Booking a dog walker means letting someone new into your home to care for a family member who can’t tell you how the visit went…that’s a big deal! And that’s why Bull City Pet Care starts every new client relationship with a free in-home consultation before any walks are ever scheduled.
Here’s exactly what to expect, step by step.
Step 1: Request Services
Everything starts with letting us know you’re interested. New clients can get started directly through our Request New Services page. Submitting the request doesn’t guarantee we’ll be the right fit, but you’ll hear back within 48 hours, and we may follow up with a few questions before setting up your consultation.
Step 2: Watch for Your Welcome Email
Once you’re in the pipeline, we’ll send a welcome email with our meeting availability, along with a link to your online client portal and login info — so you can get your account set up before we ever meet in person.
Step 3: Schedule Your Free Consultation
After your account is activated, you’ll let us know through the portal what days and times work best for a consultation at your home. This meeting is where we get to know each other — no pie required (though we’ll probably still show up with some pet hair on us).
Step 4: What to Have Ready at the Meeting
To make the consultation as smooth as possible, please have the following on hand:
- 2 sets of house keys, if your home uses traditional locks
- Key fobs, if needed for building or community access
- A general familiarity with our online policies, so we can answer any specific questions rather than walk through the whole document together
This is also the time we’ll walk through your dog’s routine, feeding schedule, and any quirks or special instructions — the details that help your walker’s first visit feel familiar rather than like a first day.
Step 5: Plan Ahead
One important detail: new dog walking, pet sitting, and specialty service requests need to be made at least 7 days in advance of your desired start date. If you know you’ll need a dog walker for an upcoming work trip or a permanent midday schedule, it’s worth reaching out sooner rather than later — especially since reservations are handled first come, first served.
Questions Before Your Meet & Greet?
If anything comes up before your scheduled visit, you can reach us directly at hello@bullcitypetcare.com or 919-740-7481. Otherwise, we’ll see you on the day and time you select.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re in our Durham service area, you can request services here or explore our Mid-Day Dog Walking page for visit lengths and pricing ahead of your consultation.
Annika Hugosson is a writer and marketing specialist with professional experience writing across various industries including sports, tattooing, veterinary medicine, and animal welfare. She has worked in soccer media, animal sheltering, and emergency veterinary medicine and presently manages a Durham tattoo shop, Ethereal Tattoo Gallery. Annika holds a Master of Science in anthrozoology (human–animal studies) and has completed additional graduate-level research focused on the human–animal bond. Her master’s research examined hyenas and the ways their portrayal in popular and scientific media shapes public perception and conservation outcomes. She has been published in academic journals and has presented at conferences on topics including pit bulls and gender, the usage of snakes’ skins in fashion, animal ethics in Harry Potter, and related issues at the intersection of culture, animals, and society. Outside of her professional work, Annika is interested in R+ dog training and has completed extensive group class training with her dog, Hawthorn, whom she adopted from the APS of Durham.
