We are the amazing dog boarding kennel alternative that thousands of owners are raving about.
We welcome your dog into the home of a local dog lover just like you. We have carefully-screened minders all around Australia and, for your complete peace of mind, all our minders are fully insured.
Hi, I’m Jenny Brearley. If you’re feeling anxious about finding someone to look after your dog while you are away, I’m glad you found this website, because 27 years ago, I had the same problem. That’s why I started “Don’t Fret Pet!” — holiday dog minding.
You see, I felt terrible taking my eccentric Rhodesian Ridgeback, Sophie, to dog boarding kennels. I wanted a more natural and homely alternative to concrete floors and wire cages. I hated the thought of Sophie having to cope with the barks and behaviours of a hundred other dogs of all breeds and backgrounds. There was no way I could enjoy my holiday. I felt guilty.
On top of that, it was inconvenient driving to the outer suburbs (where most dog boarding kennels are located) to drop Sophie off at times that didn’t suit me while trying to get ready to go away.
I’d tried leaving Sophie with friends and family but I always felt like I was asking them a favour. Although they meant well, they weren’t really used to looking after dogs so I was always worried about Sophie.
I also tried having neighbours feed and keep an eye on Sophie, but again, I felt like I was putting them out. I was also afraid they would forget her… or Sophie would get sick… or… 100 other things that could go wrong.
I considered taking Sophie with us on holidays. But dog-friendly accommodation was almost impossible to find. Long car rides often cause terrible stress for dogs (many get car sick). And then there’s the question of who looks after them while you go on a day trip during your holiday. You can’t very well leave them alone in a strange holiday apartment.
That’s when I came up with the idea to start “Don’t Fret Pet!” and created a network of dog lovers who could offer dog minding services in their own homes. I screened potential minders to make sure they had experience caring for dogs and I provided them with information to ensure we could provide consistent, professional care to every client.
We’ve won a whole swag of awards and we’ve been featured in heaps of newspapers and magazines. The proof of our success comes from over 10,000 wonderful clients who have sent us messages.
It seems like only yesterday I was looking for a boarding kennel alternative for my dog, Sophie. That's when I started ``Don't Fret Pet!`` in 1993. Since then we have helped over 12,000 dogs and their owners enjoy their holidays.
Margaret has been finding wonderful homes for your little furry friends for a number of years ensuring all parties are happy!
Brent joined the “Don’t Fret Pet!” family in 2005 after many years in the marketing industry and now owns and manages north and south east Brisbane and the Gold Coast areas. Brent and husband Paul have a band of adoring staffies who accompany them to the office every day to assist in any way they can (usually by sleeping under the desks)
Carole started out as a minder for “Don’t Fret Pet!” in 2007 welcoming many visiting doggies into her home. She then joined ``Don't Fret Pet!`` as a franchisee in 2009 and owned and managed the Gold Coast territory. Carole then decided to join our head office team in 2015 and now manages our ACT, Newcastle and Melbourne areas. She also assists with Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. Carole has the pleasure of being mum to numerous rescue dogs over the years, a rescue cat, a couple of goats and birds too numerous to count.
Hi, I am Jenny and I have been working with DFP for three and a half years. A highlight for me is when a minder sends in a photo or feedback of their four legged boarder having a good time at their home away from home!