We get it. The idea of leaving your best friend in the hands of a stranger can be a daunting feeling. Your dog is your life, and you deserve peace of mind knowing they’re in the best hands possible. The Monster Minders is a locally owned, small business founded in South Philly 2005. Our Minders are trained, bonded/insured, back-ground checked full-time employees for our family-owned business. We invest in our staff. We train our staff. We retain our staff. We do NOT utilize Independent Contractors, which is on the rise as national technology corporations are looking to cash-in on the "gig economy." We are a team of professionals who understand that our clients deserve more than a random gig worker in their home. We respect that we are caring for not only your best friend, but also your home. As a company, everything we do revolves around dog safety, peace of mind for our clients, and treating our employees with dignity. We believe that happy, experienced, and trained employees allow us to offer our clients a more dependable and consistent service. Our Minders become "part of the family" for us and many of our clients. We also offer our Minders job security, workers compensation, benefits such as Paid Time Off (because it's the right thing to do) and ongoing dog training opportunities. Our Minders are a team of dog professionals working together for one goal: To make The Monster Minders the best dog walkers in Philly. You can read bios of all of our Minders here. When clients sign up for service, we'll match them up with a Minder that has space for their weekly scheduling needs AND is a good fit for their dog. Are you ready to find your perfect match? Secure your Meet and Greet today.

All Monster Minders are employees of the company, not independent contractors. Our walkers are an important part of what makes this company work. They are carefully hired, supported by management, and part of a close-knit team that cares deeply about the dogs in our care. We take hiring seriously because our clients trust us with both their dogs and their homes, and our walkers deserve a workplace where they feel supported, respected, and set up to do their best work. All Monster Minders are background checked and covered under our business insurance.

Absolutely not! We believe in one-on-one care for safety and tailored visits. Walking dogs from various households at one time is not safe in a busy urban environment like Philadelphia. Nor would it allow us to tailor the walks to a monster’s specific training requirements and preferences. Safety and mental enrichment are two focuses of our dog walking service. Pack walks don’t allow proper attention to either goal. Plus, not all of our weekly dogs are social butterflies when it comes to other canines. And that's OK! Solo walks allow us to work with dogs that may be dog-reactive and just need a bit more space from other pups. Our focus will be on your dog, and your dog alone during our visits. This also assures that you don't have other animals in your home. Ready for some one-on-one adventures? Request a Minder Meeting today.

We understand that dogs come in all personalities and socialization levels, and many human-reactive or fearful dogs thrive with the right support. That said, not all dogs are a good fit for the dog walking format, nor does it meet their needs. For dogs with a bite history, those who display fear-based aggression toward people, and/or those who are stressed out when non-family members enter the home (or try to leash them), traditional walking services can increase overall stress and potentially escalate the behavior. We believe dogs are excellent communicators when it comes to boundaries and pushing past their boundaries can have long-term consequences. If you’ve recently worked with another dog walking service and it didn’t go well due to your dog’s anxiety when walkers enter your home or due to reactivity toward strangers on walks, it’s likely the same challenges would arise with us. We want to set your dog (and our Minders) up for success, and that sometimes means acknowledging when a different kind of support is needed. Our top priority is the safety of employees, your dog, and the public. If a dog shows aggressive behavior (snapping, snarling, biting) toward an employee or other people during a visit, we will likely need to cancel services. In these cases, we always recommend working with a certified trainer or veterinary behaviorist to get to the root of the behavior and build a plan tailored to your dog’s needs. In some cases, we can revisit services in the future once a behavior professional gives the green light. Safety first, always.

Many city dogs are reactive on leash, especially in busy neighborhoods. Our walkers are used to navigating those situations calmly and safely. During your meet & greet, we’ll learn about your dog’s triggers and the strategies that work best for them. Walkers can adjust routes, create distance from other dogs when needed, and move at your dog’s pace so walks stay safe and positive. Our goal is always to make walks a comfortable and predictable part of your dog’s day.

Yes. Many of the dogs we care for are older or have specific medical or mobility needs. During your meet & greet, we’ll take time to learn about your dog’s routine, comfort level, and any special instructions you’d like us to follow. Some senior dogs enjoy a slower stroll around the block, while others prefer a quick potty break and some extra time for affection and companionship. Our goal is always to meet your dog where they are. Whether that means a gentle walk, extra patience getting up the stairs, or simply moving at a slower pace, we’re happy to adjust our visits so your dog feels comfortable and cared for.

Yes! Over the past 20 years, we’ve helped care for countless Philadelphia puppies as they grow from wobbly little fluffballs into confident neighborhood dogs. Many of our clients start with us when their dogs are just a few months old, and we’re lucky enough to watch them grow from puppyhood all the way into their senior years. That means our team has plenty of experience with the rhythms of puppy life. We’re comfortable supporting things like potty training routines, helping puppies build confidence outside, practicing good leash habits, and giving young dogs the extra patience and encouragement they need while they figure out the world. Urban living can be a big adventure for a puppy, and we’re happy to help them learn the ropes

We’re not dog trainers, and our services are focused on providing safe, reliable walks and daily care. That said, many of our clients work with trainers and have specific routines they’d like reinforced. Our walkers are happy to support positive, humane training approaches by following the routines you and your trainer have already put in place. Our role is to provide consistent exercise, structure, and routine for your dog during the day.