Macy Moore
Owner, MoorePetLove · Oakville, ON
Every new dog who comes to MoorePetLove starts with a meet and greet. Every single one — no exceptions. I know that might seem like an extra step, but I genuinely believe it's the most important part of the whole process. Here's what actually happens, and why it matters so much more than people expect.
You bring your dog over to my home. They get to sniff around the yard, explore the space, and just generally do dog things while we talk. I'll ask about their routine, their quirks, any medical stuff, what they're like with other dogs, how they sleep, whether they have any fears. You tell me everything I need to know. I take notes. Your dog, meanwhile, is usually busy investigating every inch of the backyard.
The meet and greet isn't just a paperwork exercise. I'm genuinely assessing whether this is going to be a good fit for your dog and for my existing household. If your dog is showing serious stress signals just from visiting, I want to know that before they're here for a boarding stay. And if something feels off for any reason — on either side — it's way better to figure that out now.
Honestly? I put a lot of stock in how a dog behaves during the meet and greet. A dog who comes in a little nervous but warms up, explores, and eventually settles is going to do just fine. A dog who's completely shut down the entire time needs a different approach. Watching how your dog interacts with the space — and with me — tells me more than any intake form ever could.
Dogs have a strong sense of spatial memory. If they've already been here — already sniffed the yard, the couch, the back door — the first boarding night is so much less disorienting. They walk in and something clicks: I've been here before. This is a familiar place. That recognition matters more than most people realize.
It takes 15–20 minutes, costs nothing, and makes everything easier. For you and for your dog.