Frequently Asked Questions

As you sign up with Silver Hound, you will create your own account on our Silver Hound portal which is hosted by Precise Petcare. From there you can easily schedule services 24/7.

Our initial Meet & Greet is complimentary, provided we have enough advance notice to coordinate schedules and introduce all required team members during the same visit. Typically, this includes O’Brian (co-owner) along with one to two of our pet care specialists.

If an additional meeting is needed — for example to introduce another walker, go over instructions again, or test keys/access — a $35 fee will apply.

To make the most of your complimentary Meet & Greet, we ask that everything is set up in advance, including:

• A lockbox installed in an accessible location

• Two working keys placed inside

• All access details entered in the portal

• Food, supplies, and instructions ready

This allows us to ensure a smooth start and avoid the need for additional visits.

Meet & Greets take place in your home, where your pet is most comfortable and where we’ll be providing our services. This allows us to review your routine, go over care instructions, and ensure we’re fully prepared for a smooth start.

During the visit, we’ll also confirm home access (lockbox or keypad), test keys, get to know your pet, and answer any questions you may have.

Once you are ready to get started, just fill out the Client Questionnaire Form right here and we will contact you to set up a Meet & Greet.

For dog walking services we are available Monday through Friday from 10 am until 4 pm. 

For cat sitting services we are available every day of the year from 9 am until 7 pm.

We will use either a garage code, keys stored in a lockbox on site at your home or through a keyless entry system. You can find lockboxes we recommend on our Favorites page.

All of our visits are GPS verified - once the dog walker/cat sitter gets to your house and once they leave they will leave a GPS stamp. As a client you will receive your own account through which you can schedule and cancel appointments, contact our team and view any invoices on your profile. At the end of each visit you will receive a pet care journal with notes about the visit and pictures of your pet(s).

You can view all your past and future visits including all past pet care journals within the portal.

Each visit includes a structured walk, fresh water refill, and personalized care based on your dog’s routine. We also provide GPS time stamps and visit updates so you know exactly when your dog was walked and how they did.

Yes. We provide GPS-tracked visit reports (pet care journals) with updates, so you can see when the visit started, how long it lasted, and how your dog or cat did. You can view an example of a pet care journal right here.

We walk dogs and complete visits regardless of the weather.

Rare exceptions are when it’s unsafe for our pet care specialists to travel or walk around. That’s the case when it is too slippery to drive and walk outside and when a state of emergency is declared by the Governor.

Cat visits will be performed as soon as it’s safe to travel again.

Dog walks are either canceled or performed a few hours later once the roads are safe to drive on again, depending if the dog parent is home or not.

Depending if dog walks or cat visits are being canceled, a specific cancellation policy applies. Our full cancellation policy is explained in our service agreement, which you will be able to read once you sign up on our Silver Hound portal or by emailing us at Zue@SilverHoundDogWalking.com.

We are a “reservation service” and requests, excluding regular midday dog walking services, are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
While we will make every effort to meet last-minute needs, we cannot provide “on-call” service consistently and can not guarantee coverage. Advance scheduling is strongly recommended to ensure coverage of your dog walking and cat sitting needs.
Any requests 72 hours prior to the booked visit prior allow less time and flexibility in coordinating coverage and will incur a $15 surcharge.

The same pet care specialist who has been trained with your pet will take care of your pet on the regular, but we cannot guarantee just one pet care specialist.

We set you up with a team of trained specialists trained on the last detail to ensure perfect delivery of services.

Our team members will always be introduced to your pet and their routine by a trained senior team member. Before we introduce any new team member to your pet, you will receive an email from us with a link to a Bio page with a picture of the pet care specialist.

You can get an overview of our entire team at Silver Hound right here.

We are best suited for clients needing a recurring walking schedule 2 - 5 days/week Monday through Friday. This way we are able to lock you in the schedule for guaranteed service delivery.

Absolutely, contact us and we will be more than happy to give you a discount once you book a certain number of dog walks per month.

While we're happy to walk multiple dogs from the same household together, we don't walk dogs in groups unless they're all from the same family. We prioritize individual attention for each pet, ensuring they receive the care and focus they deserve during our time together.

No, at this moment we do not offer this service.

We visit your cat(s) in your home while you are away.  Most cats do better when they are in their familiar environment.  

We are also gladly bringing in your mail & packages, alternate your lights & blinds and water your plants. 

Shy cats are common. Our cat sitters are experienced in caring for them and will ensure food, water, and litter are maintained while allowing the cat to feel safe and comfortable. It depends whether your cat welcomes it or not, but we will try to 

Cat Sitting Visits:
Absolutely! We are available for services 365 days/year.

Dog Walking Visits:
We don’t book dog walking services on (federal) Holidays, since by the nature of the service, our clients are not working during that time and therefore are not requiring their regular dog walks.

We strive to simplify the payment process for our services. By using our Silver Hound Portal, you have the option to securely store your credit or debit card details on your profile.

Before your card is being charged, you are receiving an itemized invoice via email and you can view any invoices on your profile in our Silver Hound Portal.

Since we never overbook, we require payment in advance, so your time slot is reserved just for you.

Dog Walking Visits: Your card is being charged on the 20th of each month for services occuring in the following month. For example: Dog Walking Visits for the month of April 2024 Monday through Friday will be charged on March 20th. This way your time slot is reserved just for you.

Cat Sitting Visits: Your card is being charged as soon as your service request is approved.

*For any services that were charged but canceled outside of our cancellation policy, the amount will be applied to your account as an open payment to be deducted from your next invoice.

Yes. All of our dog walkers are fully insured, bonded, and carefully vetted. We hire experienced professionals to ensure your dog receives safe, reliable, and high-quality care.Our insurance policy information is available upon request.

We offer service windows for your pet's needs, allowing us to schedule within these blocks to accommodate your pet(s).
While we strive for consistency, occasional circumstances and the nature of the schedule will prevent us from arriving at your house at an exact time each visit.
However, the time window provides flexibility for scheduling while maintaining consistency in our services.

Exact times of services will be up to the discretion of management taking into account age and health of each animal in our care.

We charge an additional $10 per visit on weekends and an additional $20 per visit on Holidays.

We want to fairly compensate our employees at all times, so we also reward them for the time they are working and away from their families during the weekend and Holiday time.

Yes. Visit updates are provided so you know your cat has been cared for, and everything is in order. You will receive a pet care journal with multiple pictures and details on how the visit went. You can view an example of a pet care journal right here.

Yes. We specialize in dog walking & and cat sitting in Maplewood, South Orange, West Orange, and Millburn, NJ. Our team is local, experienced, and familiar with the neighborhoods, parks, and routines in these communities.

Dog walking in Maplewood, South Orange, and Millburn typically costs between $20–$40 per visit, depending on the length of the walk, frequency, and your dog’s needs. At Silver Hound Dog Walking, we offer customized plans to ensure your dog gets the right level of care and attention. In addition you can review our rates right here: https://silverhounddogwalking.com/dog-walking/

Most dogs benefit from 1–3 walks per day, especially if they are left home alone while you’re at work. Puppies, senior dogs, and high-energy breeds may need more frequent visits to stay healthy and comfortable.

Yes, especially for busy professionals and families. Regular dog walking helps prevent behavioral issues, supports physical health, and ensures your dog gets consistent exercise and attention during the day.

Yes. Professional dog walkers enter your home to safely leash your dog, complete the walk, and ensure they are settled comfortably before leaving. We follow strict security protocols to protect your home and your pet.

Dog walking is often a better option for dogs who prefer their home environment, need one-on-one attention, or do not thrive in group settings. Daycare can be overwhelming for some dogs, while walks provide structured exercise with less stress.

Click this link to fill out our client questionnaire, and then you will be contacted by Zue within 24 hours to schedule a Meet & Greet! Once we determine we are a good fit for each other, you will be prompted to create an account on our Silver Hound portal, from which you can then add all the relevant (pet) information, book services, view invoices, and read our pet journals.

We focus on professional, reliable care with a small, experienced team of W2-Employees (not contractors!). Unlike app-based walkers, we provide consistent service, personalized attention, and a higher standard of accountability.

Cat sitting typically costs between $37 and $45 per visit depending on visit length, number of cats, and care requirements.

Most cats need 1–2 visits per day for feeding, litter box cleaning, and companionship. Some cats may be fine with one visit, while others benefit from more frequent attention.

A typical visit includes feeding, fresh water, litter box cleaning, medication if needed, and time spent with your cat for companionship and monitoring.

Yes. Most cats prefer staying in their home environment, which reduces stress and keeps their routine consistent compared to boarding facilities.

Some cats can be left alone for short periods, but daily visits by a professional cat sitter are strongly recommended to ensure food, water, and litter are maintained and to monitor your cat’s health. In addition, cats get lonely, too. It takes an emotional toll for some cats to be left alone for too long.

Yes. Litter box cleaning is included in every visit to maintain hygiene and ensure your cat’s comfort.

Yes. Cat sitters ensure doors and windows remain secure and follow protocols to keep indoor cats safe at all times.

Yes. Cat sitting services are available throughout Maplewood, South Orange, West Orange, and Millburn NJ.

You should provide feeding instructions, litter details, emergency contacts, and any medical or behavioral information about your cat. At Silver Hound, you can easily provide all this information in our Silver Hound Portal.

Click this link to fill out our client questionnaire, and then you will be contacted by Zue within 24 hours to schedule a Meet & Greet! Once we determine we are a good fit for each other, you will be prompted to create an account on our Silver Hound portal, from which you can then add all the relevant (pet) information, book services, view invoices, and read our pet journals.