Glossary

Add-on Service

An optional extra sold alongside a core service — such as a nail trim during grooming, a nature walk during daycare, or medication administration during boarding — that raises the average ticket.

Boarding vs Daycare

The distinction between overnight lodging (boarding) and supervised daytime care with same-day pickup (daycare); the two differ in pricing, capacity, run assignment, and overnight staffing needs.

Breed / Coat Type Pricing

A grooming pricing method that sets rates based on a pet's breed, size, and coat type (and sometimes condition) rather than a flat fee, reflecting the different time and effort each animal requires.

Capacity Management / Occupancy

Controlling how many pets a facility accepts at one time against its physical and staffing limits — tracking occupancy so daycare groups, boarding runs, and grooming slots are filled without being overbooked.

Check-in / Check-out

The arrival and departure steps of a pet's visit — confirming details, belongings, and paperwork at drop-off, and settling charges and returning the pet and belongings at pickup.

Client Portal / Pet-Parent App

A self-service website or mobile app where pet owners manage their account — booking services, updating pet info and vaccines, paying invoices, viewing report cards, and messaging the business.

Deposit / Cancellation Policy

The rules a pet-care business sets for advance deposits and for charges when a client cancels or reschedules — protecting revenue from empty slots, especially during peak boarding periods.

Dog Walking Software

Software built for dog-walking businesses to schedule walks, assign and route walkers, track visits by GPS, send report cards, and bill clients — often for recurring weekday walks across a team.

Doggy Daycare

A service providing supervised group play and care for dogs during the day with same-day pickup, giving working owners exercise and socialization for their dogs; run in groups sized by temperament.

Feeding / Medication Schedule

The record of what, when, and how much a pet is fed and which medications it receives during boarding or daycare — followed by staff and logged to ensure correct, safe care.

GPS Visit Tracking

Location tracking used during dog walks or pet-sitting visits to record the route taken and confirm the provider was present, giving owners proof of service and a map of where their pet went.

Grooming Ticket

The work order for a grooming appointment listing the pet, requested services, add-ons, groomer, price, and special instructions — used to schedule the job, guide the groomer, and generate the invoice.

Incident Report

A formal record of an unusual or adverse event involving a pet — a bite, injury, escape, illness, or altercation — documenting what happened, when, and the response, for safety, follow-up, and liability.

Intake Form

The form a new client completes to enroll a pet — capturing owner and pet details, vet and emergency contacts, feeding and medical needs, behavior notes, and vaccination proof — establishing the record used for all future service.

Kennel Card

A printed or digital summary card posted at a pet's kennel or run listing its name, owner, feeding, medication, and special-care instructions so staff can care for the animal correctly at a glance.

Loyalty / Membership

Programs that reward repeat customers — points, perks, or a recurring paid membership giving discounts or included services — used to increase retention, visit frequency, and predictable recurring revenue.

Meet and Greet (M&G)

A short introductory session — often free — where a pet, owner, and provider meet before service begins, used to assess temperament, gather care details, and confirm fit for daycare, boarding, pet sitting, or dog walking.

Mobile Grooming

Grooming performed at the client's location in a specially equipped van, offering convenience and low-stress one-on-one service; the business must manage routes, drive time, and per-appointment scheduling.

No-Show

A client who fails to arrive for a booked appointment or drop-off without canceling, leaving a paid-for slot empty; businesses track no-show rates and often charge a fee to discourage them.

Online Booking

A feature letting pet owners schedule services over the web or an app at any time, checking real-time availability and reserving a slot without calling — reducing phone load and capturing after-hours demand.

Package / Punch Card

A prepaid bundle of daycare or service visits sold at a discount (for example, ten days for the price of nine), which the customer draws down over time — encouraging loyalty and improving cash flow.

Pet Sitting Software

Software for pet-sitting businesses to schedule in-home visits, manage clients and access details, send visit reports with photos and GPS, and handle invoicing — supporting solo sitters and multi-sitter teams.

POS (Point of Sale)

The system that processes payments and rings up sales at a pet-care business — handling services, retail products, packages, tips, and taxes, and tying each transaction to the client and pet record.

Recurring Appointment

A booking that repeats automatically on a schedule — such as a weekly dog walk, biweekly grooming, or daily daycare — set up once so clients and staff don't have to rebook each time.

Report Card

A daily update sent to a pet parent summarizing how their dog or cat did during daycare, boarding, or a walk — often with photos, notes on play, appetite, and bathroom breaks.

Run / Kennel Assignment

The process of allocating each boarding or daycare pet to a specific run, kennel, suite, or play area — tracked so staff know where every animal is and which spaces are occupied or available.

SMS / Text Reminders

Automated text messages sent to clients to confirm bookings and remind them of upcoming appointments or pickups, reducing no-shows and cutting the phone calls staff would otherwise make.

Tip / Gratuity Handling

How a business collects tips for staff — at checkout, in the app, or on-site — and tracks and distributes them to the right groomer, walker, or sitter, including reporting for payroll and taxes.

Vaccination Record

Documentation of a pet's immunizations (such as rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella) with dates and expiration, which pet-care facilities require and verify before accepting an animal for boarding, daycare, or grooming.

Visit Report

A summary sent after a pet-sitting or dog-walking visit describing what was done — feeding, walking, medication, playtime — often with photos, timestamps, and a GPS map, giving the owner confirmation and detail.

Waiver / Agreement E-Sign

A digitally signed service agreement or liability waiver that clients complete online before service — covering risks, policies, and consent — stored electronically and enforceable, replacing paper forms at drop-off.