment session.

Pet care for several animals

I do not automatically add a separate fee for every pet.

The question is whether the full routine can be completed properly within the booked time.

Additional time may be needed where there are:

• Several feeding areas
• Different diets
• Multiple litter trays
• Several enclosures
• Pets who must remain separated
• Several medication routines
• More involved cleaning
• Different species
• Additional companionship requirements
• A long household-task list

I will discuss the likely time before accepting the booking.

Read about Cat Sitting in Finchley

Read about Small Animal Care in Finchley

Add-ons during house sitting

Simple household tasks may also be included during a house-sitting booking where they are reasonable and agreed.

These may include:

• Bringing in post
• Managing one household bin
• Opening or closing agreed curtains
• Switching agreed lights on or off
• Watering a reasonable number of suitable plants
• Moving a small delivery indoors
• Completing a simple visual check

House sitting is still primarily a pet-care service.

A large watering routine, domestic work, repeated delivery management or extensive household duties may require extra time or may fall outside the service entirely.

Read about House Sitting and Overnight Pet Care

Keys and access

Reliable access is essential for add-on and standalone visits.

Before travelling, please confirm that:

• The key opens the correct door
• It has been tested from outside
• Alarm instructions are accurate
• Key-safe details are correct
• Smart locks are working
• Side gates can be opened safely
• Outdoor taps are accessible
• I know about other people entering
• A backup access plan exists where appropriate

Do not leave an untested key immediately before travelling.

I cannot complete a home or watering check if I cannot enter the property safely.

A failed-access visit may still be chargeable where incorrect keys, codes or instructions caused the problem.

Other people entering the property

Please tell me if any of the following may enter while you are away:

• Family members
• Neighbours
• Cleaners
• Gardeners
• Tradespeople
• Delivery drivers
• Another pet sitter
• A property manager
• A landlord or agent

Shared responsibility can create confusion.

I need to know:

• Who is expected
• When they may arrive
• Which tasks they are completing
• Whether they have keys
• Whether they may move pet-care supplies
• Whether they may alter doors, windows, alarms or gates

I cannot take responsibility for the conduct, security or actions of other people entering the property.

Cameras and recording equipment

Please disclose all active cameras and recording devices before the booking begins.

This includes:

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

Please tell me:

• Where each device is located
• Whether it records audio
• Whether it stores footage
• Whether it can be watched live
• Who has access
• Whether it can move remotely

Secret recording damages trust and may result in a booking being declined or ended.

Read the Finchley Dog Walker Welcome Pack

What I do not provide

To keep this service practical, safe and within its intended scope, I do not provide:

• Domestic cleaning
• Laundry
• Bed changing
• General gardening
• Lawn mowing
• Hedge cutting
• Pruning
• Plant diagnosis or treatment
• Pest control
• Work involving ladders
• Heavy lifting
• Building maintenance
• Plumbing
• Electrical work
• Security patrols
• Professional property inspections
• Alarm maintenance
• Locksmith services
• Management of tradespeople
• Shopping trips
• Pet transport
• Collection of large parcels
• Removal of household or garden waste
• Use of unfamiliar garden machinery
• Guaranteed plant care
• Guaranteed crime prevention
• An emergency call-out or repair service

If I notice an obvious concern, I will contact you or your nominated emergency person.

I will not enter an area or attempt a task that I consider unsafe.

Pet and Home Readiness Visits

Pet-care add-ons help with small practical tasks during an existing booking.

A Pet and Home Readiness Visit has a different purpose.

The £75 readiness service may be useful where you want help before travelling or before bringing home a new pet.

It includes:

• A pre-visit information form
• Up to 60 minutes in your home
• A practical review of pet routines
• Discussion of keys and access
• Discussion of escape risks
• Emergency-planning guidance
• A personalised written checklist
• A blank Pet Emergency Information Sheet

Read about the Pet and Home Readiness Visit

Areas covered

Pet-care add-ons are mainly available alongside existing bookings in:

• North Finchley, N12
• Finchley Central, N3
• East Finchley, N2
• Muswell Hill, N10
• Selected nearby areas

Standalone home or container-watering checks depend on:

• Your postcode
• Travel time
• The dates
• The time required
• Access
• My existing local route

Add-ons in Whetstone, Highgate and other wider areas are normally considered where they form part of an existing house-sitting or pet-care booking.

Check the Finchley Dog Walker service area

How to request an add-on

Please tell me:

• Your postcode
• The main service you are booking
• Your dates
• The additional tasks required
• Approximately how many plants, pots, litter trays or enclosures are involved
• Whether the task is needed once or during every visit
• How long you think the extra work may take
• Whether outdoor access is involved
• Whether anyone else will enter the home
• Any deadlines such as bin-collection days
• Whether a standalone visit is required

Photographs or a short video can help where there are numerous plants, several outdoor areas or a more complicated routine.

I will confirm:

• What is included
• The booked time
• The price
• Any limits
• What equipment you must provide

before the service begins.

Frequently asked questions

Are small household tasks included in a normal pet visit?

Some short tasks can be included where they take only a few minutes and do not reduce the time available for your pet.

Longer tasks require additional booked time.

How much does additional time cost?

An extra 15 minutes costs £6.

An extra 30 minutes costs £12.

Can you water my plants?

Yes, subject to the number of plants, access, instructions and time required.

A few indoor plants may fit within a normal pet visit. A larger routine may require additional time or a standalone booking.

Can you water outdoor plants?

I may water outdoor pots, hanging baskets and containers where safe access, suitable equipment and enough booked time are available.

I do not provide general gardening, lawn care or large-scale garden maintenance.

Can you water plants if I do not have a pet?

Possibly.

Standalone home or container-watering visits cost £18 for up to 30 minutes or £30 for up to 60 minutes, subject to location and availability.

Can you put my bins out?

One normal household bin can usually be managed where the task, date and location have been agreed.

Can you bring in parcels?

I may move a small visible delivery indoors where it can be lifted and stored safely.

I do not manage large deliveries, returns or collections.

Can you check that my home is secure?

I can carry out a simple visual check of agreed accessible areas.

This is not a security inspection, patrol or guarantee that the property is secure.

Will you check my fridge or freezer?

I will check whether an appliance appears to have power.

I do not diagnose faults, guarantee food safety or provide electrical repairs.

Can you switch lights on and off?

Yes, where the exact lights and times have been agreed.

I do not install or repair timers or smart-home equipment.

Can you clean the house before I return?

No.

Light pet-area and return-home preparation may be booked, but I do not provide domestic cleaning.

Can you prepare enrichment for my dog?

Yes, using suitable items and food supplied by you.

Please disclose allergies, guarding and dietary restrictions.

What is a hot-weather comfort visit?

It is a calm alternative to a normal walk when outdoor exercise would be unsafe.

It may include toileting, water, indoor enrichment, companionship and a general comfort check.

Does a hot-weather visit cost extra when it replaces a booked walk?

Where it replaces a regular booked walk, the normal booked-walk price applies.

Can you carry out repairs if you find a problem?

No.

I will contact you or your emergency person if I notice an obvious concern.

Can another person enter while you are visiting?

Yes, but I need to know who may enter and what they are responsible for.

I cannot take responsibility for their actions.

Do I need a meet-and-greet?

A meet-and-greet or access meeting may be required depending on the service, property, tasks and whether I already care for your pets.

Related pet-care and holiday-planning guides

Continue with:

• Pet Visits and Evening Sitting in Finchley
• House Sitting and Overnight Pet Care
• Cat Sitting in Finchley
• Small Animal Care in Finchley
• Pet and Home Readiness Visit
• Homeowner’s Pet-Sitter Checklist
• Finchley Dog Walker Welcome Pack
• Extreme Weather Policy
• Summer Dog Safety Guide
• Hot Weather Dog Kit
• How Weather Affects Dog Walks
• Dog Enrichment and Mental Stimulation Guide
• Dog and Cat Care Guides Hub

Need a practical helping hand while you are away?

Tell me:

• Your postcode
• Your dates
• The main pet-care service you need
• The additional tasks involved
• How many plants, containers, pets or enclosures there are
• Whether the task is needed once or repeatedly
• Whether you need a standalone visit
• Any access or timing requirements

I will confirm what can reasonably be included, how much time is required and the price before the booking begins.

Contact Del about pet-care add-ons

WhatsApp: 07707 763344

Email: info@finchleydogwalker.co.uk

View current prices

Check current availability

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Important information

Pet-care add-ons and home checks are provided on a reasonable-care basis.

They are not professional:

• Gardening
• Cleaning
• Security
• Property-management
• Building-maintenance
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Appliance-repair
• Plant-care
• Emergency-response services

You remain responsible for:

• Securing your home before travelling
• Maintaining suitable insurance
• Providing working keys and equipment
• Supplying accurate written instructions
• Arranging an appropriate emergency contact
• Ensuring plants and containers are safely accessible
• Keeping potentially hazardous areas unavailable
• Obtaining professional help where needed

Plant care is affected by species, condition, weather, light, soil, pests and other factors outside my control. I cannot guarantee the health or survival of individual plants.

A simple home check cannot guarantee that a fault, leak, crime or property problem will be identified or prevented.

I will not enter an unsafe area or carry out work outside the agreed service.

All bookings are subject to location, availability, safe access, clear instructions, sufficient booked time and the scope of my insurance.

Read my Policies and Professional Standards