I'm Julie, and I run Hair and the Hound — licensed home boarding, daycare and dog walking in Rotherham (Rotherham MBC, 4-star rated). I've worked as a professional dog groomer for years, and caring for animals is genuinely my full-time role — my husband works from home too, so there's always help on hand and a guest dog is almost never left completely alone.

Boarding and daycare: I take up to 4 dogs at a time, always in our family home, never a kennel. I can administer medication if your dog needs it, and I offer grooming (though not training) — many boarding dogs get a groom during their stay and go home looking as good as they feel. Dogs are never left alone for more than 3 hours during a boarding stay, or more than an hour during daycare — in practice they're rarely left completely alone at all, since someone's nearly always home. Each dog gets one proper exercise walk a day, plus morning and evening toilet walks on top. Guest pets settle wherever they're comfortable, and dogs can be kept separate and given their own space whenever they need it — crates are available too, for any dog that's used to one.

Walking: walks run up to an hour, depending on the dog's fitness. Energetic dogs get fetch and games; food-motivated ones get a good snuffle for treats. I try to give every dog some time off the lead to make the most of the walk, but that's always judged against their individual recall — for dogs without reliable recall, I can book an enclosed exercise area instead, for a small added cost.

Our home: we're a semi-detached house with a large, fully enclosed garden — there's no direct access to the street, only through the house or my grooming salon, so it's secure for guests. It's just me, my husband, and our own 3 dogs, so your dog joins a settled, sociable household rather than a strange one.

Availability: grooming is usually booked about 4 weeks ahead, and I have regular boarders and walkers each month, so exact availability depends on the dates you need — the earlier you get in touch, the better the chance I can fit you in.