Customers & Pets FAQ
Find answers to common questions about managing customers and pets in your business system.
General Questions
Can I create just a customer without a pet?
No, the system is pet-centric and requires creating both customer and pet together. This design ensures all customer records are linked to the pets they own, maintaining accurate service relationships.
How do I add a second pet for an existing customer?
Open any pet profile for that customer, then click the "New Pet" button in the Appointments tab header. The owner's information will auto-populate, and you only need to add the new pet's details.
What's the difference between "Pet Parent" and other relationships?
"Pet Parent" is the default relationship type indicating the primary owner. All customers created through the Customers & Pets module are automatically designated as Pet Parents.
Can one pet have multiple owners?
No, each pet is linked to one primary owner (Pet Parent). If multiple people share ownership, designate one as the primary owner and add others as emergency contacts or additional contacts.
How do I handle customers who board multiple pets but only own one?
For pets the customer is boarding but doesn't own, create separate customer and pet records for the actual owners. Then manage boarding appointments accordingly through those pets' profiles.
Creating and Editing
What information is required to create a customer?
Required Fields:
Owner First Name
Owner Surname
Owner Phone Number
Pet Name
Pet Breed
Pet Gender
All other fields are optional but recommended for complete records.
Can I edit customer or pet information after creation?
Yes, all information can be edited at any time:
Click the edit icon next to the owner's name to update owner details
Click the edit icon next to the pet's name to update pet information
Changes are saved immediately and apply across all related records
How do I change a pet's breed if I selected the wrong one?
Open the pet's profile
Click the edit icon next to the pet's name
Select the correct breed from the dropdown
Click Save
Can I change a pet's birthday after I've entered it?
Yes, open the pet's profile, click edit next to the pet's name, update the birthday field, and save. The new birthday will immediately reflect in the system and age calculations.
What happens if I enter the wrong gender?
Click the edit icon next to the pet's name, select the correct gender, and save. The change applies immediately across all records and reports.
Searching and Finding
Why can't I find a customer I know exists?
Common Issues:
Searching by nickname instead of registered name
Misspelled names or phone numbers
Pet registered under different owner's name
Customer marked as inactive
Searching with different phone format than stored
Solutions:
Try partial name searches ("Choc" for "Chocolate")
Search by phone number or email instead
Check with team members for alternative spellings
Use the filter to show all animals types
How do I find all pets belonging to one owner?
Open any pet profile for that owner
Scroll to the Family Pets section in the left sidebar
You'll see all pets linked to that owner
Click any pet card to view that pet's profile
Can I search by phone number or email?
Yes, the search bar finds customers by:
Pet name
Owner name
Phone number (with or without formatting)
Email address
Just type the information into the search bar and results appear instantly.
Why don't filters show the customers I'm looking for?
Filters narrow results based on specific criteria. If you have both search terms and filters active, you're seeing the intersection of both. Click Reset to clear all search and filter criteria, then try again.
Photos and Media
What's the best format for pet photos?
Recommended:
Format: JPG or PNG
Aspect ratio: Square (1:1)
Minimum size: 500x500 pixels
File size: Under 5MB
Quality: Clear, well-lit, facing camera
Why won't my photo upload?
Common Issues:
File too large (over 5MB)
Unsupported format (use JPG or PNG)
Poor internet connection
Browser cache issues
Solutions:
Resize or compress the image
Convert to JPG or PNG
Check your internet connection
Try a different browser or clear cache
Contact support if issues persist
How many photos can I upload per pet?
1 Profile Photo - Displayed in the sidebar and list view
Multiple Grooming Photos - Reference photos in the Grooming Preferences tab
Multiple Vaccination Certificates - No limit in the Vaccinations tab
Can I delete or replace a photo?
Yes:
Profile Photo: Click "Edit Photo," then choose "Remove Photo" or upload a replacement
Grooming Photos: Edit the grooming preferences section to remove photos
Vaccination Photos: Delete certificates and upload new ones
Health Records
Do I have to upload vaccination certificates?
While not required, uploading vaccination certificates is strongly recommended for:
Compliance with boarding/grooming requirements
Quick access during emergencies
Tracking expiration dates
Proof of vaccination when needed
How do I know when vaccinations are expiring?
Petboost shows vaccination status in the sidebar:
"Current" - All vaccinations up to date
"Expiring Soon" - Renewal needed within 30 days
"Expired" - Vaccination has expired
"No certificates" - None uploaded yet
Set reminders to check statuses monthly and contact owners proactively.
Can I track medications in the system?
Use the Quick Notes section to document current medications. Include:
Medication name and dosage
Frequency and timing
Purpose/condition being treated
Any special administration instructions
For detailed medical history, track in vaccination or health attributes sections.
What if a customer doesn't have vaccination records?
Document the situation in Quick Notes and request that customers:
Contact their veterinarian for copies
Bring records to their next appointment
Update records after their next vet visit
You can still provide services, but note the missing records in the pet's profile.
How do I update a pet's weight?
Open the pet's profile
Click the weight card in the sidebar
Enter the new weight measurement
Petboost timestamps the update automatically
Update weight at every visit for accurate tracking.
Service History
Why don't I see appointments in the Appointments tab?
Possible Reasons:
No appointments have been booked yet
Appointments booked under different pet/customer
System data sync delay (wait a few moments and refresh)
If appointments should be there but aren't visible, contact support.
How do I view appointment history?
Open the pet's profile and go to the Appointments tab. You'll see:
All past appointments (with dates and details)
Upcoming scheduled appointments
Appointment status and notes
Can I edit past appointment details?
Appointment details are typically locked after completion to maintain accurate history. If you need to correct information, contact support with specific details about what needs changing and why.
Where do I see what packages a customer has purchased?
Go to the Packages tab in the pet's profile. You'll see:
All purchased packages
Remaining credits
Expiration dates
Purchase history
How do I track if package credits are running low?
The Packages tab shows remaining credits for each package. Set up your own reminders to:
Check before booking appointments
Contact customers when credits are under 3
Offer renewal before packages expire
Grooming Preferences
Do I have to fill out grooming preferences?
Grooming preferences are optional but highly recommended when:
Customers have specific style requirements
You want consistent results across team members
Pets have special handling needs
You're tracking reference photos for complex styles
Can I add photos to grooming preferences?
Yes, you can upload multiple reference photos in the Grooming Preferences tab for:
Head and face styles
Body and tail length/style
Feet and leg trim
Any specific angles or details
Photos eliminate miscommunication and ensure consistency.
How do I copy grooming preferences to another pet?
Grooming preferences are pet-specific and must be entered separately for each pet. However, you can:
Open one pet's profile and take screenshots of preferences
Reference those while setting up the sibling's preferences
Copy and paste text notes between pets
What if grooming preferences conflict with Quick Notes?
Grooming preferences are more detailed and service-specific, while Quick Notes cover general care. If there's a conflict:
Verify with the customer which is correct
Update both sections to match
Note any changes in appointment records
Payment and Billing
How do I update a customer's card on file?
Open any pet profile for that customer
Click the edit icon next to the owner's name
Update payment card information
Save changes
The updated card applies to all pets owned by that customer.
What does "Card on file" mean?
A "Card on file" indicates the customer has securely stored a payment method in the system. This allows:
Faster checkout after services
Automatic payment processing (if enabled)
Reduced no-shows (when card is charged for cancellations)
Can I see transaction history for a customer?
Yes, go to the Sales tab in any pet's profile to see:
All product and service purchases
Payment amounts and dates
Transaction methods
Purchase history
What if a customer's card expires?
Petboost shows expiration dates on stored cards. When a card is expiring:
Contact the customer proactively
Request updated card information
Update the payment method in their profile
Verify the new card is processing correctly
Emergency Contacts
Why should I collect emergency contact information?
Emergency contacts are critical when:
You can't reach the primary customer
Pet has a medical emergency during service
Customer is late for pickup
Urgent decisions need to be made
Always collect at least one emergency contact for every customer.
Can the emergency contact be the same person as the customer?
No, the purpose of an emergency contact is to reach someone when the customer is unavailable. Collect a different person's information, such as:
Spouse or partner
Family member
Close friend
Co-worker
How do I update emergency contact information?
Click the edit icon next to the owner's name
Update emergency contact details
Save changes
Changes apply immediately to all pets owned by that customer.
Family Pets and Multiple Pets
How does the Family Pets feature work?
The Family Pets section automatically shows all pets linked to the same owner. It:
Displays on every pet's profile
Shows total number of pets
Allows quick navigation between siblings
Highlights which pet profile you're currently viewing
Can I link pets together without the same owner?
No, pets are linked through shared ownership. The Family Pets feature only shows pets belonging to the same Pet Parent.
What if I accidentally created separate owners for the same person's pets?
Contact support to merge the duplicate owner records. This will:
Combine all pets under one owner
Preserve all appointment history
Merge contact information
Link all pets as family
Do not attempt to manually merge by deleting and recreating records.
Can I unlink pets from an owner?
Pets must be linked to an owner. To transfer a pet to a different owner:
Create the new owner's profile (if not existing)
Contact support to transfer the pet
All appointment and service history will transfer with the pet
Privacy and Access
Who can see customer information?
All team members with system access can view customer and pet profiles. Train your team on:
Privacy requirements
Professional use of information
Confidentiality standards
Appropriate conversations about customers
Can customers access their own pet profiles?
Customer portal access depends on your business settings. Check with your administrator about customer-facing features and what information customers can view or edit themselves.
How do I delete a customer record?
Important: Don't delete customer records. Instead:
Mark customers as inactive if they haven't visited in 12+ months
Preserve service history for legal and business purposes
Contact support if you must remove a record
If a customer requests data deletion (right to be forgotten), contact support for proper procedures.
Can I export customer data?
Reporting and export features depend on your system permissions. Contact your administrator or support about exporting customer lists, contact information, or service histories.
Technical Issues
Petboost is running slowly when I search. Why?
Common Causes:
Large customer records (thousands of entries)
Poor internet connection
Browser cache issues
Multiple tabs open
Solutions:
Use specific search terms to narrow results
Check your internet connection
Clear browser cache and cookies
Close unused browser tabs
Contact support if issues persist
Why don't my changes save?
Common Issues:
Poor internet connection during save
Browser timeout
Form validation errors
System permissions
Solutions:
Check for error messages on screen
Verify internet connection is stable
Ensure all required fields are filled
Try logging out and back in
Contact support if problem continues
Photos aren't displaying correctly. What should I do?
Troubleshooting Steps:
Refresh the page (Ctrl+R or Cmd+R)
Clear browser cache
Try a different browser
Check if the image file was corrupted during upload
Re-upload the photo
If photos consistently fail to display, contact support with specific examples.
I can't edit a customer's information. Why?
Possible Reasons:
Your user role doesn't have edit permissions
The customer record is locked (rare)
System timeout occurred
Browser issues
Solutions:
Check with your administrator about permissions
Log out and back in
Try a different browser
Contact support if access should be granted
Still Have Questions?
If your question isn't answered here:
Search the Knowledge Base - Use the search function for specific topics
Contact Support - Click "Get Help" in your dashboard
Ask Your Team - Colleagues may have encountered similar questions
Request Training - Schedule additional training sessions if needed
Related Articles
Getting Started with Customers & Pets - Complete setup guide for adding customers
Managing Customer Profiles - Edit customer and pet information, photos, and notes
Need help? Contact support or click the "Get Help" button in your dashboard to chat with our team.
