Every pet business in the UK operates differently. A doggy daycare in the Cotswolds focuses on managing total headcount for the day, while a mobile groomer in Manchester needs their diary planned down to the minute.
If you are using a one-size-fits-all booking system, you have probably felt the frustration of forcing your business into a workflow that does not quite fit.
TailPro solves this by offering two distinct types of booking logic within the same platform: session-based bookings and availability-based bookings.
Here is how to decide which option will save you the most time and protect your margins.
1. Session-Based Booking: The Session and Capacity Model
Session-based booking is designed for businesses that operate in defined blocks of time. Instead of managing exact start times for every dog, you focus on total capacity during a session.
You set fixed sessions such as a morning session from 8:00am to 1:00pm or an afternoon session from 2:00pm to 6:00pm. For each session, you define a maximum capacity based on staffing levels or licence conditions, for example 15 dogs.
This model works best for doggy daycares, boarding facilities, and group dog walking services.
The main benefit is simplicity. You do not need to manage individual time slots. You only need to know whether there is space available within a session. This also helps ensure you stay within local council licensing limits at all times.
2. Availability-Based Booking: The Precision Model
For one-to-one services, time is your most valuable resource. You cannot simply say you are free in the afternoon. You need to know exactly when one appointment ends so the next can begin.
Availability-based booking treats your working day as a timeline. Clients are only shown start times that can accommodate the full duration of the service. For example, if a full groom takes 90 minutes, the system will only offer start times that allow that full period to be completed.
A key feature for groomers and trainers is the ability to add buffer gaps between appointments. You can build in a mandatory changeover gap, such as 15 minutes, to allow time for cleaning equipment, travelling to the next job, or taking a short break.
This approach works best for dog grooming, one-to-one training, and specialist services such as pet photography.
The benefit is efficiency. The system handles the diary planning for you, packing appointments neatly together while still preserving breathing room between jobs.
Using Both Booking Types in One Business
Many UK pet professionals offer more than one type of service. You might run a capacity-based daycare during the day and offer one-to-one grooming appointments in the afternoon.
TailPro allows you to assign different booking logic to different services. This means your daycare can operate safely within capacity limits, while your grooming diary remains precisely scheduled with automated buffer times.
You do not need to compromise or manage separate systems.
Which Booking Logic Is Right for You?
Choose session-based booking if you manage space, such as having room for a fixed number of dogs per session.
Choose availability-based booking if you manage time, such as fitting a 30-minute nail trim between two longer appointments.
By matching your booking logic to the way each service actually operates, you reduce admin, avoid scheduling mistakes, and protect both your revenue and your sanity.
Ready to Streamline Your Schedule?
TailPro gives UK pet businesses the flexibility to run different services without forcing them into the same booking model.
Book a demo today and see how TailPro can remove the admin headache from your week and help your business run more smoothly.