By Steffie | Doggie Faire BnB — In-Home Dog Boarding in the Quercy, South West France
If you’re planning a trip away — a summer holiday, a Christmas break, or even a long weekend — and you have a dog, you already know the question that comes next: “Who is going to look after them?”
For pet parents in the Quercy region of South West France, the answer is increasingly clear: in-home dog boarding with Doggie Faire BnB. But here’s the thing — we only take a small number of guests at any one time, and that means spaces fill up quickly, especially around the holidays.
If you’ve been thinking about booking, this post is your friendly nudge to do it sooner rather than later.
Why We Keep Numbers Small — On Purpose
Doggie Faire BnB is not a commercial kennel. It is a real family home, and that is precisely the point. Your dog doesn’t check into a facility — they come to live with us. They sleep on proper dog beds or sofas, explore a secure private garden, and receive genuinely personalised attention every single day.
To make that possible, we deliberately limit the number of dogs we board at any one time. This is the core difference between private dog sitting and a large commercial operation. It is also why we are never able to simply “squeeze one more in” during busy periods. When we are full, we are full.
The Seasons That Book Out First
There are three peak periods when enquiries spike significantly:
- Summer holidays (July and August) — Families heading to the coast or abroad for two to three weeks. This is consistently our busiest period.
- Christmas and New Year — International families travelling back to the UK, US, or elsewhere to see loved ones. Dogs cannot always make that journey, and a familiar, caring home environment is the next best thing.
- French school holiday weeks — The Toussaint, February, and spring breaks bring a steady wave of bookings from local families.
A Note for International Pet Parents Moving to the Quercy
A significant number of our guests come from the international community — British, American, and other families from abroad who have made the Quercy their home. Many have told us that finding trusted, domestic-style dog care was one of their biggest concerns when they moved here.
Traditional kennels can feel like a significant step down from the home life their dogs are used to. Cage-free, in-home boarding offers something much closer to what their dog already knows: a sofa to curl up on, a garden to explore, and a human who genuinely loves dogs.
If that sounds like your situation, we would love to hear from you — and the sooner you reach out, the better your chances of securing a space during your travel dates.
The Meet-and-Greet: Why It Has to Come First
Before any dog joins us for their first boarding stay, we always insist on a trial daycare visit. This is not a formality — it is an essential step that protects your dog, the other guests in our care, and the harmony of our home.
Your dog comes to explore our home at their own pace, meets Steffie, and gets comfortable with the environment before the real stay begins. We use that visit to learn about their personality, their quirks, and what makes them feel settled. Only when we are confident it is the right fit do we confirm a booking.
This means that if you are hoping to board with us over the summer or at Christmas, the meet-and-greet needs to happen well in advance. It is one more reason why early enquiries always work in your favour.
What to Do Next
If you have an upcoming trip and you want to know whether we have availability, the best thing to do is get in touch now. Tell us your dates, a little about your dog, and we can let you know whether a meet-and-greet makes sense.
We are a small operation with a big heart — and the dogs who stay with us tend to come back again and again. That is the surest sign that what we offer is something genuinely different from a kennel alternative: it is a home.
Don’t leave it to the last minute. Get in touch with Steffie at Doggie Faire BnB today and secure your dog’s home away from home.