meet and greets
How do I have a successful meet and greet?
5 Answers
Laura had a great answer. Dogs should never be allowed to sniff nose to nose (on leash) for more than a couple seconds. Never let two over excited or pushy dogs just rush each other. Immediately start walking side by side. Butt sniffing is the dog version of a handshake, but has much more detail for dogs. They can tell if other dog is happy, stressed, sick or other through the smell of their urine.
Comments
Wow, I didn't know that, thanks! I usually let them sniff each other as long as they want, but then a sniff turns into a growl... ...And of course, that doesn't look friendly.
I'm really happy with our M&G set up. I have clients come to my home (since I'm a boarder, this allows them to see where their dog will be staying, as well as give them an idea of drive time before the drop off). I keep an eye out for them and go outside and greet them at the curb. Then I bring my dogs out for quick introductions, and we take all the dogs for a walk around the neighborhood. This allows the humans time to get acquainted and allows the dogs to settle down from that initial greeting excitement by giving them something to do as a group activity.
Dogs often get frustrated with on leash interactions because they are forced to stay in close proximity and are unable to move freely. Normally, two socialized off leash dogs meeting will sniff briefly, then either disengage and go on their respective ways, or transition to some other group activity, like sniffing around together or playing. On leash dogs don't get to progress past the first part. They aren't free to disengage, but they also aren't free to choose a new activity together. The resulting confusion and frustration can lead to leash reactivity or aggression if one dog wants more space than they are allowed or wants to play but is unable. Letting the dogs sniff briefly then immediately transitioning to a group walk helps alleviate some of that potential frustration and lets everyone get used to the new companions in a non-confrontational way. I use the walk as a time to chat with the owners and get to know them a little bit. I'll ask some questions about the dog and their habits, but generally I don't use this time to ask any questions I need to remember the answer to, since I can't take notes. If the dogs are doing well together and seem to want to play, there's a field near my house where they can run around a bit. I've got a variety of long training leads* to keep control over the dogs while they get to know each other while still allowing them space to move around more naturally.
Finally, after the walk/playtime, we'll go inside to discuss the details of the stay - the dog's routine, rules, likes/dislikes, pick up and drop off times, etc. Usually by then we've all got a good idea of whether or not the stay will work out. Almost all of our M&Gs turn into bookings, with a couple that didn't work out due to dog incompatibilities and a couple where they met with multiple sitters and one of the others ended up being a better match. If the M&G has gone well, I'll initiate the booking as soon as it's over.
*Training leads are ridiculously expensive for what they are. I highly recommend just getting paracord or a...
Like Katherine, I don't have any dogs of my own, and I used to not care about the Meet and Greets. I've since made it unofficially required.
My Mom takes care of the boarders two days a week while I work a 11 hour shift. The M&G helps me get an idea of the dog's needs before I leave her (a less enthusiastic dog person) to care for them. Even if that's not your situation, the M&G allows you to see the dog firsthand and then decide if you want to officially book. The Owner's description of their dog, and your assessment may not always agree.
Comments
Totally agree with this. Just because you don't have pets to meet doesn't mean there won't be another reason you aren't compatible with a potential client or their dog. Maybe something in your home won't be a good fit, like a scary ceiling fan (SERIOUSLY.), or tempting chewable couch cushions, or someone with a suspicious beard/hat/who knows what. You may feel equipped to handle anything, but that doesn't mean the dog will be comfortable with you. The only times I don't do a M&G are for out of towners looking for daycare, because I can separate the dogs completely if needed to focus on the comfort of the guest, and they wouldn't have an opportunity to do a M&G with anyone else, either.
Hi Laura- thank you for the comment it was really helpful since i'm
new to Rover and the community page as well. Thanks again
Since I have become a doggie sitter, I have no pets of my own. I think this is a big factor on how I am generally booked back to back. As far as the meet and greet goes, personally I do not care for it. I find that a lot of the pet owners are as busy as I am and they feel forced into this meet and greet by the site. So, right away in my first response I let the owners know that it is not required, but of course if they want to set up an appointment I will gladly meet whenever their schedule allows it. Most people if really that curious after reading my profile and looking at the photo's will or can drive by if they want to check out the neighborhood, etc., I know I would.