How to prepare your dog for a new sitter (and make the first visit less stressful)

Dogs are creatures of routine. A stranger entering their home — even a friendly one — can trigger anxiety in dogs who are otherwise completely calm. Here's what we've learned from 40,000+ first visits.

Start with the meet-and-greet

Every TOOF booking starts with a free meet-and-greet. This isn't a formality — it's genuinely the most important part of the process. Use it to observe how your dog responds to your new sitter, not just to exchange keys and instructions.

Let your dog sniff and approach at their own pace. Resist the urge to force an introduction. A good sitter will mirror your dog's energy and let them set the pace.

Write a real pet profile

Your TOOF pet profile is what the sitter reads before they arrive. The more specific, the better. Don't just write "anxious around strangers" — tell them what anxious looks like for your dog (tail tucked, hiding in the bedroom, barking at the door for 10 minutes before settling down).

Include: favorite treats, words or commands they know, what to do if they refuse to eat, where they sleep, any toys or comfort objects, and their bathroom schedule. This isn't just helpful for the sitter — it becomes a record you'll thank yourself for on visit three.

The first solo visit

For the first actual visit, try to be home for at least part of it (if you can) so your dog sees the sitter is safe. If that's not possible, ask the sitter to arrive a few minutes early and just sit quietly in the living room before starting the walk.

Most dogs relax by visit three. Some take a week. A few — especially dogs with trauma histories — may need several weeks of consistent short visits before they're fully comfortable. That's normal, and a good sitter will recognize the difference between "not ready" and "genuinely getting there."

After the visit

Read the visit recap. Note anything unusual. If something seems off, message your sitter before the next booking — not after a pattern develops. Early communication is the biggest predictor of long-term sitter-dog match success.