I had the unfortunate chance that a similar overnight in a clients home (also an apartment) happened this past Christmas.

I had a meet and greet prior to the stay with her two dogs, they were fun, interactive, polite, listened well, etc. We made arrangements for me to arrive for the stay prior to her leaving, so that the dogs would not be surprised at someone entering the home without the owner. However, she ended up having to leave earlier than planned, and called to tell me from the airport. I was not concerned, as the dogs had met and interacted with me just the day before and there had been no complications.

Needless to say, I arrived at the apartment and the two dogs were going crazy on the other side of the door, barking, growling, snapping, and not allowing me to enter the home. I ended up sitting on their stoop for about 2 hours talking to the dogs and trying to calm them before they finally let me enter the home. Once inside they were very skittish of me still for about 45 mins to an hour before they would allow me to leash them and take them outside.

After that we were great friends and whenever I would enter the home they would be waiting to great me (very much as friends) at the door.

I definitely suggest setting up at client home stays in a way that the exchange is overlapping. I have had the most success in that way. Otherwise, you run the risk of the dog defending it's home (which I would whole heartedly expect).

I also require the Emergency Contact to be someone that is not traveling with them, so the second owner is not good enough. I require both owners numbers for the stay and another Emergency Contact, I have had a few stays where the owners were unreachable, and the second owner's number is no good if they are in the same location as the first.

I have had a few requests, and I typically require a Meet and Greet if they are a new client, repeats are not an issue. There are of course exceptions... it is understandable if their previous sitter canceled on them, creating a last minute situation. I tend to ask a lot of questions and judge their responses critically, if there is any uncertainty then I just decline. With each decline I offer an opportunity for a future meet and greet to get acquainted so that the last minute booking request isnt an issue in the future.

My biggest concern is the interaction of their dog with mine... you cannot predict how a dog is going to act, even the best trained dog... and I dont tend to trust an owner when they assure me that there dog is friendly with all dogs, until I see it.

I personally would love to have the reviews of each dog that we have stay shared with other sitters. It would be great to know the truth about a stay prior to it happening, as I have had many owners lie to me about their dogs behavior, aggression, etc.

I have never posted a link on Craigslist, mainly because I just cannot imagine getting proper business from it in this day and age, and also because of all the posts I have read on here from people that have gotten scammed.

Proceed with caution, is the best advice I can give.

If this is a concern for you, then you have options.

• You can have your pup(s) stay with a sitter at their home.
• Be diligent in your decision of a sitter if you want the stay to be at your home, rather than a sitters home. A Meet and Greet should be standard, check to see if they have a verified Background check badge on their profile from Rover, or install a security system with cameras of sort.

I have stayed at several homes for pups that are just more comfortable in their own home, which is understandable of course, and some of them have had cameras installed. None of this bothered me, they told me where they were (which made me feel better about being watched), and I am not the kind of person to steal or snoop anyways :)

You always have options when it comes to Rover, it is just deciding which is best for you and your pup(s).

I do the same.