“We see it as a team sport,” Silke says. Together with her partner, she looks after dogs through Pawshake. Their calendar is often booked out months in advance. “We sometimes receive bookings up to six months ahead,” she explains. “People really value that we care for just one dog at a time. That personal attention makes it a positive experience for everyone: the owners, the dog and us.”
A few years ago, Silke moved from Belgium to the Netherlands for work. For the first time, she and her partner were living together in one place, with a home of their own and steady jobs. “That brought a sense of calm and stability, and that’s when we started to feel restless,” Silke says. “We really wanted a dog, but we also wanted to keep the freedom to travel. Having your own dog makes long or distant trips harder to plan. So we thought, let’s try pet sitting first.”
Silke already had plenty of experience caring for dogs, so she created a Pawshake profile last year. (You can find Silke’s profile here.) What started as an experiment quickly grew into a serious hobby. “We have dogs staying with us for almost half the year,” Silke explains. “In summer, we were fully booked. One dog would be picked up in the morning, and another would arrive the same evening. The best part is that most dogs come back to us again.”
One dog at a time
Silke never hosts more than one dog at a time. “That’s a rule we really stick to,” she says. “It means the dog staying with us gets all the attention and calm they need, and we can make it feel like an extension of their own home.” Dogs are welcome on the couch if that’s what they’re used to at home, and Silke follows the same daily routine the dog already knows. “We ask owners to bring their dog’s own bed, toys and blanket,” she explains. “That makes settling in so much easier.”
"Dogs are welcome on the couch if that’s what they’re used to at home"
And the approach works. “The first few days are often about finding our feet,” Silke says. “But usually after three days, you can really see the change. Dogs start greeting us with wagging tails, settle into their favourite spot on the couch, eat well and feel relaxed. That’s incredibly rewarding.” The dogs feel so comfortable with Silke that it truly becomes a second home. “We once had a dog who was genuinely confused when their owner came to pick them up. At first, they wanted to stay. Of course, they happily went home in the end.”
Plenty of company
Silke works four days a week, and her partner often works from home. “A dog is never left alone for more than five hours,” she says. “We plan our days carefully and only open our calendar when we’re sure we’re available. That way, we can give dogs the attention they truly deserve. At the same time, we’re honest: a dog does need to be able to spend a few hours alone if needed.”
Silke takes the introduction to new owners and dogs seriously. “Sometimes we start with a trial night, especially for dogs staying with us for the first time. We want to see how they cope when their owners leave, whether they’re comfortable being alone, and how they are around other dogs or people. We also sometimes have an intake conversation where we talk through everything, from food and health to daily habits and any anxieties. That helps us decide whether a stay will be a good fit.”
A calm introduction
Silke has rarely encountered any real issues during a booking. A thorough introduction plays a big role in that. When she meets a dog for the first time, she approaches them with calm and care. “We don’t rush in or overwhelm a dog,” she explains. “We start by talking to the owner first. We let the dog sniff around and take in their surroundings. Only when the dog seeks contact on their own do we move closer. Owners can see that we give the dog space, and that builds trust.”
"We don’t rush in or overwhelm a dog"
Before a booking begins, Silke makes sure she has all the information she needs about the pet, as well as clear instructions on what to do in case of illness or emergencies. “I always keep a full list of contact details for the vet and for family or friends, just in case we can’t reach the owner straight away.”
Plenty of walks and playtime
Silke and her partner live surrounded by open fields, with several dog parks nearby. “We go for lots of walks, usually four times a day,” she says. “As a rule, dogs are always on a lead, often a long one, just to be safe.”
Thanks to the dogs, Silke now knows half the village. “Dogs make us more social,” she laughs. “We regularly meet other dog owners, and we’ve built some really lovely connections through them.” During a booking, owners receive regular updates, including photos or a funny video from Silke. “They love seeing that their dog is happy, and that they’re showing the same little quirks with us as they do at home.”
Silke's tips for pet parents:
To wrap things up, Silke shares a few tips and tricks for pet parents looking for a sitter:
Be honest about your dog. Share the less perfect traits too. It helps a sitter decide whether it’s a good fit and prevents issues later on.
Always meet in person first. A real-life connection says far more than an online profile ever can.
Book early. Popular periods fill up fast, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
Trust your gut. In Silke’s experience, for about 90% of owners it simply comes down to a feeling of whether it’s a match or not.
After all those stays and all the lovely dogs they’ve welcomed into their home, Silke and her partner know one thing for sure: pet sitting suits them perfectly. Now that they’ve had plenty of practice with guest dogs, is it time for a dog of their own?
“Honestly, no,” Silke says. “We enjoy pet sitting so much that we’ve found the perfect way to have dogs in our lives, while still being able to travel whenever we want.”
👉 Check out Silke’s sitter profile
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