Confirming actual checkout when a dog goes home early

Record the actual checkout time against the booking, even when the dog leaves earlier than booked. An early pickup changes the day's count and the note that follows the dog home. Write the real time, who collected the dog, and a short reason if given, then adjust the booking so the roster reflects the building.

Mark the real time, not the booked time

Open the booking and note the time the dog actually left. Close the booking with the real time. If the record keeps the original booked time, leave it visible so the difference is clear. A note such as "left 2:10, booked to 5:00" is enough.

A sample early checkout entry

Illustrative, invented details:

• Before: Booking #D-88 for dog "Tilly," booked to 5:00. At 2:10, owner arrives early; desk hands over the dog and waves them out.
• Action: Booking closed at 2:10, collected by "A. Lindqvist," desk note: "Early pickup, owner collecting, no reason given." Day count updated to show Tilly gone.
• After: The check-in board shows Tilly in the gone-home column at 2:10, and the day's in-building count drops by one.

What you can verify: the booking's checkout time matches the clock, and the board no longer counts Tilly as present.

When the early pickup is not the usual contact

If someone other than the usual pickup contact arrives early, check the household's pickup contacts before releasing the dog. Record the name of the person who collected. If they are not on the list, follow the standard pickup confirmation step and note it in the booking.

What the roster should show at close

The end-of-day check is simple: every dog that went home has a checkout time, and no dog shows as in the building after it left. The observable change is a booking closed at the real time and a day count that matches the room.

Related: Dog Daycare Manager features.