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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After a 5 star track record as a sitter, and a wonderful relationship with my customers and the platform, I found myself deactivated. Pawshake clearly flagged the word “Tikkie”, which I understand. But, what Pawshake does not seem to care about, is that it was the CUSTOMER who wrote this message, not me as a sitter. The customer booked the wrong service, and suggested they pay the difference in Tikkie. We did NOT agree to this. And one can see, that the booking was remade, with the correct service, and confirmed through the platform, and received a 5 star review. It was at this point we were deactivated. The slightly funny thing is, to me, the messages were in Italian, so, I assume there was not even the time or care to translate and understand the situation, before deactivating a loyal sitter’s account. The worst part for me is the complete silence from “customer support” in this matter- as soon as I replied to their accusation of avoiding the platform fee (let me say it again- the booking went through the platform, and since it was corrected to dog boarding instead of doggy daycare, they got an even bigger chunk thanks to my insistence that the customer rebook it…) as soon as I pointed this out, I never heard from them again. I’m not even sure if that’s allowed. I’m extremely disappointed. It’s been over a month, where the income I depend on has been taken from me. I have always played by the rules- this is wrong and people should be aware.
JR
Jürgen S.
Leider reine Zeitverschwendung.
Leider reine Zeitverschwendung.
Etliche Leute kontaktiert alle haben eine Ausrede auf Lager und keine Zeit.Warum ist es nicht verpflichtend als Tiersitter seinen Kalender aktuell zu halten?
VI
Victoria
My experience with Pawshake: Account deactivated, repeated emails ignored, and still no resolution
My experience with Pawshake: Account deactivated, repeated emails ignored, and still no resolution
I never expected to find myself having to write a post like this, but after several unanswered emails to Pawshake, I feel I need to share my experience.
Pawshake deactivated my account because they believed that a conversation with a client suggested an attempt to arrange a booking outside the platform. I explained to them that this was not what happened.
I contacted the person involved and asked them to cancel their request. They subsequently decided to delete their own account. Despite my explanation, Pawshake deactivated my account, and I have been trying to get the matter reviewed and resolved ever since.
What has been particularly disappointing is the lack of communication. I have sent several emails explaining the situation and requesting that my account be reviewed and reactivated, but I have not received a satisfactory response.
I understand that Pawshake has rules and policies that sitters are expected to follow. However, I also believe that when a decision has such a significant impact on someone’s ability to work through the platform, they deserve a fair review, a clear explanation, and the opportunity to have their side of the story properly considered.
How can an issue be resolved when one side keeps trying to communicate and the other side simply doesn’t respond?
This isn’t just about having an account deactivated. It’s about transparency, communication, and being treated fairly when something goes wrong.
I am not asking for special treatment. I am asking Pawshake to review my case properly, explain its decision, and give me a clear answer instead of leaving me sending email after email with no resolution.
I joined Pawshake in good faith and would like to continue using the platform. I hope someone at Pawshake will finally take the time to look into my situation and respond.
I’m sharing this because I believe sitters deserve to know how concerns like these can be handled, and I would be interested to hear whether other sitters have experienced similar difficulties getting a response or appealing an account deactivation.
Pawshake, I am still waiting for a response. Please review my case and give me a fair opportunity to resolve this.
CA
Cal
My experience with Pawshake's account review process: no warning, no transparency, no response
I've been sitting through Pawshake for a while now and have only ever had 5-star reviews and lovely feedback from every family I've looked after. So I never expected to be writing something like this, but here we are.
A few months ago, a client mentioned in the Pawshake chat the idea of paying outside the platform for a booking that was still 3–4 months away. That's all it was, a conversation. No money changed hands, nothing was booked outside the app, nothing came of it. Pawshake sent me a single email saying the conversation had been picked up and to keep the booking on the platform. Fair enough, I thought. There was nothing in it about next steps or anything I needed to do.
What I didn't know was that they'd quietly made my account inactive. No email, no notification, nothing. The app looked completely normal on my end. I only found out when a past client went to leave a review, and then one of my regulars told me they'd tried to book but my calendar was showing as fully blocked. Nobody from Pawshake had called or emailed to ask about the conversation or hear my side.
When I reached out to ask what was going on, I was basically told I was in the wrong and had breached the terms and conditions. And look, I'll own that the conversation happened and that it goes against the rules. But not even a warning? For a first issue where no money was even exchanged, from a sitter with a perfect record?
Then I was told they'd only review my account once all my confirmed bookings were finished. So they'd keep taking their commission on my bookings, and then decide whether to block me at the end. Since they weren't willing to look into it there and then, it felt pretty clear which way that would go. I asked them to just assess it now, since nothing would change in a few months, and they refused. I wasn't going to keep making them money just to be shown the door afterwards.
Two weeks ago I made a formal complaint. No reply. I followed up four days later and heard nothing. I followed up again four days after that and still heard nothing. I told them that if they couldn't explain how this was handled, I'd share my experience publicly. So this is me doing that.
I'm not saying I'm perfect. But the way this was handled felt cold and money-driven, and honestly pretty disrespectful to someone who's only ever done right by their clients. I've since seen plenty of other sitters with similar stories, while sitters with average reviews carry on as normal. It's hard not to feel like the commission matters more to them than the people actually doing the work.
If you're a sitter or an owner using Pawshake, I'd just say be aware of how little support there is if something ever goes wrong.
Response from pawshake.comOct 16, 2026
Hi Calum Grimwood,
It is quite ironic to sign off with a warning about "how little support there is" when Pawshake simply doesn't provide customer support for fee evasion. We support sitters who operate within our terms, not those attempting to bypass our platform to line their own pockets.
Accusing Pawshake of being "money-driven" while trying to divert platform fees into your own pocket takes a remarkable amount of nerve. You explicitly suggested taking payments off-platform, writing: "Would you prefer to go through Pawshake or you can always transfer us directly just before the stay - saves the service fees that way." When warned of the consequences, you handed over your personal phone number to take the booking offline anyway.
Regarding your claims about support, process, and communication:
Support Limits: Pawshake supports sitters who bring honest business to the platform. We have no obligation to support sitters actively undermining our service for personal gain.
Direct Warnings: You acknowledged receiving our warning email. Expecting white-glove courtesy or advance notice after attempting to circumvent the platform is simply unrealistic. We have an obligation to protect pet owners who rely on our guarantees.
Account Transparency: Your dashboard is a live feed. The moment your account status changed, a clear red "Unpublished" indicator appeared immediately. It is entirely up to you to monitor your own account display.
No Effort to Rectify: At no point did you offer to rectify the off-platform booking or honour the platform fees due.
Pawshake relies on trust, safety, and mutual respect. We do not work with individuals who attempt to bypass the system, and sitters must accept accountability for the consequences of their choices.
Our decision to permanently ban your account remains final.
Kind regards,
Pawshake Trust & Safety Team
MM
Mali M.
Enttäuschender Support und mangelnder…
Enttäuschender Support und mangelnder Schutz für Hundesitter
Ich habe als Hundesitterin leider sehr schlechte Erfahrungen mit Pawshake gemacht. Eine Hundebesitzerin machte falsche Angaben über ihren Hund, der deutlich mehr Betreuung benötigte als vereinbart. Trotz meines Einsatzes wurde ich am Ende nicht vollständig bezahlt.
Anstatt mich in dieser schwierigen Situation zu unterstützen, hat Pawshake mein Profil dauerhaft gesperrt. Dadurch habe ich den Zugang zu meinen aufgebauten Bewertungen, Bildern und Profilinformationen verloren.
Mein Fazit: Hundesitter werden bei Problemen meiner Erfahrung nach kaum geschützt und vom Support im Stich gelassen. Absolut enttäuschend und leider nicht empfehlenswert!
LH
Lukman H.
Disappointing experience / Unresolved payment
Disappointing experience and unresolved repayment
I booked a cat sitter through Pawshake for two weeks, trusting its assurances about verified and vetted sitters to find reliable care for my four-month-old kitten while I was in Greece.
We originally agreed on morning and evening visits. From the first day, I informed the sitter that the evening visits were no longer needed, and I willingly agreed that I would not request a refund for those visits.
During my trip, the sitter told me she had no money to travel to my home. She asked me to send additional money for transport and promised to repay it once she was paid. Being abroad and worried that my kitten could be left without care, I felt I had little choice but to send the money.
A month later, the promised repayment still has not been made. Having checked the travel costs, I believe the amounts claimed were excessive. I have requested receipts to substantiate the expenses, but none have been provided.
The sitter has refused to repay the money, and Pawshake has also declined my request for reimbursement. I am extremely disappointed with both the sitter’s conduct and Pawshake’s handling of my complaint.
I would not use Pawshake again or recommend it based on this experience. I will now pursue other available routes to recover the outstanding money.
This all happened between 19/08 - 30/08 and yet I await..
Response from pawshake.comOct 13, 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback, Lukman. We take disputes seriously and appreciate the opportunity to clarify what occurred.
Pawshake is designed to protect both pet owners and sitters by handling all bookings, communication, and payments securely through our platform.
Regarding the points raised in your review:
Evening Visits & Refunds: Any changes to a booking or requests for refunds must be agreed upon and processed in advance before payment is released. You initially agreed with the sitter that she could retain the evening visit fees after making alternative arrangements. Because this was mutually agreed upon and payment had already been processed, we cannot retroactively overturn that decision after the booking has ended. We no longer retain the funds in escrow for this purpose.
Off-Platform Payments: The £80 private advance was transferred directly to the sitter outside of Pawshake. Because Pawshake never processed or held those funds, we are unable to issue a direct refund on her behalf. However, our team instructed the sitter to repay you directly and took action regarding her profile for breaching our terms.
We strongly remind all users to manage all booking changes in advance and never arrange payments outside of Pawshake so that full platform protections apply. As a marketplace platform, out hands out tied when arrangements are made outside of our processes.
Kind Regards
Pawshake Support
JU
Julien
Avoid!
Our experience with Pawshake was extremely disappointing.
We entrusted our dog to a sitter booked through the platform. During the stay, hei was given foods that we would never have authorised, including chocolate-containing products. We only became aware of this afterwards. Shortly thereafter, our dog suffered diarrhoea and dehydration requiring veterinary treatment.
What has been most disappointing, however, has been Pawshake's handling of the matter. Rather than approaching the situation with transparency and empathy, we encountered repeated attempts to minimise concerns, disputed factual issues, and a process that appeared focused on defending the platform rather than establishing what had actually happened.
As pet owners dealing with the decline and eventual loss of a beloved senior dog, we expected a higher level of professionalism, accountability, and compassion. Instead, we found ourselves having to repeatedly request basic information, clarification of facts, and explanations regarding the platform's review process.
Pawshake markets itself as a trusted platform for pet care. Based on our experience, we would urge owners of pets to carefully consider whether the level of oversight, accountability, and support provided is sufficient for their needs.
We cannot recommend Pawshake based on our experience.
Response from pawshake.comOct 8, 2026
Hi Julien,
While we sympathise with the loss of your senior dog, we must clarify the facts surrounding your claim, as your review presents a misleading narrative of our investigation and policy enforcement.
Documented Pre-Existing Condition: Your claim under the Peace of Mind Guarantee was formally rejected based on official veterinary records dated 2 June—months prior to your August booking. Those records documented severe pre-existing health issues under active medical investigation, including chronic GI problems, progressive mobility loss, and significant weight loss. Under platform terms, pre-existing conditions are strictly excluded from coverage. We did, however, process a refund of SGD 176.00 for the unused nights when the stay was cut short.
Failure to Disclose & Impact on Sitter: Sitters are human beings, not machines, and depend on full transparency from pet owners regarding an animal's medical needs. The severe mobility limitations documented by your vet in June were not disclosed to the sitter prior to the stay. As a result, when your 18kg dog collapsed during the booking due to his pre-existing condition, the sitter was forced to physically carry him, resulting in a permanent physical injury to her.
Evolving Allegations: As it became clear that the June veterinary records established a pre-existing condition that invalidated the claim, the narrative provided to us shifted. Initial discussions regarding benign granola bars were reframed months after the stay as "chocolate poisoning." This late assertion was never supported by a contemporaneous August toxicology report, a vet diagnosis of chocolate toxicity at the time of care, or any finding in the original clinical notes.
Irrelevant Disparagement: Attempts were also made to influence our assessment by introducing an unrelated 2019 news article regarding the sitter's past. Digging up a seven-year-old external incident to disparage a sitter is unacceptable, irrelevant to medical facts, and plays no part in an objective contractual assessment.
Pawshake evaluates every claim using documented medical evidence, contemporaneous vet records, and clear policy boundaries. While we recognise this was an emotionally distressing time, we stand by our firm, evidence-based review and our duty of care to both pet owners and sitters.
Kind regards,
Pawshake Support
JH
Juan H.
Slechte service zowel van de website…
Slechte service zowel van de website want je kan als klant nergens terecht. De oppassers die reageren niet, of op het laatste moment annuleren ze en anderen willen alleen kleine honden en ze reageren zeker niet als je als man een bericht stuurt alsof er iets anders achter zit.
Response from pawshake.comOct 7, 2026
Hallo Juan,
vielen Dank für Ihr Feedback. Wir möchten jedoch einige wichtige Punkte zu unseren Richtlinien und der Funktionsweise von Pawshake klarstellen:
Unabhängigkeit der Tiersitter: Tiersitter auf Pawshake sind unabhängige Betreuer, die selbst entscheiden, welche Anfragen sie basierend auf ihrem Sicherheitsgefühl, ihrem Zeitplan und ihrer Wohnsituation annehmen. Kein Tiersitter ist verpflichtet, eine Buchung zu akzeptieren. Wenn Sie das Gefühl haben, dass Tiersitter Ihre Anfragen ablehnen, empfehlen wir Ihnen zu überprüfen, wie Sie sich und die Bedürfnisse Ihres Haustieres vorstellen, um sicherzustellen, dass Ihre Nachrichten klar, transparent und verständlich sind.
Präferenzen bezüglich der Hundegröße: Tiersitter dürfen Einschränkungen treffen (z. B. nur kleine Hunde aufzunehmen), abhängig von der Größe ihrer Wohnung, örtlichen Bestimmungen oder ihrer persönlichen Erfahrung im Umgang mit Tieren. Diese Präferenzen sind in den Profilbeschreibungen angegeben, damit Tierhalter passende Betreuer finden können.
Inaktive Profile & Stornierungen: Wir überwachen die Antwortrate der Tiersitter genau, um korrekte Suchergebnisse zu gewährleisten. Profile von Tiersittern, die nicht antworten, werden automatisch innerhalb von 24 Stunden nach einer unbeantworteten Nachricht aus den Suchergebnissen entfernt. Sie können inaktive Tiersitter oder kurzfristige Stornierungen auch direkt melden, damit unser Trust & Safety-Team sofort Maßnahmen ergreifen kann.
Kundenservice: Unser Team steht Ihnen jederzeit zur Verfügung, wenn Sie Hilfe bei der Suche nach einem zuverlässigen Tiersitter benötigen. Sie müssen sich dazu lediglich direkt über unser Hilfe-Center an uns wenden.
Wenn Sie möchten, dass wir Ihre letzten Anfragen überprüfen oder Ihnen bei der Suche nach einem passenden Tiersitter in Ihrer Nähe helfen, kontaktieren Sie uns bitte über das Hilfe-Center.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Pawshake Support