Having a stranger take care of your pet can be a stressful experience for both the owner and the pet. Since I'll be going into the pet's territory, I like to have them come up to me on their terms. Sometimes this is with a bribe of freeze-dried chicken (with owner's permission, of course) or just ignoring them as they get used to my presence. If I take dogs on walks, I will need to know their reactivity levels to keep them safe.