06/09/2026
HOW WE WORK WITH GROUP BOOKINGS AT HAPPY PAWS 🐾
Something I think is really important for owners to understand is that when I say “fully booked”, it doesn’t necessarily mean I have 5 dogs staying with us (plus our own two).
At Happy Paws, dogs are carefully selected and considered as a group. Not every dog is highly social, and not every dog enjoys being around lots of other dogs — and that’s absolutely okay. ❤️
It can take just one dog to completely change the dynamic of the group and, ultimately, another dog’s boarding experience (and mine!)
So every booking request is thought through carefully. I don’t base decisions solely on what an owner thinks their dog might be like. I use my own experience from meeting and boarding the dog, along with their behaviour, needs and how they have settled with us previously.
🐶 Meet & Greets
During the initial meet & greet, I spend time watching and getting to know your dog individually. This gives me the best opportunity to understand their personality, behaviour and individual needs without adding the pressure of introducing them to a group straight away.
Dogs can then be introduced to our own dogs at another time before their stay if needed. This isn’t essential, as our dogs can be separated at any point during a boarding stay.
I don’t introduce dogs during the initial meet & greet because they may feel overwhelmed by a new environment, and they can also behave differently when their owners are present. Taking introductions slowly helps me make safer, more informed decisions based on how each dog is genuinely responding.
🐾 So how do we introduce dogs for a group booking?
Once the booking is secured, dogs are introduced off lead in our secure paddock, one at a time with multiple people with me.
There is absolutely no “chuck them all in and see what happens!”
I carefully observe body language, interactions and how each dog responds before introducing the next. This gradual approach allows me to prioritise safety, reduce pressure and make sure each dog is comfortable before moving forward.
That doesn’t mean every dog will always get along perfectly. Dogs are individuals, and their welfare comes first. If a combination doesn’t feel right, I will adapt the arrangements, provide separation or decide that group boarding isn’t the best option for that particular dog.
With time, experience, repeat boarders and getting to know the dogs who regularly stay with us, it becomes easier and clearer to understand which combinations work well together.
The priority will always be the dogs’ welfare, comfort and holiday experience — not simply filling spaces. ❤️
That’s why Happy Paws is intentionally kept small, selective and personal.
Because sometimes less really is more. 🐾
