Pawshake - Experienced pet care with peace of mindLoving pet sitters who treat your pets like familyAt Pawshake, we connect pet parents with friendly, reliable and vetted pet sitters. So whether you are going away, need someone to drop in to check on your pet while you’re at work or take your dog for a sniff around the block, we’ve got a pet loving sitter for you.Loving home environments - no cages!Your pets will stay in loving home environments and be treated just like family. Pawshake pet sitters are able to cater to your pet’s needs and are also a great alternative to dog boarding kennels or catteries.Get daily updates about your pet and relax knowing that they will get plenty of love and attention while you are away.Convenient, safe and flexible pet careSimply, search for a sitter, arrange a free meet and greet and then confirm your booking online. Payments are held securely by Pawshake until the booking is complete. There are no subscription fees and you only pay for the sitter you choose. Pet parents can also leave a review at the end of each booking to share their experience with other pet parents.The Pawshake Guarantee All bookings are covered by The Pawshake Guarantee which includes veterinary coverage, Happiness Guarantee and in-house customer support.
pawshake.com (pawshake.com) has 6,520 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
Website
pawshake.com
Category
Pet Services
Location
Portola Valley, California
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
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The company replied to 10% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: October 2026.
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Reviews are shown as their authors wrote them. The company can reply, but cannot edit them.
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Looked online for a dogsitter near where I live, showed loads of them within two mile radius, once registered the nearest sitter is 15 miles away
Response from pawshake.comJun 5, 2024
Hi Ed,
Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback.
Our search results show the top 100 most relevant sitters, determined by distance and availability. If there are fewer than 100 sitters within a certain maximum distance, it will show all relevant sitters within that maximum search radius.
Please make sure you have your address entered correctly to get an accurate search result. You can also switch to the map feature and zoom or scroll around your area to help focus your search.
Kind Regards
Jack
Pawshake Support
SP
Sylvia P.
Horror-Katzensitterin wird gedeckt statt gesperrt.
Für eine Reise von 8 Tagen hatte ich eine Katzensitterin für meine beiden Katzen gesucht. Als ich die meiner Meinung nach beste gefunden hatte (nur super Bewertungen, 11 Stammkunden), traten wir in Kontakt und wurden uns schnell einig. Allerdings schlug sie mir vor, die Buchung ohne Pawshake zu machen, und damit sie keine Abzüge (20 %) hat, habe ich leider eingewilligt. Aber ich bestand darauf, einen Tag offiziell über Pawshake zu buchen. Ich dachte, damit hätte ich eine gewisse Sicherheit.
Es waren 2 Besuche á 30 Minuten pro Tag vereinbart, und ich war mir sehr sicher und hatte vollstes Vertrauen zur Katzensitterin Franziska in Berlin-Marzahn. Mittwoch früh verließ ich das Haus und war guter Dinge.
Am Sonntag fiel mir ein, dass ich vergessen hatte, die Überwachungskamera im Arbeitszimmer, dem Aufenthaltsraum meiner 18jährigen nierenkranken Jessy, auszuschalten. Die Kamera ist zum Boden gerichtet, damit ich immer sehen kann, ob Jessy noch frisst oder schon fertig ist.
Ich schaute mal ins Zimmer, um vielleicht meine Katzen zu sehen. Mir fiel auf, dass was nicht stimmt, und habe angefangen, alle Videos seit Mittwoch durchzusehen.
Ergebnis:
Meine nierenkranke Jessy, die ständig trinken muss und möchte, hatte seit Mittwoch einen leeren Milchnapf. Das Wasser war von Mittwoch früh und nicht mehr trinkbar. Ich hatte der Sitterin mehrmals gesagt, dass eine Katze mit Niereninsuffizienz immer und überall genug zu trinken haben muss. Es zerriss mir das Herz zu sehen, dass Jessy immer wieder zu ihrem leeren Trinknapf ging.
Die 3 Katzenklos in diesem Zimmer wurden von Mittwoch bis Sonntag kein einziges Mal gesäubert.
Es wurde nicht darauf geachtet, dass Jessy genug frisst - mein Kater Luis wurde einfach ins Zimmer gelassen, die Sitterin verschwand, und Luis hat sich dann das ganze Nierenfutter als Nachtisch reingehauen.
Sie war teilweise nach 15 Minuten schon wieder weg, obwohl man für 30 Minuten bezahlt und sie versichert hatte, dass sie immer länger bleibt, auch über 1 Stunde, und sich mit den Katzen beschäftigt.
Und an 2 Abenden kam die Sitterin gar nicht!!!
Ich war 8000 km entfernt und hatte panische Angst um meine Katzen, besonders um Jessy. Der Urlaub war verdorben.
Es gelang mir, dass eine Nachbarin die Pflege für die restlichen Tage übernommen hat. Sie ging zuerst in meine Wohnung und machte Fotos von den Trinknäpfen und dem versifften, mit Futterresten vom Morgen verklebten Futternapf von Jessy. Es war Sonntagabend, und der Futternapf von Luis war brechend voll, was bei so einem verfressenen Kater was heißen will. Offensichtlich wusste die Sitterin bereits morgens, dass sie abends nicht kommen würde, und hat Luis entsprechende Mengen Futter eingefüllt. Aber Jessy hatte morgens nur wenig gefressen, und sie hätte nun nochmals 24 Stunden hungern müssen, wie auch schon 2 Tage zuvor. Und das bei einer nierenkranken Katze!
Ich rief die Sitterin an und bat sie, sofort den Schlüssel meiner Nachbarin zu bringen, da sie jetzt die Pflege übernehmen würde. Auf meine Fragen, ob sie immer Katzenmilch für Jessy eingefüllt hat und ob sie abends schon da war, wurde ich belogen.
Sie brachte dann den Schlüssel, ging aber vorher in meine Wohnung, kippte Milch in die seit Mittwoch verklebte Schale, goss Wasser in den schmierigen Napf und kippte Futter auf die vertrockneten Futterreste in Jessys Napf. Die Katzenklos wurden selbst dann nicht gesäubert. Dann gab sie den Schlüssel ab. Gleich am nächsten Tag schickte sie mir ihre PayPal-Adresse für die Bezahlung.
Dies alles hatte ich ausführlich Pawshake geschrieben, und zuerst sah es so aus, als wollte man die Sitterin sperren. Aber dann hat man wohl gemerkt, dass sie viel gebucht wird, und wollte offensichtlich aus Profitgier nicht auf sie verzichten. Die Sitterin wurde lediglich um eine Stellungnahme gebeten, und sie versicherte, dass meine Katzen jederzeit genug Futter und Wasser hatten. Nun stand Aussage gegen Aussage, und mehr passierte nicht. Meine Videobeweise und die Aussagen meiner Nachbarin (die die halbe Nacht alle Näpfe und Klos gereinigt hat) interessierten niemanden. Lediglich das Geld für den einen offiziell bei Pawshake gebuchten Tag habe ich zurückerhalten, was aber nicht das Ziel war. Alle Stammkunden und weiteren Kunden wissen gar nicht, was während ihrer Abwesenheit mit ihren Katzen passiert, denn warum sollte sie das alles nur mit mir und meinen Katzen machen?! Sie hat meiner Jessy gesundheitlichen Schaden zugefügt und ihr Leben gefährdet! Aber sie kann immer so weitermachen.
EM
Emma
Unreliable and costly! Avoid.
Using Pawshake was the worst decision I could have made. Two months after booking and confirming boarding for 13 days for my three dogs, the sitters suddenly cancelled. Pawshake weren’t much help, just kept insisting other sitters were available when they weren’t. I am unable to find an alternative sitter (or even kennels) for three dogs for 13 days in peak holiday season. This means I have lost money on the holiday and activities, etc we had booked. I now have to break the news to my daughter that the holiday she’s been excited about sadly cannot happen due to others unreliability. Sitters should not be allowed to do this to booked clients. Completely unprofessional.
In response, the booking is not more than 3 months away at all. The booking was for just over 2 months time. I have contacted every kennel and everyone suitable on your site and noone is able to take my dogs. I find it awful that you allow unreliable people as sitters on your site. These kind of sitters will ruin the confidence people have in using Pawshake.
Update 2: apparently the sitters can cancel any booking as they wish up to pretty much right before the booking. This is concerning to be honest as it’s not easy to find a replacement. It’s hard enough trying to find a suitable replacement with 2.5 months notice. But then it is for 3 dogs, for 2 weeks and in peak season. Something Pawshake fail to grasp. I have received some not nice messages from Pawshake accusing me of exaggerating when they can see the struggle for themselves - they just refuse to admit it. And as a mother, I should also not be bothered by upsetting my daughter and losing money on a cancelled vacation - again according to Pawshake. Sitters have every right to cancel up to 2 weeks before a booking which is worrying and doesn’t give a reliable solution to dog boarding.
Response from pawshake.comMay 19, 2024
Hi Emma,
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
We understand that it can be very frustrating when your sitter cancels - not to worry, as your booking is more than 3 months away. There is plenty of time to find a replacement sitter.
:-)
Our support staff are waiting for your reply over email to assist you. Please continue your conversation with them at your earliest convenience.
Kind Regards
Jack
Pawshake Support
HL
Hotnbothered L.
Poor experience
Poor experience, most customers unaware of how high the fees are... think they're paying a fair rate when really Pawshake is pocketing it. Petsit privately.
IP
Isabel P.
Been with Pawshake for years same pet…
Been with Pawshake for years same pet owners with reoccurring bookings. Suddenly can’t login to my account via Facebook. Instead of helping me as a pet sitter to get access again, their attitude is one of complacency advising to change email address on Facebook or that I must have deleted account. I shall be deleting my account since Pawshake does not value my services and the fees deducted from my bookings for past how many years.
Response from pawshake.comMay 15, 2024
Hi Isabel,
Thank you for your feedback and sorry to hear you were having trouble with your login.
Since you created your account with the Facebook login procedure, this means that you could access your profile only by using the Facebook Login button. Unfortunately, we don't have any sort of control over your Facebook password or account, so if you or Facebook change your settings or account address, it can sometimes cause an issue.
I can now see that our team has been able to assist you with regaining access to your account and decoupled it from your Facebook, linking it instead to your email.
Please let us know if you have further issues with your login.
Kind Regards
Jack
Pawshake Support
PB
Pauline B.
Very disappointed in it
Takes weeks for money to come through and delete account for absolutely no reason.nobody responds.overall a very bad experience
Response from pawshake.comMay 15, 2024
Hi Pauline,
All our sitters must be over 18 to join Pawshake. This is for safety & insurance purposes.
It is also against our terms and conditions to convert bookings into cash payments offline.
Kind Regards
Jack
Pawshake Support
MJ
Mrs Jennifer K.
Let down at the last minute
I made and confirmed a booking months in advance. And I messaged the sitter a few days before the booking and no reply I messaged the company to be told sorry he is not available 2 days before I had to leave the country and that he let other customers down also. The fact that they knew he let other customers down and didn’t let me know is inexcusable & and then offered me 50% refund because of late cancellation.
DONT BOOK
Response from pawshake.comMay 5, 2024
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the time to share your thoughts.
Pawshake is very concerned for your sitters welfare, as they have not been responding to our communications. If you have heard from them , please let us know. We are very sorry that this has impacted your booking. Please note - you have received a FULL REFUND for the service.
Just a note on our booking process - Pawshake always encourages members to adhere to the booking process laid out on the site. This includes having a Meet & Greet with your sitter BEFORE confirming your booking. This is to ensure you are on the same page and that the sitter is a good match for your pet.
Kind Regards
Jack
Pawshake Support
PP
Puppy P.
Be careful with Pawshake
The sitter we booked deceived us, pretending to be with our animals while leaving after us and leaving them all day alone. When she realised she'd been caught out, she complained to Pawshake who deleted our account. Be careful, you cannot contact anyone to let them know about your experience and there is a lot of trust required to have someone in your home with your beloved animals.
Response from pawshake.comMay 8, 2024
Hi there,
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Unfortunately, without further information we cannot identify your account or booking information in order to assist you.
Would you mind responding to our request through Trust Pilot for information so we can assist you?
Alternatively, please contact us through the Pawshake website.
Kind Regards
Jack
Pawshake Support