TailDesk

Description

TailDesk helps pet sitters accept booking requests directly from their WordPress website.

Create one or more services, show live availability in a calendar, let visitors send booking requests without creating an account, and manage everything from the WordPress admin area.

TailDesk is built for solo pet sitters and small pet care businesses that want a simple, focused workflow instead of a generic appointment system.

Key features:

  • Add a booking form with a dedicated Gutenberg block or shortcode.
  • Add an availability calendar with a dedicated Gutenberg block or shortcode.
  • Create multiple services with their own daily rate and day capacity.
  • Show clear day states for available, limited and fully booked dates.
  • Receive booking requests directly on your website.
  • Receive email notifications when a new booking request is submitted.
  • Manage bookings, statuses and internal notes in WordPress.
  • Use simple global pricing format settings.

Both frontend tools can be added in two ways:

  • Block editor: use the TailDesk Booking Form block and the TailDesk Availability Calendar block.
  • Shortcodes: use [taildesk_booking_form] and [taildesk_availability service_id="123"].

Blocks

TailDesk Booking Form

Insert the booking request form anywhere with the block editor. You can choose which services are available in the form and control the field order.

TailDesk Availability Calendar

Insert a service availability calendar anywhere with the block editor. Choose the service in the block settings and show month-by-month availability on the frontend.

Shortcodes

You can also use shortcodes if you are working with classic themes, widgets, templates or page builders.

Booking form:

[taildesk_booking_form]

Availability calendar:

[taildesk_availability service_id="123"]

Screenshots

  • Services overview in the WordPress admin.
  • Booking form inserted with the block editor.
  • Availability calendar inserted with the block editor.
  • Booking management screen in the WordPress admin.

Blocks

This plugin provides 2 blocks.

  • TailDesk Booking Form
  • TailDesk Availability Calendar

Installation

  1. Upload the plugin to /wp-content/plugins/ or install it through the WordPress Plugins screen.
  2. Activate the plugin.
  3. Go to TailDesk > Services and create at least one active service.
  4. Add the TailDesk Booking Form block or the [taildesk_booking_form] shortcode to a page.
  5. Add the TailDesk Availability Calendar block or the [taildesk_availability service_id="123"] shortcode to a page.
  6. Submit a test booking to verify your setup.

FAQ

Can I add the form and calendar with Gutenberg blocks?

Yes. The plugin includes a dedicated booking form block and a dedicated availability calendar block.

Can I still use shortcodes?

Yes. Both features are available as shortcodes as well.

Can visitors send a booking request without creating an account?

Yes. The plugin is designed for direct booking requests from public visitors.

Can I create multiple pet sitting services?

Yes. You can create multiple services and manage pricing and capacity per service.

Does the plugin process payments?

No. TailDesk focuses on booking requests, availability and admin management.

Can I set a custom email address for booking notifications?

Yes. In TailDesk > Settings you can set one or multiple notification addresses. Separate multiple addresses with ;.

Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

Contributors & Developers

“TailDesk” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Contributors

“TailDesk” has been translated into 1 locale. Thank you to the translators for their contributions.

Translate “TailDesk” into your language.

Interested in development?

Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.

Changelog

1.0.2

  • Added centralized date format handling across admin and frontend.
  • Improved booking and calendar admin workflows, including date validation and filtering.
  • Added click_url support for availability calendar interactions.
  • Updated booking email output and translation files.

1.0.1

  • First public release of TailDesk.
  • Addressed plugin review team feedback.

1.0.0

  • Initial version.