Why a Meet-and-Greet Matters
A meet-and-greet is a short visit before you start walking a new client's dog — and it serves both sides. The client gets to see how you interact with their dog and ask questions. You get to meet the dog in a low-pressure setting, see the home, and collect the information you'll need before you're ever alone with their pet.
Skipping this step to save time can backfire — showing up for a first solo walk without knowing the dog's quirks, the home's layout, or who to call in an emergency puts you in a harder position than a 20-minute visit would have.
Before the Visit
When scheduling the meet-and-greet, set expectations so the client knows what to expect:
Bring a notepad or your phone to take notes — you'll be covering a lot of information in a short time, and you don't want to be reconstructing it from memory afterward.
During the Visit: Your Checklist
Use this as a starting point and adjust based on the client and dog:
| Category | What to Cover |
|---|---|
| Home access | How you'll get in (key, lockbox, smart lock), where to park, any specific entry instructions |
| Emergency info | Vet name and phone number, emergency contact (if owner is unreachable), any pet insurance info |
| Health & medical | Medications and schedule, allergies, mobility issues, anything that affects how far/fast the dog can walk |
| Behavior | Reactivity to other dogs/people, leash manners, recall, any commands the dog responds to |
| Routine | Feeding times (if relevant to your visit), bathroom habits, favorite/avoided routes |
| House rules | Areas off-limits, what to do with the leash/gear after the walk, alarm codes if applicable |
| Your policies | Confirm the client has seen your cancellation policy and rates |
What to Observe About the Dog
Beyond the questions you ask the owner, pay attention to the dog itself during the visit:
- How does the dog react to you? Cautious-but-warming-up is normal; persistent fear or aggression toward a stranger in their own home is worth discussing openly with the owner
- How does the dog respond to a leash? If possible, walk the dog briefly (with the owner present) to get a sense of pulling, reactivity, or leash manners
- Physical condition — anything that suggests the dog may need a gentler pace or shorter walks than the owner described
If anything concerns you, this is the time to raise it — see handling aggressive or difficult dogs for how to navigate that conversation.
It's Okay to Decline
A meet-and-greet exists so both sides can assess fit — including you. If you have real concerns about a dog's behavior, the home environment, or anything else, it's better to decline politely after the meet-and-greet than to take on a client you're not comfortable serving.
Keeping Meet-and-Greet Notes Organized
The information you gather during a meet-and-greet — vet contacts, medical notes, behavioral quirks, access details — is exactly the kind of thing that's easy to lose track of once you're juggling multiple clients. DogWalkr lets you keep these details attached to each client's profile, so they're there when you need them, not buried in old notes.
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