Every year, the second full week of April marks National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and here at Puppy Love Pet Sitting, it’s something we take seriously every day—not just once a year. As pet professionals serving Wimberley, our top priorities are the safety of our team members and the well-being of the animals in our care.
One part of our training we are especially proud of is that every team member we hire completes thorough training in Dog Body Language and Bite Prevention. We want our sitters to feel confident walking into any home and interacting safely and respectfully with your pets. Understanding subtle signs of stress, fear, or discomfort in a dog can prevent bites before they happen. Dogs can’t tell us directly when they’re feeling nervous. It’s up to us to learn, understand and respect the cues they give us.
We also want to acknowledge a truth that many pet professionals learn early:
Any dog with teeth can bite. Even the sweetest, most loving dogs can lash out if they’re in pain, scared, or overwhelmed. That’s why we prioritize prevention—not only for our team’s safety but also to avoid putting dogs in situations where they feel threatened or anxious enough to react.
It’s also important to remember that not all dog bites stem from fear or aggression. Sometimes, even playful or overly enthusiastic dogs can unintentionally cause harm. The worst bite I ever received on the job was from a sweet, happy Labrador who was just too excited about the treat I had in my hand. He jumped up to grab it in pure excitement—and ended up puncturing my hand in the process. That experience taught me a valuable lesson: our whole team now avoids giving treats directly from our hands and instead use them strategically, tossing them on the ground or dispersing them around for an enriching “hunt”. We’re also extra mindful of where dogs are during interactions, making sure we’re not caught off guard during a moment of unexpected play. Setting dogs up for success helps keep everyone safe—and happy.
As a Fear Free Certified company, we approach pet care through a lens of compassion and understanding. Fear Free methods help us minimize fear, anxiety, and stress in pets, making every visit a positive experience. From using low-stress handling techniques to respecting a pet’s boundaries, our goal is to support both your pet’s emotional well-being and our sitter’s confidence and safety.
Because safety is such a vital part of what we do, we unfortunately cannot accept dogs with known fear-based aggression. This doesn’t mean we don’t care—we do, deeply. But in-home pet care requires a level of trust and safety that can be hard to maintain when fear-based aggression is present. We’re always happy to refer pet parents to local trainers or behaviorists who can help work through those issues.
As a proud member of the Wimberley pet care community, we’re committed to setting the standard for safe, compassionate care. National Dog Bite Prevention Week is the perfect time to talk about the proactive steps we take to protect everyone—humans and animals alike.
If you’re looking for a professional pet sitter in Wimberley who understands your pet’s emotional needs and takes safety seriously, we’d love to talk with you. Contact us today!
