How to choose the right Pro.

mypooch.ai is a connection platform. Pros list themselves. You reach out directly. We don’t vet, verify, or endorse anyone. The hiring decision is yours — and so is the responsibility for doing your homework. Here’s how to do it well.

What mypooch.ai is

A directory that helps pet parents find dog trainers, vets, walkers, groomers, sitters, and other pet professionals in their area. Pros build their own profiles with the services, prices, contact info, and credentials they choose to share.

That’s it. We make the introduction. The hiring decision is between you and the Pro.

What mypooch.ai is not

Not a verification service. We don’t confirm credentials, licenses, insurance, or business registrations.
Not a background-check service. We don’t run criminal records or any other checks on Pros.
Not an endorsement. A Pro being listed on mypooch.ai doesn’t mean we vouch for them.
Not a guarantor. We don’t promise outcomes, quality of work, or fitness for any particular dog.
Not a party to your contract. When you hire a Pro, that’s a transaction between you and them — not us.

Everything a Pro tells you on their profile is self-reported. Treat it the way you’d treat a Yelp listing or a Craigslist ad: useful as a starting point, never the whole story.

How to vet a Pro yourself

You know your dog. You know your home. You know what you’re paying for. Here’s a practical playbook for making sure the Pro you’re about to hire is the real deal.

1. Verify the credentials yourself

Trainers — ask for their certifying body and certification ID. Then look them up directly at ccpdt.org, iaabc.org, or whichever body they claim.
Vets and vet techs — every state has a public license lookup. Search “[your state] veterinary license lookup” and confirm their license number is active and clean.
Groomers — ask for NDGAA, IPG, or accredited grooming school certification. Verify with the issuing organization.
Walkers, sitters, boarders — ask to see proof of liability insurance and bonding. Reputable Pros will send a Certificate of Insurance without hesitation.
Boarding/daycare facilities — local animal control or municipal licensing offices keep records of kennel licenses and any complaints.

2. Ask the right questions before you book

How many years have you been working with dogs professionally?
Are you insured? Can you send me your Certificate of Insurance?
What’s your approach with [reactive / anxious / senior / puppy / etc.] dogs?
Can I get 2-3 client references I can call directly?
What’s your cancellation policy and what happens if something goes wrong?
For trainers: What methods do you use? Avoid trainers who default to aversive tools (shock, prong, choke) for basic obedience.
For walkers/sitters: Have you been trained in pet first aid? What’s your protocol in an emergency?

3. Look beyond the profile

Google their business name + “review” — read both positive and negative reviews. Pattern-match for repeat complaints.
Check their personal social media — most pet pros post training videos or grooming work. You learn a lot from how they handle a dog on camera.
Ask in your local dog-owner community — Nextdoor, Facebook neighborhood groups, the local dog park crowd. Word-of-mouth still wins.
Visit before booking — for daycares, boarders, and groomers, a tour of the facility is non-negotiable. If they refuse, walk away.

4. Trust your gut at the first interaction

How fast do they reply? A pro who takes 5 days to respond to an inquiry will take 5 days when something’s wrong.
Do they ask about your dog? A good Pro asks questions before quoting a price. A bad one quotes without context.
How do they handle pushback? If you ask for credentials or references and they get defensive, that’s your answer.
Are the prices clear? “We’ll figure it out” pricing is a red flag for upcharges later.

Red flags to walk away from

No verifiable business info — no business name, no EIN/DBA, no fixed location or service area, no website
Reluctance to share credentials — a real Pro is proud of their license/certification and shares it without prompting
No insurance — for any in-home or out-of-home service, lack of liability insurance is a hard stop
Cash-only, no contract — legitimate businesses use contracts and accept multiple payment methods
Promises that sound too good — “100% guaranteed”, “fix your dog in one session”, “no consultation needed”
Pressure tactics — limited-time discounts, “book today or lose your spot”, aggressive sales
Bad reviews with the same theme — one bad review is noise. Five reviews all mentioning the same issue is a signal

If something goes wrong

For emergencies involving harm to an animal: call your local animal control or 911 first. Then deal with the rest.

For everything else, your recourse is between you and the Pro — refunds, disputes, small-claims court, reporting to their certifying body or state licensing board. mypooch.ai isn’t a party to your contract and can’t refund money, mediate disputes, or compel a Pro to do anything.

That said — if you’ve had a serious issue with a Pro listed on mypooch.ai (fraud, abuse, dangerous behavior, falsified credentials), please tell us at support@mypooch.ai. Repeated credible reports may result in us removing a Pro from the directory. That’s the extent of our involvement.

Resources for verifying credentials

Trainers: CCPDT · IAABC · KPA
Veterinary behaviorists: ACVB
Veterinarians: search “[your state] veterinary medical board license lookup”
Groomers: NDGAA · IPG
Walkers/sitters: NAPPS · Pet Sitters International
Pet first-aid certification bodies: American Red Cross · Pet Tech

The bottom line

A Pro listed on mypooch.ai is a Pro who chose to list themselves on mypooch.ai. Nothing more, nothing less. We help you find them; the rest is your job.

Take the 30 minutes to verify before you hire. It’s the cheapest insurance there is.

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