The first meeting sets the tone for everything after it. Get it right and the dog learns you're a safe, interesting person, the owner learns they can trust you, and every visit that follows is easier. Rush it and you can spend weeks undoing a bad first impression.
This checklist is written for the person meeting the dog, but it is worth owners reading too. Where we mention Tomopaw's own rules, they are the rules every member agrees to. If you're meeting a dog informally, they're still good habits to borrow.
Before you meet
Read everything the owner has shared
- Health notes. Age, any conditions, mobility, allergies and anything the dog shouldn't eat.
- House rules. Lead on or off, treats or none, places to avoid. On Tomopaw, every request includes your agreement to follow the owner's house rules, so read them properly rather than skimming.
- Personality. Is the dog bouncy or shy, food-mad or indifferent, good with other dogs or best kept apart?
Ask the questions that matter
- What are the dog's triggers? Bikes, skateboards, other dogs, men in hats, loud lorries?
- How good is their recall? Do they ever slip their collar or harness?
- What are their favourite treats, and how many are allowed?
- How do they like to be greeted? Some dogs love a fuss; others want a minute to sniff first.
- Is there anything they are frightened of, or anything that has gone wrong on a walk before?
Agree the where and when
Choose a public place the dog knows well, such as the start of their usual walk or a quiet corner of a local park. On Tomopaw, the first visit with any pet always happens with the owner present, and the Safety centre recommends meeting in a public place for that first visit. Agree a start time and how long you'll spend together.
Prepare yourself
- Charge your phone and make sure you have the owner's number.
- Wear shoes you can walk properly in, and clothes you don't mind getting muddy.
- Bring water for the dog in warm weather. Short-nosed breeds overheat fast.
- Leave your own treats at home unless the owner has said yes to them.
At the meeting
Let the dog come to you
Say hello to the owner first. It shows the dog that you are someone their person is comfortable with. Then stand or crouch side-on, keep your hands low and relaxed, and let the dog approach and sniff. Avoid leaning over the dog, staring into their eyes or reaching over the top of their head. If the dog wanders off after a sniff, that's fine. You have plenty of time.
Watch the dog's body language
- Good signs: a loose, wiggly body, soft eyes, a relaxed mouth, coming back for more attention.
- Slow down: lip licking, yawning, turning the head away, a tucked tail, freezing. Give the dog more space and let them set the pace.
- Stop: stiff body, hard stare, growling, raised lips. Step back calmly and let the owner take over. This doesn't mean the dog is bad; it means today isn't the day.
Walk together first
Ask the owner to show you how they hold the lead and how the dog walks. Then take the lead yourself while the owner walks alongside. This is the moment to learn the dog's quirks: the lamp post they always stop at, the squirrel tree, the gate they pull towards.
Learn the lead and kit
- Check how the collar or harness fits and how the lead clips on.
- Hold the lead securely in your hand, not wrapped tightly round your wrist.
- On Tomopaw, dogs stay on a lead outdoors unless the owner says otherwise and it's allowed where you are. On a first meeting, assume the lead stays on.
Rules that apply on every visit
Once you start visiting on your own, these are the commitments Tomopaw members make on every request. They are also a sound baseline for any arrangement:
- Follow the owner's house rules.
- Keep dogs on a lead outdoors unless the owner says otherwise.
- Never leave the pet alone, and never hand them to anyone else.
- Return the pet on time, at the agreed meeting point.
- No money changes hands between members. Nobody on Tomopaw should ask you for money; report anyone who does.
- In an emergency, call local services and use the Emergency button in the app.
The Safety centre adds a few more: keep away from busy roads and from other dogs you don't know, watch for heat, and never take a pet anywhere the owner didn't agree to.
If something goes wrong
Most visits are uneventful in the best way. But know what you'd do before you need to:
- Injury, bite or a lost dog: get help first. Call local emergency services or a vet if needed, then the owner.
- On Tomopaw: open the visit and tap Emergency. It shows your local emergency numbers, the owner's phone and the pet's vet. Afterwards, report the incident in the app so the safety team can follow up. Keep vet receipts and photos.
- Insurance: Tomopaw does not provide insurance. Owners should check what their own pet, home or liability cover includes.
After the first meeting
- Hand the lead back and tell the owner honestly how it went, including anything that worried you.
- Ask whether they'd like to try a visit on your own, and if so, keep the first one short and on a familiar route.
- If the fit isn't right, for you or the dog, say so kindly. Not every dog and person click, and that's fine.
Quick checklist
- Health notes and house rules read.
- Triggers, recall, treats and greeting preferences asked about.
- Public, familiar place agreed, with the owner present.
- Phone charged, owner's number saved, water packed if it's warm.
- Greeted the owner first, let the dog approach.
- Walked together before going solo; lead stays on.
- Know where the Emergency button is and who to call.
Ready to meet a dog nearby?
When you're ready, you can find a dog near you in the Tomopaw web app. Your first visit with any pet starts with the owner present, and your first visit is free.
Spend time with pets near you
Tomopaw connects verified members with neighbours' pets for visits of one to four hours. Owners lend for free.