Your runs (also called rooms, kennels, units, pens, suites or hutches) are the spaces pets stay in for boarding. You set them up once in Settings, and staff then allocate each boarding booking to a run. In this article, "run" means whatever you call your units: KennelBooker uses your own name for runs on the settings page, the calendar and the booking pages.
Where to set up your runs
Go to Settings, then click your run name in the settings menu under your boarding settings (for example Runs or Rooms). This menu item only shows when boarding is switched on for your account. Staff need access to Settings to change runs.
The number of runs you can add depends on your plan.
What you can do on the runs page
Add a new run with Add Run (the button uses your run name, for example Add Room).
Edit a run's name, size, capacity and the pets it takes, by clicking Edit beside it.
Take a run offline without deleting it, with the Bookable switch.
Keep a run back from online booking, with the Available Online switch.
Make a run a group run that never books out, or a run for board and train only.
Delete a run, and bring it back later.
Filter the list by pet type with Run Type (for example Dog Runs or Cat Runs).
Choose the order your runs are listed in with Manually Sort Runs.
Set up room types (for example Standard, Junior Suite) that pet parents can ask for when they book online.
How to add or edit a run
Go to Settings and click your run name in the settings menu, for example Runs.
Click Add Run for a new run, or Edit beside an existing one. The Add/Edit Run box opens.
Fill in the details:
Run Name: the name staff see on the calendar and bookings, for example "Run 1" or "Garden Suite". This is the only field you must fill in.
Run Type Configuration: the room type this run belongs to, if you use room types (see below). Leave it blank if you don't.
Run Size and Run Capacity: the size and how many pets it holds (1 to 20), for your own reference. They show in the list of runs.
Sort Order: the run's position in the list. This only shows when Manually Sort Runs is set to Yes.
Bookable: on means the run can be used for bookings. Switch it off to take the run offline, for example while it's being repaired.
Group Run (never booked out): makes this a group run that any number of bookings can use at once.
Board & Train Run Only (uses your own name for board and train): keeps this run for board and train bookings.
Available Online: on means the run is counted when the online booking portal works out availability. Switch it off to keep the run back from online booking. Customers can't book into it online, but staff can still book it.
Deleted: deletes the run (see below).
Room for: switch on each type of pet this run takes, for example Dogs, Cats or Rabbits. Only the pet types you board are listed. If you take small pets, a rabbit and a guinea pig can share the same hutch.
Click Save. The page shows "Details Saved!".
If you leave the name empty, the box shows "Please add the Runs description/name".
How to keep runs back from online booking
When customers book online, KennelBooker only counts runs that have Available Online switched on when it works out whether there's space. Runs with it switched off are left out of online availability, so customers can't book into them online. Your staff can still book them in KennelBooker.
For example, a kennel with 25 runs that wants to keep 5 back for regular customers switches Available Online off on those 5 runs. Online availability then only counts the other 20.
Click Edit beside the run.
Switch off Available Online.
Click Save.
How to delete a run or bring it back
Click Edit beside the run.
Switch on Deleted and click Save.
Deleted runs are hidden from the list and don't count towards the number of runs on your plan. To see them, tick Show Deleted under the list. To bring one back, edit it, switch Deleted off and click Save. If you've already reached the number of runs on your plan, the box shows an "Attention needed" message and you can't bring the run back until you delete another one or upgrade your plan.
How to change the order of your runs
By default, runs are listed by pet type and then by name (Run 2 comes before Run 10). To set your own order:
Set Manually Sort Runs, under the list of runs, to Yes.
Edit each run and enter a Sort Order number. Lower numbers come first.
Click Save for each run.
Room types for online bookings
The Run Type Configuration section at the bottom of the runs page (it uses your run name, for example Room Type Configuration) lets pet parents ask for a type of room when they book online, for example Standard, Junior Suite or Presidential Suite.
Click Add New Run Type to create each room type.
Switch on Allow Customers to select preferred room types online.
Switch on Link Run Types to Runs if you want KennelBooker to only offer the room types that have a free run for the dates asked for. Then set each run's Run Type Configuration in its Add/Edit Run box. If some runs aren't linked to a type, the page tells you how many.
Enter the heading pet parents see above the choice (for example "Room Requested") and click Update.
The pet parent only asks for a room type. They don't pick a run. The booking shows the room type they asked for, and your staff allocate the run when they confirm it. See "Add Room/Run types to the Online Portal" for the full steps.
What the runs page doesn't do
Pet parents don't choose a run when they book online. Only your staff allocate runs to bookings.
Run Capacity doesn't let more than one booking use a run at the same time. To let several bookings share a space, make it a group run.
Deleting a run doesn't change bookings that already used it.
To close a run for a few days rather than for good, see "Blocking out an individual run/room for a period" in Related articles.
Related articles
Runs and rooms: frequently asked questions
How do I add a new room or kennel?
To add a run, room or kennel in KennelBooker, go to Settings, click your run name in the settings menu (for example Runs), click Add Run, enter the name and the pets it takes under Room for, and click Save.
How many runs can I have?
The number of runs, rooms or kennels you can add in KennelBooker depends on your plan. Deleted runs don't count. When you reach the limit, the Add button is hidden and a message at the top of the runs page tells you your package's limit.
How do I take a run offline for repairs?
In KennelBooker, click Edit beside the run in Settings, switch off Bookable and click Save. Switch it back on when the run is ready. For a set period, you can also block the run out instead.
Can I keep some runs back from online booking?
Yes. In KennelBooker, click Edit beside the run, switch off Available Online and click Save. The run isn't counted when customers book online, so they can't book into it, but your staff can still book it. For example, if you have 25 runs and switch Available Online off on 5 of them, online availability only counts the other 20.
What's the difference between Bookable and Available Online?
Switching off Bookable takes the run offline for everyone, staff included. Switching off Available Online only keeps it out of online booking: staff can still book it.
Can I rename my runs?
Yes. In KennelBooker, click Edit beside the run, change the Run Name and click Save. The new name shows on the calendar and on bookings.
Can I call them rooms or kennels instead of runs?
Yes. KennelBooker uses your own name for runs everywhere: in the settings menu, on the runs page, on the calendar and on bookings. To change it, go to Settings > Customize Text and change What you call your Run. The names of your run sizes (for example Small, Medium, Large) are set in the same place.
Can two dogs from the same family share a run?
Yes. A KennelBooker booking with several pets can put them all in the same run. Two separate bookings can't use the same standard run at the same time; for that, make the run a group run.
What does Run Capacity do?
Run Capacity in KennelBooker records how many pets a run holds, for your reference, and shows in the list of runs. It doesn't let two separate bookings use the run at the same time. Use a group run for shared spaces.
Can a run take both dogs and cats?
Yes. In the KennelBooker Add/Edit Run box, switch on each pet type the run takes under Room for. A run is only offered for the types of pet that are switched on.
Can pet parents choose their own run online?
No. Pet parents don't choose a run in KennelBooker's online booking. If you switch on room types, they can ask for a type of room, and your staff allocate the run.
How do I delete a run?
In KennelBooker, click Edit beside the run, switch on Deleted and click Save. To bring it back, tick Show Deleted, edit the run, switch Deleted off and save.
Can I change the order runs appear on the calendar?
Yes. On the KennelBooker runs page set Manually Sort Runs to Yes, then give each run a Sort Order number in its Add/Edit Run box. Lower numbers come first.
Runs and rooms: common problems
The Add Run button has disappeared
You've reached the number of runs on your KennelBooker plan, and the runs page shows your package's limit at the top. Delete a run you no longer use, or contact us about upgrading your plan.
I can't switch Deleted off on an old run
KennelBooker shows "Attention needed" when bringing the run back would take you over the number of runs on your plan. Delete another run first, or upgrade your plan.
A run doesn't show when I allocate a booking
In KennelBooker, check the run is Bookable, not Deleted, takes that type of pet under Room for, and is free for the whole stay. Board and train runs are only offered for board and train bookings.
I can't find the Runs item in my settings menu
The KennelBooker settings menu item uses your own name for runs (for example Rooms or Kennels), and only shows when boarding is switched on for your account.
There's no Sort Order box when I edit a run
The Sort Order box only shows when Manually Sort Runs, under the list of runs, is set to Yes.