If you’re already running a secure dog field, you’ll know your booking system sits at the centre of everything – from managing availability to taking payments and shaping your customer experience.
But even if your current setup is clunky or slow, the thought of switching can feel daunting.
But in reality, moving to Muddy isn’t as complicated as it might seem. Here’s what the process actually looks like.
Why field owners make the switch
Most field owners consider switching to Muddy because they are experiencing growing frustrations with their existing system.
These frustrations might include:
- Manually managing bookings
- Chasing payments
- Dealing with no-shows
- Limited control over pricing or availability
- A booking process that feels awkward for customers
These issues don’t just affect your workload, they also impact how professional and reliable your business feels to customers.
The biggest concern: “Will this be a hassle?”
The thought of disruption is often the main reason people put off switching.
Many field owners worry they’ll:
- Lose existing bookings
- Spend hours setting everything up again
- Confuse regular customers
- Experience long periods of downtime during the switch
All of these are understandable concerns. But with the right process in place, they don’t need to be a problem.
What does migration actually look like?
Moving over to Muddy follows a clear, structured process. In most cases, it’s far more straightforward than expected.
Plan it out
When you get in touch, we start by reviewing your current setup. This helps us understand what needs to be carried across and how your data can be exported.
If your existing system allows for a standard export – as most do – we’ll handle the migration for you for free.
Set up Muddy
You’ll then create your Muddy Booking account and set up your field, including your walks, availability, and pricing.
This is a good opportunity to simplify anything that may have become overly complicated in your current setup.
Turn off notifications in Muddy
Before we begin moving bookings, notifications are temporarily turned off.
This prevents customers receiving duplicate or confusing emails during the transition.
Migrate completed bookings
We start by transferring your historical bookings. This keeps your records intact without affecting your live availability.
Turn off your current system
Your existing system is then paused to prevent new bookings being made during the transition.
In most cases, downtime is minimal, often no more than an hour or two.
Migrate upcoming bookings
Next, we transfer your future bookings.
This ensures your availability stays accurate, avoids double bookings, and makes sure customers still have access to the correct information, such as gate codes.
Turn notifications back on in Muddy
Once everything is in place, notifications are switched back on so new bookings and confirmations run as normal.
Send customers to the new system
You’re then ready to direct customers to your new booking system.
This usually involves updating your website and any existing links, such as social media or Google listings.
Start seeing the benefits
Once up and running, most field owners notice the difference straight away – less admin, fewer issues, and a smoother experience for both you and your customers.
Common questions
How much will it cost?
If your current system allows for a straightforward data export — as most do — we’ll carry out your migration free of charge. For more complex setups, it’s best to speak to us directly.
How long will I be unable to take bookings for?
Most of the migration can be done while your existing system is still live. Typically, any downtime is limited to an hour or two, and can be scheduled during a quieter period to minimise disruption.
Will I lose any data?
In most cases, we’re able to transfer both historical and upcoming bookings, along with customer details.
You don’t have to do it alone
If you’re moving from a system with a standard setup and accessible data, we can handle the migration for you.
That means less manual work, fewer risks, and a quicker transition overall – which for many field owners removes the biggest barrier to switching.
What changes once you switch
Switching booking systems often sounds like a bigger job than it really is.
With a clear and structured approach, it’s simply a case of moving your existing data into a system that works better for your business.
And once it’s done, you can spend less time on admin and more time focusing on running your field.