Clear rules protect the dog, the household, and the service standard.
The Canine Steward is selective, route-limited, and founder-led. These are the terms owners should understand before care begins.
Every recurring dog begins with Stephen.
Submitting a request does not reserve care or guarantee acceptance. Stephen reviews the dog, household, geography, timing, behavior disclosures, and requested path first.
Recurring dogs begin in Home Manners Foundation at $1,795/month. Six to twelve weeks is typical, but graduation is based on readiness rather than elapsed time. A dog may remain Founder-only, receive a prescribed intervention, be waitlisted, or be declined when safety or fit requires it.
$1,195 Maintenance is earned, not purchased.
Graduated Maintenance at $1,195/month is available only after Stephen determines that the dog is sufficiently predictable for routine handling and that a dense handler route exists.
Stephen retains reassessment authority. Meaningful regression may result in continued Maintenance with modifications, temporary return to Founder Foundation, a prescribed intensive, Founder-only status, or removal from the program.
The launch-stage promise is 44 service weeks per year.
Current Founder-led recurring agreements use a 44-service-week annual calendar with flat monthly billing and published recess periods. Recess is already reflected in the retainer, so published recess days do not create prorating, make-up visits, or credits.
Owner travel, unused visits, routine cancellations, or failed access likewise do not automatically reduce the monthly retainer because the recurring route position remains reserved.
Holiday periods are premium exception periods.
Major holiday weeks may be designated as published recess periods for ordinary Foundation and Maintenance service.
Limited Premium In-Home Overnight or separately priced holiday coverage may still be offered. Holiday assignments depend on qualified staff voluntarily accepting the work and are not guaranteed by the recurring retainer.
Access information is security-sensitive.
Do not submit gate codes, alarm details, passwords, lockbox combinations, hidden-key locations, or similar credentials through public forms. Access is collected privately only after the relationship is approved.
Owners must provide reliable primary access and, when appropriate, an agreed backup. Failed access may shorten or prevent care without automatically creating a credit.
Conditions can change the service delivered.
Heat, humidity, surface temperature, storms, flooding, wildlife, traffic, loose dogs, or the dog’s physical condition may require Stephen or a handler to shorten, slow, shade, delay, move indoors, substitute lower-exertion work, or stop outdoor care.
Meaningful modified care remains completed care and does not automatically create a credit.
Accurate disclosure is part of the agreement.
Owners must disclose health conditions, recent injury or illness, allergies, medication, bite or snap history, escape behavior, veterinary restrictions, and other facts that could materially affect safe care.
The Canine Steward does not provide veterinary treatment or clinical behavior treatment. For care continuing while an owner is unavailable, current emergency contacts and veterinary authorization are required.
Audit, Vacation, Overnight, and prescribed intensives are separately scoped.
- Behavioral Audit: $295, including a concise written report; not automatically credited toward Foundation.
- Vacation Dog Concierge: $895/week or $175/day for approved daytime care.
- Premium In-Home Overnight: from $325/night; major-holiday rate $450/night.
- 10-Day Manners Intensive: from $1,750 when prescribed by Stephen; not a required or primary public path.
Exact dates, scope, additional dogs, medication support, and unusual household requirements are confirmed before booking.
Capacity is reserved before care happens.
Late cancellations, inaccurate information, failed access, material scope changes, or owner schedule changes may result in forfeited fees, modified service, or limits on future care. Date-specific cancellation terms are confirmed during onboarding.
There is no public checkout. Approved clients receive a private invoice or secure payment link after scope is confirmed.
Trust can be verified before paid care begins.
Identity, professional background, insurance status, access protocol, and care standards can be reviewed during onboarding when appropriate. No insurance arrangement or operating protocol makes canine care risk-free.
Request care first. Sensitive details come later.
Stephen reviews the dog, location, timing, and requested service before asking for payment or home-security information.
Start Care Request