Q: How long has Walk the Dog been in business? A: Walk the dog was established in 2002, but we have been in the pet care industry since 1997. Q: Is the company and its staff bonded and insured? A: Yes Q: Do you have references? A: Yes. Available upon request. Q: Do you offer boarding or “overnights”? A: No, but we do offer in-home care. (See below) Q: What is the difference between dog walking and pet sitting? A: Dog walking is routine care for your pet while you are away during the day. Pet sitting is in-home care scheduled multiple times per day to care for your pet(s) while you are out of town. Q: Do you only care for dogs? A: No, we care for all pets: dogs, cats, fish, birds, etc. Q: Do you only accept well-trained dogs? A: No. As a matter of fact our walks often help with training. Q: How many dogs are usually walked together? A: Sometimes dogs can be walked in small groups. This depends on pet’s temperament, location, etc. Most dogs enjoy the company and playtime with other pups and this also helps with ongoing training and socialization. Q: Where are the dogs walked? A: We try to maintain the dog’s normal routine. Whenever possible most walks will include park time, although in some cases (due to location) most of the walking time will be on the sidewalks of Baltimore. Q: What do you do if my dog doesn’t get along with other dogs? A: In the instance that a dog has aggressive tendencies towards other dogs, we will walk that dog by itself to insure its own safety and the safety of others. Q: My pet has special needs. Will you be able to administer his medications? A: Yes. Although we are not certified veterinarian technicians, we do have experience with most medicine applications (pill, injection, i.v., etc) If your pet needs medications please review the procedures with your pet sitter to insure correct administration. Q: What do you do in the case of extreme weather (i.e. snow, heavy rain, excessive heat)? A: In any weather extremes walks will be adjusted to fit your pet's needs. Q:I have an elderly dog/young puppy, will a walk with other dogs be too much for her? A: No. Most dogs enjoy the company of others. In addition, we match dogs by energy level to ensure a pleasant experience for all. Q: Do I have to be at home when you come to pick up/drop off my dog? A: No. In buildings with a concierge service you can have the key available at the desk, or have our staff keep possession of them. For those who do not live in buildings with a concierge service, you can entrust us with an extra set of keys. Remember, we are bonded and we have never had any problems regarding this matter. Q: How are your keys labeled? A: To insure the security of your family, pets and home, keys are labeled discreetly. Addresses, phone numbers or any other identifying information are not used. In addition, pet sitting care/information is not kept in the same location as keys. Q: How do I begin using Walk the Dog to care for my pets? A: Call or email us to set up a free initial consultation. When you meet with your pet sitter, please have ready a key, updated medical information and any other pertinent information they may require.