Professional Dog Walking Services
Your reliable partner for daily dog walks, midday breaks, and exercise – backed by an award-winning team that’s here whenever you need us.
Your Dog Needs Daily Exercise – But Your Schedule is Complicated
You know your dog needs consistent daily walks. The reality of your work schedule makes that simple need surprisingly difficult to manage.
Long work hours leave your dog waiting all day.
Professional obligations keep you away from home for eight, ten, sometimes twelve hours at a stretch. Your dog waits patiently, but that pent-up energy builds throughout the day. You come home to a dog who desperately needs exercise, just when you’re most exhausted. The guilt weighs on you, knowing your dog spent another day without the physical activity and mental stimulation they need.
Your schedule changes unpredictably.
Meeting notifications appear on your calendar with no warning. Business travel demands take you out of town on short notice. Client emergencies require immediate attention. Every time your schedule shifts, you scramble to figure out who can walk your dog. The inconsistency creates stress for both you and your pet.
Finding someone reliable seems impossible.
You’ve tried the solo dog walker who moved to a different job after three months. You’ve used app-based services where you never know who’s showing up at your home. You’ve asked neighbors for help, but that creates obligation and inconvenience. Holiday seasons bring particular anxiety because most individual walkers disappear exactly when you need them most. You’re tired of the constant search for someone trustworthy who will actually be available when they say they will.
For 26+ years, Cathy’s Critter Care has been solving these exact challenges for dog owners across San Antonio, Schertz, and New Braunfels. Here’s how we make your life easier while giving your dog the consistent exercise they deserve.
Daily Dog Walking Tailored to Your Dog’s Energy and Exercise Needs
Cathy’s Critter Care customizes every dog walk based on your dog’s breed, age, energy level, and individual personality. Our team-based approach delivers the consistency your dog needs with the flexibility your schedule demands.
We Design Each Dog’s Walking Routine Around Their Specific Requirements
Every dog differs in their exercise needs. The senior Chihuahua needs a gentle neighborhood stroll with plenty of sniff breaks. The young Labrador needs vigorous exercise that burns energy and provides mental stimulation. We match each walk to your dog’s specific requirements rather than forcing every dog into identical service tiers.
Energy Level Matching
Your dog receives walks paced appropriately for their fitness and stamina. Senior dogs and small breeds get leisurely walks that respect their physical limitations. High-energy working breeds get the serious exercise they crave.
Route Selection
We plan walking routes based on your dog’s preferences and exercise goals. Some dogs enjoy familiar neighborhood loops where they can mark their territory and monitor their environment. Others benefit from longer routes with varied terrain that keep their minds engaged.
Exercise Goals
Your dog’s walk addresses their specific needs. Some dogs simply need a midday potty break and brief outdoor time. Others require substantial physical exertion to prevent destructive behaviors at home. We adjust the walking intensity and duration to achieve your dog’s exercise objectives.
Behavior Reinforcemen
Cathy’s Critter Care walkers work with your dog’s leash manners during every visit. Dogs who pull on the leash receive gentle correction and positive reinforcement for good walking behavior. This consistency helps improve your dog’s walking habits over time rather than reinforcing bad behaviors.
Flexible Scheduling Options That Accommodate Your Life
Daily walks during your work hours
Give your dog the midday break that prevents accidents and reduces anxiety. We schedule visits during morning, midday, or afternoon time slots based on your dog’s needs and your work schedule.
Multiple walks per day
Serve puppies with limited bladder control and high-energy dogs who need more than one exercise session. We space the visits appropriately throughout the day to provide consistent relief and activity.
Rotating schedule accommodation
Helps shift workers and people with irregular schedules. Your dog gets consistent walks even when your work hours change week to week.
Weekend and holiday walks
Ensure your dog’s routine continues regardless of calendar dates. Cathy’s Critter Care operates 365 days a year, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day when most individual walkers disappear.
Last-minute and same-day requests
Get handled when your plans change unexpectedly. Our large team capacity allows us to accommodate emergency scheduling needs that would leave you stranded with other services.
What’s Included in Every Walk
Professional leash walking with attention to safety.
Your dog receives focused attention from an experienced walker who monitors for potential hazards, watches for signs of distress or overheating, and keeps your dog secure throughout the visit.
Potty breaks and sniff time.
We understand that walks serve multiple purposes. Your dog gets adequate time for bathroom needs and the mental enrichment that comes from exploring scents in their environment.
Fresh water upon return.
We ensure your dog has clean water available after their exercise, particularly important during San Antonio’s hot summers.
Quick wellness check.
Our walkers observe your dog’s condition, noting any concerns like limping, changes in appetite or thirst, unusual elimination, or behavioral changes that might indicate health issues.
Written visit log after every walk.
You receive documentation of when we arrived, what time we departed, which route we took, how your dog behaved, and any observations worth noting.
Photo updates during walks
arrive upon request. Many clients enjoy receiving pictures of their dog during their daily walk, providing peace of mind that the service occurred as scheduled.
We Handle Special Situations and Challenging Dogs
Multiple pet households receive service customized to your preferences. Some clients want all their dogs walked together for social interaction and efficiency. Others need dogs walked separately due to size differences, behavioral issues, or individual exercise requirements. We accommodate either approach.
Dogs with special medical needs or mobility challenges receive the extra attention and patience their conditions require. Older dogs with arthritis get shorter walks at slower paces. Dogs recovering from surgery receive gentle exercise within their veterinarian’s restrictions. Blind or deaf dogs receive careful handling of their disabilities.
Reactive or anxious dogs benefit from our team’s experience handling challenging behaviors safely. We understand how to read canine body language, recognize stress signals before they escalate, and manage encounters with other dogs or people appropriately. Our walkers know when to redirect attention, when to create distance from triggers, and how to keep reactive dogs under control.
Puppies learning leash manners receive consistent positive reinforcement during their walks. We don’t expect perfect behavior from young dogs, but we do work with them to gradually improve their walking skills through patient training during each visit.
Stop Searching for Dog Walkers – Find Your Long-Term Partner
Most dog owners waste countless hours repeatedly searching for new dog walkers. Someone works out well for a few months, then moves away or changes jobs, leaving you back at square one. You’re tired of the constant cycle of vetting new people, handing over keys, explaining your dog’s quirks, and hoping this time will be different.
Cathy’s Critter Care provides a different model entirely. We’re not a temporary solution you’ll need to replace next year. We’re your permanent dog walking partner, built on a team structure and 26+-year business foundation that ensures your dog’s walks happen consistently regardless of individual circumstances.
A Team You Can Count On – Not a Solo Operation
The problem with solo walkers:
When your individual dog walker gets sick, goes on vacation, or accepts a different job, your dog’s walks simply don’t happen. You receive an apologetic text message and scramble to figure out alternative arrangements. This cycle repeats every few months as life circumstances inevitably change for solo operators.
Our solution:
Cathy’s Critter Care operates as a full team of professional dog walkers with built-in backup coverage at all times. When your primary walker has a conflict, another team member seamlessly steps in without you needing to make emergency arrangements.
What this means for you:
Your dog’s scheduled walk happens as planned, every single time. Weather emergencies, illness, family obligations, or vacation schedules don’t create gaps in your dog’s care because we maintain sufficient team capacity to handle coverage internally.
We coordinate coverage through our office scheduling system. When your primary walker becomes unavailable, our scheduler assigns a backup walker who already has your home access information, knows your dog, and can execute the visit exactly as planned. You don’t receive frantic texts asking if you can find someone else. You simply receive your normal visit log confirming the walk occurred on schedule.
26+ Years Serving San Antonio – We're Not Going Anywhere
The problem with app-based services:
Today’s gig economy walker listed on an app becomes tomorrow’s no-show. These platforms connect you with individuals seeking side income, not professionals building careers in pet care. The turnover rate stays perpetually high because app-based walkers treat the work as temporary rather than establishing themselves as long-term service providers.
Our solution:
Cathy’s Critter Care has operated continuously since 1999, serving San Antonio and surrounding communities for over a quarter century. We’re an established local business with permanent office infrastructure, professional insurance, and a reputation built over decades.
What this means for you:
You build a lasting relationship with walkers who learn your dog’s individual personality, preferences, and quirks over months and years rather than weeks. Your dog isn’t meeting a different stranger every time they need a walk. They develop trust and comfort with familiar people who genuinely know them.
Many of our clients have maintained relationships with Cathy’s Critter Care for ten years or longer. Their dogs have grown from puppies through adulthood to senior years with the same service providing consistent care throughout. That continuity creates security for both owners and their pets.
Award-Winning Standards of Care
Cathy’s Critter Care earned Pet Sitter of the Year 2018 from Pet Sitters International, recognizing our commitment to professional standards and exceptional service quality. This recognition reflects our approach to every aspect of our business, from how we screen and train team members to how we execute daily service visits.
All walkers complete background checks before joining our team.
We verify criminal history, confirm employment references, and conduct thorough screening to ensure trustworthy individuals enter your home.
Bonding and insurance protect you and your property.
Cathy’s Critter Care maintains comprehensive business insurance and bonding that covers any potential incidents during service visits. You’re protected against property damage, liability claims, and other risks that arise when professionals work in your home.
Pet first aid and CPR certification
Equips our team to respond appropriately if medical emergencies occur during walks. While serious incidents remain rare, our walkers know how to recognize signs of distress, provide immediate first aid, and coordinate with emergency veterinary services when necessary.
What this means for you
Your dog’s safety and wellbeing rest in professional hands, not with casual individuals lacking training or accountability. The credentials backing our service provide peace of mind that we take this responsibility seriously.
We Accommodate Last-Minute Requests
The problem with booking systems: Many dog walking services require 24 or 48 hours advance notice for scheduling. When your plans change suddenly, these services can’t help. You’re left scrambling to find alternative arrangements or leaving your dog without needed care.
Our solution: Cathy’s Critter Care maintains large team capacity specifically to handle same-day and emergency requests. When you call at 10am because an unexpected meeting arose, we work to get a walker to your home that afternoon.
What this means for you: Life’s unpredictability doesn’t leave your dog stranded. When meetings run late, travel plans change, or family emergencies arise, we provide backup you can actually rely on.
Our office schedulers coordinate coverage across our team, identifying available walkers who can accommodate urgent requests. We don’t promise that every single last-minute request gets fulfilled immediately, but we make genuine efforts to help rather than simply telling you we require advance notice.
Communication You Can Rely On
Written visit logs document every walk. Within an hour of completing your dog’s walk, you receive an email or text message containing the visit log. The log specifies our exact arrival time, departure time, which route we walked, how your dog behaved, whether they had a bowel movement, and any observations worth noting.
Photo and text updates arrive during walks for clients who request this additional communication. Many owners appreciate seeing their dog mid-walk, confirming the service is happening and their dog appears happy and comfortable.
Direct communication with your dog walker and office team remains available when questions or concerns arise. You’re not navigating automated systems or waiting days for responses. Our office staff responds to emails and voicemails within one business day, and urgent concerns receive immediate attention.
What this means for you: You maintain complete visibility into your dog’s care without needing to install cameras or wonder whether the walk actually happened. The documentation provides accountability and peace of mind that justifies the professional service investment.
Locally Owned, Not App-Based
Cathy’s Critter Care operates as a local, independently owned business rather than a franchise or app-based platform. This structure creates direct accountability to the San Antonio community we’ve served for 26+ years.
You establish a direct relationship with our team rather than interacting through algorithms and automated systems. When you call our office, you speak with staff members who know your account, recognize your name, and can answer questions about your specific service without pulling up records.
The personal service that large national platforms can’t match comes from our local focus and long-term community investment. We’re not optimizing for investor returns or scaling to the next market. We’re building lasting relationships with San Antonio dog owners who deserve reliable, professional service.
How Our Dog Walking Service Works
Getting started with Cathy’s Critter Care follows a straightforward process designed to ensure your comfort, answer all questions, and introduce you to the walker who will care for your dog.
1) Contact Us
Reach Cathy’s Critter Care by phone at 210-864-6189, text the same number, send email to mypetsitteronline@gmail.com, or submit an inquiry through our website contact form. We respond to all inquiries within one business day, typically much faster.
2) Discuss Your Dog’s Needs
We’ll ask about your dog’s age, breed, weight, and general energy level to understand their exercise requirements. We’ll inquire about any medical conditions, behavioral challenges, or special considerations that affect how they should be walked.
3) Free Meet & Greet
Cathy’s Critter Care schedules a complimentary 30-minute meet and greet visit at your home. During this meeting, you’ll meet the walker who will primarily handle your dog’s care. We’ll review your home access procedures, discuss your dog’s routine and preferences, answer all questions, and ensure everyone feels confident moving forward.
4) Schedule Your Walks
We book your visits in our secure online scheduling system and send email confirmations showing exactly what’s scheduled. You’ll see the specific dates, times, and services booked, giving you complete transparency into our schedule.
5) Enjoy Peace of Mind
Your dog gets their daily exercise on schedule. You receive photos and visit reports confirming the service occurred. You focus on your work and obligations knowing your dog is cared for by experienced professionals who genuinely understand and care about animals.
Professional Dog Walking in Your Neighborhood
Cathy’s Critter Care provides daily dog walking services throughout San Antonio and surrounding communities, including:
Not sure if we serve your area?
Call us at 210-864-6189 and we’ll let you know immediately whether we provide service to your specific neighborhood.
Professional Dog Walking in Your Neighborhood
How do you access my home?
Most clients provide us with a key that we keep securely in our office key cabinet. Each key is labeled with a code number rather than your address for security purposes. Alternative options include lockbox installation at your home, garage codes, or smart lock access codes. We document your preferred access method in our system, and all team members follow consistent procedures for securing your home after each visit.
What if my dog has behavioral issues or is reactive to other dogs?
Cathy’s Critter Care has extensive experience handling dogs with behavioral challenges. Our walkers understand how to read canine body language, recognize stress signals, and manage encounters with other dogs safely. We maintain control of reactive dogs through appropriate equipment, careful route planning to avoid known triggers when possible, and techniques for redirecting attention before reactions escalate. Many of our long-term clients specifically came to us because other services wouldn’t work with their challenging dogs.
What happens if the weather is bad?
We walk dogs in all weather conditions unless conditions become genuinely dangerous. Rain, heat, and cold don’t prevent walks, though we may shorten duration during temperature extremes. During severe weather like ice storms or dangerous lightning, we shift to indoor care visits where we provide companionship, play, and bathroom breaks in your yard rather than neighborhood walks.
How much notice do you need to schedule a walk?
For regular ongoing service, we prefer establishing a standing schedule that automatically books your dog’s recurring walks. For occasional service or adding extra visits, we appreciate as much advance notice as possible but can often accommodate same-day requests depending on our schedule. Call us in the morning and we’ll do our best to fit in an afternoon visit if team capacity allows.
What if my regular walker can't make it?
Our team-based structure means backup walkers seamlessly cover visits when your primary walker is unavailable. Our office schedulers coordinate the coverage internally and ensure the backup walker has all necessary information about your dog and home access. You receive your normal visit log confirming the walk occurred, and we note in the log if a backup walker handled the visit so you’re aware of the change.
Do you walk multiple dogs at once?
We accommodate client preferences regarding multiple dog walks. Some households want all their dogs walked together for efficiency and social interaction. Others need dogs walked separately due to size differences, pace mismatches, or behavioral issues. We discuss your preference during the initial consultation and execute visits according to your instructions.
How do I know the walk actually happened?
Every walk generates a written visit log sent to you within an hour of the walker’s departure. The log documents arrival time, departure time, route taken, and observations about your dog’s behavior. Many clients also request photo updates during the walk as additional confirmation. Our documentation provides complete accountability and transparency about the service you’re paying for.
What are your rates?
Dog walking rates depend on your dog’s specific needs, your schedule requirements, and your location within our service area. Contact us at 210-864-6189 or mypetsitteronline@gmail.com for a customized quote that reflects your particular situation.
Need More Than Dog Walking? We Offer Complete Pet Care
While dog walking remains one of our most popular services, Cathy’s Critter Care provides comprehensive care addressing all your pet care needs.
Pet Sitting Visits:
30 to 60-minute in-home care visits when you’re away, separate from dog walking services. We provide feeding, medication administration, litter box cleaning, playtime, and companionship for pets who need more than just walks.
Overnight Pet Sitting:
24-hour care in your home with a sitter staying overnight. Your pets maintain their normal routine in their familiar environment while you’re traveling.
Cat Care:
Specialized attention for feline companions, including feeding, litter box maintenance, play sessions, and companionship during your absence.
Pet Taxi Services:
Transportation to veterinary appointments, grooming appointments, boarding facilities, or other destinations when you can’t provide the ride yourself.
Small Animal Care:
Comprehensive care for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, reptiles, and other small pets requiring specialized knowledge.
Farm Animal Care:
Professional care for horses, chickens, goats, and other livestock, drawing on our decades of experience with diverse animal species.
Ready to Give Your Dog the Exercise They Deserve?
For 26+ years, Cathy’s Critter Care has been San Antonio’s reliable choice for professional dog walking. Our team-based approach guarantees your dog’s walks happen on schedule, regardless of individual circumstances. Our local ownership ensures accountability and personal service that national platforms can’t match. Our award-winning standards protect your dog’s safety and your peace of mind.
Stop searching for another temporary solution. Find your permanent dog walking partner.
Call or Text: 210-864-6189
Email: mypetsitteronline@gmail.com
Office Hours:
Visits available: 6:30am – 9:00pm daily
Office staff available: Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
✓ Bonded & Insured
✓ Background Checked
✓ Pet First Aid Certified
✓ Pet Sitter of the Year 2018