10/21/2026
I just wanted to go over two different things. There is aggressive and then there’s reactive when it comes to dogs and I’ve had quite a few clients either think their dogs are aggressive, worried that nobody will want to watch them because of how they act or don’t have somebody to ask the right questions to.
If your dog is barking at the door, at people, or even just randomness… that is reactive. Reactive is usually from lack of training, puppy phases where they’re still working out who the dominant one is in the pack and a lot of times just overstimulation and boredom.
If your dog is attacking the kennel, if they have whale eyes where you can see the whites of their eyes, if their fur is standing up on their back, low tail wags, and even back-and-forth pacing… your dog is showing scared, unsure aggressive behavior.
I am by no means a trainer, I’ve just worked around animals 20+ years and like to share and pass on helpful information.
When working with somebody new, be upfront tell them you’re unsure how your dog is going to handle the situation, tell them if you’re unsure if they’re aggressive or reactive. Either they’ll feel comfortable to come to your home or they’ll ask to meet you at a neutral place to make the dog feel less protective of their home, but it is very important as well to please make sure your animals are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. Rabies protocol is not fun for humans and it’s a long process. 
Even with dogs that I’m familiar with that are considered working dogs. I do re-introductions with if it has been a long time since I’ve seen them just to make sure everyone’s on the same page still, I feel like this is very important for people that are working in this field.
I love furbabies and I want people to feel comfortable in who their hiring and that they’re in safe hands while their away. ❤️