Can Trust Be Built
with an Anxious Pet?

​

At Not My Dog Pet Services,
we believe every pet deserves
patience, understanding,
and a gentle hand.

We’ve had the joy of
working with many
anxious, timid and shy
animals; from pups who
barked at the gate to kitties
hiding under furniture. We know
 that not every pet is ready to be
best friends right away; and that’s okay!

Some of the sweetest bonds are the ones we build patiently and gently. Whether it’s a cautious sniff, a slow tail wag, or that first brave nudge for pats, we celebrate every little milestone. Through time, trust, treats (lots of treats), and loads of love, we helped them feel safe, seen, and totally spoiled.

Here are just a few stories of pets who were once nervous, shy, or scared; and how, with time, trust and a little patience, we became the best of buddies.

Every pet’s trust is earned, not demanded; and we’re honoured every time they let us into their hearts.

Meet Our Brave Fur-Friends.

Trust Tales!

Celebrating the shy, the scared, and
the ones who just needed a little extra love!

Coco

The Courageous Sweetheart

​

Meet Coco, a sweet red cattle dog I had the pleasure of looking after for around a week! When I first visited, Coco was super anxious and nervous, barking and keeping her distance. But with a little patience and love, we became the best of friends.

Day 1: Barked and growled, wouldn’t come close to the fence.
I just sat by the fence and talked to her softly to let her know I wasn’t a threat and that I provide the yummy food.

Day 2: She barked again but came closer to eat her food while I sat at the fence and calmly talked to her.

Day 3: Success! Coco sniffed me, let me pat her, and even ate food from my hand!

Day 4: Coco ran to the fence for pats and kept nudging my hand for more.

By the end of the week, Coco was my shadow, happily playing ball and soaking up all the affection!

If you’ve got an anxious pup, don’t worry. I’ll take the time to help them feel comfy and safe, just like I did with Coco.

Granita

The Treat Tester

​

Meet Granita, a German Shepherd, Labrador, and Belgian Shepherd mix with a very selective friend list. On our first meet-and-greet, she made it very clear I was not on that list; barking at me the whole time and making sure I kept my distance.

Determined to win her over, I spent one day a week for a few weeks visiting just to get her used to me before I had to look after her and her siblings. The key? Treats. Lots and lots of treats. But even then, she wasn’t fully convinced.

Each visit, she barked at me like I was an uninvited guest at her exclusive VIP club. And mealtime? She refused to eat with her siblings because she had to keep an eye on me at all times.

Slowly but surely, we had a breakthrough; one treat-filled trust-building session at a time. One day, she finally played with me. Then she started eating with her siblings. And then… drumroll please… I GOT TO PAT HER! I had officially been accepted into her circle of trust.

If you’ve got a protective pup, don’t worry. I’ll take the time to slowly gain their trust so they are comfortable with me being around.

Before

After

Indigo

The Shy Sniffer

​

Meet Indigo, a long haired Chihuahua. Unlike her brothers, Indigo isn’t the biggest fan of new people. When I first met Indigo, she wasn’t buying what I was selling. The treats were not good enough for her!

Winning her over took patience, a suspicious stare and a few polite sniffs from her, and a LOT of encouragement while laying on the floor like a weirdo so I didn’t seem like a scary monster.

Day 1: Lots of barking, but she gave me a sniff and accepted a treat. Progress!

Day 2: Still skeptical, but she took more treats and even gave me a few sneaky licks. Her brothers presence gave her more confidence.

Day 3: WE HAVE FRIENDSHIP! Indigo finally let me give her pats, and I felt like I won an award.

Her confidence grew each day I spent more time with her.

Trust isn’t instant with some animals, and that’s okay. Sometimes, all it takes is patience, treats, and a lot of lying on the floor pretending you don’t exist.

Gypsy

The Brave Explorer

​

Meet Gypsy, a beautiful, anxious and shy Staffy with a big heart. For 9 nights, we worked on building trust, and the transformation was incredible.

Day 1: Gypsy wanted nothing to do with me. She hid under the house and wouldn’t come close, not even for a walk.

Day 2: Gypsy barked at me when I arrived and still hid under the house. I sat outside, put some food down, and she eventually came out to eat next to me. Progress!

Day 3: Gypsy still hid when I arrived, but soon came out to greet me. She even showed me her belly and let me sit with her. When I grabbed the lead, she got excited and we went for our first walk together!

Day 4: A complete turnaround! Gypsy greeted me at the gate with excitement, followed me into the house, and soaked up all the belly rubs and scratches. After our walk, she relaxed with me inside, and we even played chase in the backyard!

By the end of our time together, Gypsy was a completely different dog, and it was such a rewarding journey to see her confidence grow.

This experience is a reminder that you can’t rush trust – you have to let them come to you on their terms.

Before

After

Charlotte

The Freeze Frame Queen

​

Meet Charlotte, a sweet Greyhound. When I first started walking Charlotte, I quickly learned she’s got her own special style; we’re talking Greyhound Freeze Mode.

Those who have Greyhounds, probably know they are known for their occasional freezing; this is a stress response.

Charlotte was always quite nervous with her surroundings. One minute she’s happily trotting along, the next she’s frozen mid-step, refusing to budge if something looks suspicious.

Instead of rushing her, I gave her the time she needed, plenty of gentle encouragement and “you got this, girl!” pep talks.

Fast forward a few walks later, and Charlotte was trusting me more and more and strutting along like a true queen (with the occasional dramatic pause, of course!). The distance we walked at the start was now a lot further and we were even able to go other directions. I am so proud of her for how far she has come!

Patience and understanding is the key with this sweet girl and I’m happy to let her lead the way.

Sergeant

The Security Guard

​

Meet Sergeant, a handsome husky with serious security skills and a bark that says, “Who goes there, hooman?!

I visit Sergeant and his fluffy siblings twice a week, and let’s just say… he takes his role as backyard security very seriously. He’s not aggressive, just a little suspicious.

Every visit, I’m greeted with a dramatic bark performance, followed by him keeping one eye on me and the other firmly on the treat pouch.

I’ve learned not to make too much eye contact or sudden movements. Instead, I lean casually on the deck, let him sniff me, offer a treat, and quietly hope he doesn’t let out a bark right in my ear.

But guess what? We’re making progress! Sergeant now allows exactly one pat... before remembering he’s meant to be suspicious. It’s like a very slow dance of trust and snacks.

We’re working on trust, one treat bribe at a time – and I just know we’ll be besties soon (he just doesn’t know it yet).

Before

Book

​

NEW CLIENT?

Book in an initial Meet & Greet
via our booking system, noting your
selected dates and booking requirements.

​Book Now

Please note; for new clients, you must book in a Meet and Greet
prior to booking your dates. Existing clients do not require another
Meet and Greet and may book in dates as you wish.

EXISTING CLIENT?

Book in your dates via our booking system,
noting your requirements. You will also be required
to make payment to secure your booking.

​Book Now

Please note; your booking will not be
secured until full payment is made.

Enquire

​

HAVE AN ENQUIRY?

Send us a message via Messenger Chat
and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

​

Frequently Asked

​

After

Pet Sitting

House Visits

Dog Walking