Pooch’s Best Friend

Really disappointed in our experience with Pooch’s Best Friend. We recently took a trip for the Holidays and left our five (yes, five) small dogs in their care. We bent over backwards to provide tons and tons of detailed instructions and information since we understood five dogs is a pretty big undertaking. Unfortunately, PBF really dropped the ball on multiple fronts.
We came home to all five dogs basically roaming free throughout the house, not kept in their individual enclosures as we had asked, multiple dog messes (puddles of urine, feces), stains, etc. that had been left uncleaned all over our floors, and Daisy, our pug, was in seriously bad shape and had to be hospitalized the next day for a blood transfusion. We had specifically asked PBF to look out for her while we were gone because we knew she was under the weather. Despite Daisy having a fever and looking worse for wear on our return, PBF never contacted us about this, never let us know Daisy was taking a turn for the worse, and seemed not to notice anything was wrong with her at all. (FYI, she is now fine after a multi-​day stay at the hospital which might have been shortened if we’d been advised of her condition and had gotten her treated earlier).
We also received reports from some friends who stopped by the house that PBF repeatedly failed to lock up after themselves even though we had purchased a special key lockbox specifically for their use and given them explicit instructions about locking up.
I realize five dogs is a lot, but we really tried help out with instructions, making our phones available throughout our trip, and making sure PBF was able to reach out to us at virtually any time in case they had questions. We paid over $ 400 for five days of care and basically had to clean our entire house (and hospitalize one of the dogs) after returning from our trip. This is unacceptable.
We reached out to the owner to demand a refund and she was extremely slow to respond, before sending us a text message that basically ignored our refund demand entirely and, strangely, requested that we let her come by the house to walk through the problem areas, as if better explanations were even the issue anymore.
We’ve had ok (still not great) experiences with PBF in the past with fewer dogs, but this really floored us. I see they have some very great reviews from other Unilocalers, so I can really only speak to our individual experiences, but we will never be using this service again. If you do want to use them, maybe do a trial run when you won’t be gone for an extended period (like while you’re at work for the day) to see if they can handle your setup. Hopefully you have a better experience than we did, because this was shameful.

I have been using PBF for years, and can’t say enough good things about them. Nadia and crew are super professional and really show that they care about your pets. The whole team is easy to work with, and my cats love them!

Pooch’s Best Friend is absolutely the best dog sitting company in OC. The owner Nadia is super friendly and down to earth. She’s also extremely responsive and professional. Nadia was able to accommodate my schedule when I unexpectedly had to go to out of town, and I didn’t have anyone to take care of my dog.
She’s licensed, insured, and legit. Nadia genuinely cares about the best interest of your pet’s well being and is extremely trustworthy. I highly recommend Pooch’s Best Friend!

Amazing people and they offer a great service. I never have to worry about the care and love they give my dog. They even leave a report after each visit.

I have used the bird and dog sitting service so many times I’ve lost count. Every time is consistently great. Even my birds love them. Joslin is amazing with the birds and goes out of her way to give them special attention. They definitely have fallen in love with her which is amazing since they don’t let anyone but myself get close to them. I feel soooooo happy to have Joslin as our sitter! There is something very special about a person that can calm and reassure animals so easily.

Pooch’s Best Friend is a well –run professional organization. I am most impressed with the level of care.

Peace of mind that your little pups are safe and sound while you’re out traveling the world is really hard to find, and I am ever so thankful for Pooch’s Best Friend for providing that. We recently returned home from a two week vacation in Ecuador where cell service was a bit spotty. Nadia, Jen, and Lindsay tag teamed our overnight and daily visits during the two weeks and didn’t miss a beat. I received photos, texts and emails updating me, and I have to say it made our getaway all the more enjoyable to know the pups were happy and safe back at home.
The service is very well run by Nadia, and you can tell that all of the sitters really love animals and want to make sure they’re cared for like they’re their own. I have nothing but trust and respect for this service and we will continue to use them for all our pet sitting needs. I have to mention that we came home to not only a super clean house, but also a little food gift and card left for us. Talk about a special touch! Thanks Pooch’s Best Friend! I highly recommend to anyone needing extraordinary pet care.

Review on Dog Training:
I hate to leave this negative review, because Lindsay and Nadia were so incredible nice and professional (which is why I rate this 2 stars and not 0), but we are very disappointed in the dog training services.
We bought a package of 6 private training classes for $ 90 apiece ($ 540 total). At the time, I was 7 months pregnant, and we wanted our 6 months old puppy trained on several specific items. We clearly communicated that these items were: her jumping on people, her leash pulling, and not coming back on command/​hearing her name.
At the initial consultation, we showed that we had already trained our puppy to sit, ring a bell on the door to signal that she needed to go outside, and to wait for our command before she ate any food from her bowl. But because I was 7 months pregnant, I had physical limitations in training her on the other commands mentioned above.
At the consultation, we were never told that any of these goals could not be met. In fact, the contract that we signed said that she would be trained within 4 to 6 sessions. Not once were we given any other expectations than that she would be trained in
Needless to say, at the end of it all, she had learned NONE of the commands, and the only new skill she had successfully learned was the «down» command, which we had no interest in teaching her.
I reached out to Nadia concerning this, and she had offered to include additional free training as part of overnight dog sitting or day time dog walking. But we never ended up needing those services, so the additional training wasn’t received. That was 6 months ago, and the only thing I heard since then was a text from Lindsey about 3 months ago offering holiday dog sitting services.
We have since had my dog successfully trained in what we needed, but we still look at each other and say that we can’t believe we had had to pay so much money for nothing.
Nadia is very nice and professional, and I’m sure their house/​dog sitting services are great, but I did not experience a great result with their dog training.

Nadia and Lindsey are by far the best in pet sitting. I have a old dog and 2 cats. They took care of them with such loving care! I use their services for doggie breaks, cat visits, or overnight care when we travel. Each time, I am more impressed with the quality of care. They send frequent updates, pictures, and are so easy to book and contact. My fur babies get plenty of water, right foods, meds, and walks. I am so happy to have found them!

First and certainly not the last time I’m using Nadia’s services. Great communication throughout the entire process and her dedication is unmatched. Highly recommend!

Nadia and Lindsay were very nice. I’ve never had a pet sitting service before but from now on, we’ll be repeat clients. From the initial contact for inquiry to consultation and meeting our sitter was easy and quick. Everything was smooth and Nadia and Lindsay were more than accommodating.
I love the fact that our girls (2 shih tzu) were able to stay in their home and had been under care of wonderful person who fed, walked, and updated me about how they were doing each time she was visiting (3 days).
I called Nadia pretty late (2 days before my trip) but was able to book the service. Glad I found good people. My trip was even more enjoyable thanks to their wonderful service.
Thank you again Nadia and Lindsay!

I was excited when I found a pet sitting place with decent reviews on Unilocal,but sadly I was not able to experience what everyone is raving about. I called 4 times during working hours– left 2 voice mails, and never got a call back or was ever able to get a hold of anyone. I waited 5 days before writing this review to see if I would get a call back, but still ZILCH. Disheartening to say the least.

I have a 2-​year-​old female cat who receives pet care services from Pooch’s Best Friend when I am out-​of-​town or away on vacation. As a rescue cat (with a history of abandonment and neglect), she is very timid and easily startled by strangers who come to my home. She does not like noise or sudden movements; and hides under a bed when she is feeling anxious or afraid.
The owner of Pooch’s Best Friend («Nadia») will meet you (and your pet) at your home to obtain information about the needs of your pet (such as food, health information, feeding, dietary needs, etc.). Nadia is very thorough, considerate, and professional. She is a true pet lover. Thereafter, it is easy to make pet care appointments with Pooch’s Best Friend in advance, using a computerized on-​line reservation system (which also allows for convenient payment, via a credit card).
A few months ago, I was on a 2-​week vacation and relied on Pooch’s Best Friend to provide my beloved cat with fresh food, fresh drinking water, fresh cat litter, plenty of affection, playtime, and hands-​on love, kindness and care. While I was away, my cat received twice-​daily care from her two responsible pet care providers. Plus, the pet care providers sent me email updates and photographs showing my cat at home — so that I could enjoy my vacation, without being worried about my cat while I was away. I was VERY happy with Pooch’s Best Friend and so was my cat! Thank you!

I needed a sitter on short notice for and it was as if there was a light shining from above when I found Pooch’s Best Friend. Nadia was very responsive and eased my anxiety of finding a legit pet sitter who was available.
I met Nadia and Danielle (our sitter) for a consultation and they were both so pleasant. My cat, Kit Kat, usually hides when strangers are at our place, but Danielle has this magical aura or something because Kit Kat came out and sat with us and let Danielle pet him.
The whole process was very professional and made me feel like we were in good hands. The pricing is also affordable! We got updates throughout Danielle’s check-​ins with Kit Kat and showed us how comfortable my cat was with her.
I will definitely return as a customer if I ever need a sitter in the future!

I work from home most days, but on the days when I am gone, I needed someone to come in to give my pups a potty break. Am thrilled to have found Nadia and Pooches Best Friend. They are so well organized and make it so easy to work with them. They don’t require a minimum amount of visits per month and their prices are reasonable. They use the same person to take care of the pets each week, unless they are ill or on vacation, and then an alternate helps out. So there is consistency with the person. Amy, my pet care person, is fabulous. She came out and did an introduction with me and the dogs, took copious notes and leaves me report cards after each visit, as well as texts me to let me know she has been there.
There is an on-​line booking system that is easy to book, or cancel.
They run a solid organization and other businesses can learn a lot from them!

I recently contracted Pooch’s Best Friend to come in and walk/​feed my fur babies while we were out of town (we had someone else staying in the house, but she was working weird hours). We met with Nadia (the owner) and Jen (the one who would actually be doing the work) at our house to get to know the pups and go over any instructions. It was great to put faces to names before leaving my babies and opening up my house to a stranger.
Jen was reliable and took great care of my babies. She sent daily texts and photos, which was much appreciated! Everything went smoothly and I know my pups loved her. I wouldn’t hesitate to use this service again (and already have plans to!).
Another great thing about PBF is you can schedule everything online. It’s so convenient! Great service all around.

Pooch’s best friend is an absolute godsend!
It’s hard finding someone who you can trust to take care of your furry babies. My animals are my everything so I always get hesitant when it comes to leaving town for a couple of days.
I’ve tried boarding them in hotels in the past but my dog Bosley has separation anxiety and is shy and is afraid of cages so he always looks so deathly afraid when I drop him off at the hotel. I know they’re doing a good job watching him but just me leaving him their gives him intense anxiety and I hate doing that to him.
So here comes Nadia to the rescue. Nadia does a great job on consulting with you first and getting to know your critter before booking services. Now, instead of me leaving my animals somewhere else, he gets to stay comfortably at home while someone comes to play with him, take him on his walks, and feeds them.
The thing that sold me on PBF is that they CONSTANTLY give feedback on how your animals are doing while you’re away. Not only do they have little progress reports giving full detail of what they did that day but they’ll text you frequently on the status of your animals.
PBF definitely has helped me not only with vacation trips but busy days where I can’t come home and walk Bosley. They’re definitely a great reliable dog walking service for your animals!

I am so glad that I found out about pooches BF through my friends. Nadia was very sweet and also very honest and helpful. she spoke to me on the phone and answered all my questions. Then met my husband and my dog at our apparent. it was the very first time that we were going to leave our dog home for two nights. Nadia spent a bit more time with our dog the first night — more time than we paid for — knowing that it is her first night alone.
They have a bed night tuck in that is perfect.
I love that they take pictures of our dog when they visit and txt us every time they come over.
we love this company and will for sure recommend them.

AMAZING AMAZING 5 STAR BUSINESS!
We’ve always had a hard time leaving our furbaby somewhere. Kennels were ok when he was a puppy and we didn’t want to leave him for an extended period at home by himself. But recently, the boarding facility we had used has gone grossly downhill. Customer Service was atrocious (I really should update my review). And I started to find those facilities to have too many pups in one place and I can’t say my baby benefited from that environment. Needless to say, I was on the hunt this time for At Home Care instead where he would get the individual attention he deserved. Plus home is where the comfort is.
Nadia is what business owners SHOULD BE LIKE. Super thorough (probably more thorough than expected but that’s because I move a million miles a minute — the rest of the general public will truly appreciate it), prompt, attentive, asking all the right questions and answering any ?‘s with clarity. And they have an amazing online system that you can just place an order for service, add notes, set up payment, etc! Easy peasy, pain free stuff!
Alexa who took care of our baby did an amazing job. And she kindly left an after note to let us know how he had done. We unfortunately missed the chance to meet with her but I wasn’t really concerned after meeting Nadia.
Pricing for their services — awesome price point! They state what they will do but they actually offer to do more than what you see printed. Underpromise, Overdeliver.
I am super impressed and we can’t wait to use them again! I’ve always passed on their info to 2 really good friends because they want to leave their babies with the BEST too!
Thank you Pooch’s Best Friend! You’re ours too! XOXO’
P. S. Unilocalers, you did me right again :)

As a new mom to two cats, new resident to Irvine, and a constant trekker (either on business trips or backpacking excursions), I had no idea where to find a reputable pet-​sitter on short notice so I decided to try my luck on Unilocal.
After reading the reviews and shopping around to compare costs, I decided to give PBF a try. The second I asked for a consultation (which is free), Nadia responded lightning-​fast (like a pet-​sitting superhero) and was very accommodating to my work schedule. She showed up at my door with forms at the ready, and clearly exhibited ease and experience around my two inquisitive cats (Sigfrey and Sampson). Friendly and professional — off to a good start.
Right after the consultation when I gave my approval, Nadia got a head-​start on making my account on PBF’s website, filling in my pet profiles with all the notes I gave her. The website is super convenient in that you can make all your appointments and payments online, and check the status of each one. No more playing phone tag, or scribbling on your calendar, or writing checks! (It’s nice to know PBF is ahead of the Stone Age.) Also, you can check the profiles and experience background of PBF’s staff, all of whom have experience in animal care. (So rest assured, they’re not appointing some kid who only has «I love animals!» on his/​her resume.)
Amy (whose primary job is working for a vet) was assigned to be interim mom for Sigfrey and Sampson, who are basically like dogs in cat fur and think that anyone who gives them treats is their Most Beloved Owner. But it was still reassuring to know that all three got along splendidly. Amy leaves very thorough progress reports (how long she stayed, what chores she did, comments on the cats’ well-​being, etc.), and responds immediately to any questions I text message to her. After the second appointment, I felt comfortable enough to leave my spare keys with her.
In summary:
Convenience? Check.
Professionalism? Check.
Cost competitive? Check.
Cats happy and no longer ridden with separation anxiety? Check and check!