While at first Samantha was responsive, she became sloppy -- she arrived later and later for appointments, and she did not return email messages in a timely manner. When I tried to resolve the situation, she was unprofessional and almost hostile. She may care for dogs, but she needs to work on her people skills! As a result, my husband and I turned elsewhere, and we have found a reliable, professional, sweet and caring dog walker who knows how to run a business. Let me know if you'd like a referral. read more

Sam is nice at first; services are good for the price, however the timing was weird, sometimes coming to late or coming back to early. I would also notice that even on days when the water flow was high in Eaton canyon, my dogs fur on the feet looked untouched. On my longhair his fur doesn't dry that way in mud and water. When I asked about it, they said they towel them off afterwards. Sam's tone and attitude also became terse over time. I'm not insinuating anything nor do I want to make assumptions, but I don't feel comfortable leaving my dogs with someone I don't trust 110%, so I decided she was not the walker for me. Second- and I mean this in NO way to be offensive- if Sam and the other girls hike the dogs 3x a week, I don't understand why they are relatively overweight. There could be a logical explanation, but it is one more thing that doesn't sit right with me. read more

Unfortunately I must say that some of the more negative reviews are more accurate. I have come home early on a few occasions to find my pet home, yet the time signed in usually 10-15 minutes later than the current time. Something to think about. read more

Samantha and her team of dog walkers have been walking our dog several times a week for a couple years, we moved and the transition was smooth. Not a missed day and our dog is always happy to get is mid day walks. Yvonne does a great job. Great service highly recommend if you need your dog walked. They leave notes after the walk, you can review. read more

We adopted a high energy pup who we wanted to socialize and exhaust when we couldn't! 4Paws Running fit the bill perfectly. I looked on-line and I liked their ethos of exercise = good physical & mental health. Sam came to our house, interviewed me and met our dog; she explained their service was discreet so we have no worries about security with our home. We knew it was a good fit when we were out playing with our girl at a nearby park and she vocalized when another dog came near: this was one of her playmates in the pack, we learned from her human! A year on, we adopted another pup with special needs.While the two are bonded, their energy levels are completely different. We've worked closely with both our walker Yvonne (who is a lovely person to have in charge of our family when we aren't there) and Sam. We've got a great rhythm going, and the team understands that these furry creatures are in our hearts and as important to us as they can be. read more

I originally contacted Four Paws Running because I saw that they were bonded & insured and they were established. I had a great initial phone conversation with Samantha, once I got a hold of her and we discussed how we both have rescue dogs and my concerns. I have been very hesitant to hire a dog walker for my dog because he does not take well to new people but, Samantha ensured me that her staff is very experienced. We set up an initial consultation visit at my home so she could meet my dog. I received a text message from her that day, saying that she has become ill and has to cancel all of her appointments for that day. So I waited to contact her again the following week to check and see how she was doing. I am a bit annoyed at this point because I am making the effort to reach out to her on multiple occasions until I received a response. She then told me she would be back to work on Thursday of that week. I contacted her again that Friday to set up an appointment for Saturday. Samantha then told me she wouldnt be going back to work until Monday and she couldnt make an appointment with me because she didnt know what to expect when she went back to work. At no point did I feel like she was trying to make herself available even after she was back to work again. I have NEVER tried so hard to set up an appointment with anyone. I felt exhausted after almost 2 weeks of trying to set up an appointment I still never received a definite time for the consultation. TERRIBLE communication! I will take my business elsewhere. read more

Just got back from vacation and had Samantha from Four Paws Running look after my 2 "poms" and as always, she did an AMAZING job! She always walks my dogs when I work ( I work crazy hours on movie sets ) and she is always able to help me out and take them on walks, hikes, runs, so when I get home they are tired out and I can relax and not feel guilty about working all day! I would highly recommend her to anyone who need someone to look after their " furry kids" Alison herwood read more

Samantha and Susan from Four Paws Running are wonderful! We have now gone out of town twice and they have spent the night both times to take care of our two cats and two dogs. This included daily walks and text updates. They are providing a great service to pet owners who do not feel comfortable with boarding their "kids" in unfamiliar surroundings. I would recommend them to everyone! read more

Four Paws Running - Otis and Marley - Dog Walkers Near Me - Pasadena, California

For the past 2 years, I have used Four Paws. I have tried other dog walkers, but never had some as reliable as they are. I do 2 walks M-F and on Tuesday and Thursdays, they take my pup to the dog park where he runs around for an hour with a bunch of other dogs. It's amazing. The routine has really helped in his potty training, he is now super friendly with literally any other dog he sees, and he's in great shape! With a lazy dog like my basset hound, that's important. My dog Wilson has had leg issues since he was just a few months old. (Angular Limb Deformity in the front legs that we fixed with surgery, and now has early signs of hip dysplasia in the back). The vet gave him a little over a year to live and said the only thing he could recommend is regular exercise. That was over 2 yrs ago. Wilson has surpassed all expectations and has a clean bill of health. I owe a lot of this to Four Paws Running. Highly recommend! - Brian PS: Here's a picture of my dog drooling at the park. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/four-paws-running-pasadena?select=TXMGiR_xIVRMQYMnvobQaA#TXMGiR_xIVRMQYMnvobQaA read more

Have been loyal patron to four paws running for about three years. Samantha (owner and main point of contact) is super flexible with your schedule, I have added or cancelled last minute walks and dog parks every now and then. Dog park Tuesdays and Thursdays are a great exercise option. I think they also do hiking every Wednesday although I don't opt for hiking for fear of the dirt and mud that would track in. I do request that his paws be wiped down after an outing and Four Paws has kept his paws clean for the most part! My dog, Westly, loves his regular walker Yvonne this past year and is excited and happy whenever she comes by to pick him up. He is usually too scared or nervous about leaving home with anyone other than me, so it was nice to know he was in good hands. Dogs can't lie about those things! Highly recommend to those seeking a dog walker/exerciser! read more

I have been using Four Paws Running since December after becoming extremely unhappy with the previous service I was using. Samantha completely understands that our dogs are our children. I was impressed from the moment I met not only Samantha but Yvonne as well, who is our walker. Most other agencies do not allow that. It was important for me to met the walker and see how my girls responded to her. They absolutely love her! I have a 14yr old who hates everyone but when she sees Yvonne she goes nuts with excitement. Both Samantha and Yvonne are professional, quick at responding to emails or texts. You can tell right away for them it's not a job. This is something they are both truly passionate about and it shows. My only regret is that I did not find them sooner. read more

5 Star Rating for ***** Susan! ***** Susan has cared for my dogs for over 5 years. She is hands down the best dog walker and house sitter and she always surpasses my expectations. Susan is responsible, timely, kind, honest and loving. I often leave for extensive vacations without worry or anxiety. She keeps me updated via texts and e-mails, and leaves me detailed notes regarding their walks. I can't imagine not having Susan. I have been lucky enough to have known Susan before she joined Four Paws Running, and I have just been informed that she is venturing out on her own. I pick Susan! I can't imagine a stranger coming into my home and caring for my dogs. If you wish to speak further about Susan's expertise and kindness for your loved four legged family members, please don't hesitate to contact me. read more

I don't post reviews very often, and I prefer to write positive reviews, but I feel it necessary to post this as a service to others looking for good pet care. Samantha Welles should not be in the business of taking care of your pets. If you care about the animal you live with, don't use this service. When I first researched pet sitting, Samantha's business had several negative reviews, but she had some positive reviews as well, so I hoped the positive would outweigh the negative. Yelp reviews can be all over the place, so I always check out the businesses for myself. My first experience with FOUR PAWS RUNNING was fine. I am caring for my sister, who has a devastating illness, and I needed a reliable pet sitter to regularly care for my new kitten, Coco while I'm out of town. After several attempts at reaching Samantha, she finally returned my call to set up a meeting with Yvonne, one of her sitters. Yvonne took very good care of CoCo, going above and beyond what I could have expected. If Yvonne ever went into business for herself, I would use her in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, after that first experience, it was all downhill from there. The second time I tried to schedule pet sitting service, Samantha said that Yvonne wasn't available. She offered to let me meet another sitter. Despite numerous calls to attempt to meet the new sitter, Samantha never responded. I was very uncomfortable with her lack of response, and I was forced to cancel service. I found another sitter who worked out very well. I let Samantha keep my key, and I hoped to try to use her service in the future as a backup. When my regular sitter went on vacation, I needed a sitter for an emergency situation. I was going out of town for a week and I went on Samantha's site, requesting Yvonne. I called Samantha several times and texted her to be sure everything was set. She never answered my calls. She finally texted me days later to let me know that Yvonne was not available. I texted her back to say that any sitter was fine. I never heard back from her and I assumed she had assigned a sitter. When I got to my destination, I got worried and began calling Samantha to be sure someone was coming. Despite repeated calls over the course of several hours, I didn't hear back from her. I was frantic. After several hours, she finally texted me. She didn't even have the decency to return my calls. She said she was just coming back from vacation, and since Yvonne wasn't available, she didn't schedule anyone to care for my cat! She never emailed, texted or called me to clarify that she wasn't scheduling a sitter. When I told her I was depending on her service, and explained my situation, Samantha was particularly heartless. She absolved herself of all responsibility for anything and didn't lift a finger to help me. I was forced to scramble to find friends to fill in for a week, until I got back. If not for my friends, my cat would have been in poor shape. Samantha put me in a bind of major proportions, taking no responsibility for her actions or lack thereof. Stay away from her and this business if you love and value your pet. read more

From the first time you speak with Samantha on the phone, you immediately understand that she is invested in your dog over and beyond the norm. Not only does she walk dogs, she also evaluates and tailors a program that will improve your dog's behavior, if needed. That is all included in her fee! After every walk, she submits a walk evaluation that describes how the walk went, any interesting experiences either with other dogs, behavior assessments, and suggestions. Our dog has some behavioral issues and I was really afraid that there wouldn't be any dog walker that could handle her. Not only did I find one, but she is also helping our dog feel more at ease when encountering other dogs. And the best part - Samantha does NOT use treats. It's all positive reinforcement...takes more work and patience, but makes more sense. I couldn't have been luckier in finding Samantha for our dog! read more

I've used Four Paws for years as my dog walker - we started service when my rescue pup first came home in 2010 and we've kept up with a weekly dog park service since then - over 6 years! We've had three dog walkers in that time and they've all been very sweet and good with our dog. When Yvonne shows up each week, Teddi is always ready to roll! We've also used their vacation services a couple of times.. Recently we went on a week long vacation to a relative's wedding and Yvonne boarded our dog - Teddi had so much fun she scarcely wanted to come home! I got pictures and videos of her romping around via text plus updates on how she was doing and it made my vacation that much more enjoyable and serene. Thanks guys! I really appreciate your loving care. Edit: That's my redhead Teddi on the Yelp photo gallery with her tongue out. Just in case you want to admire my dog. :) read more

Samantha is great they are very prompt and have great prices, even when our schedule changes at the last minute they always accommodate. Yvonne was our main dog walker and she always goes above and beyond, our dog loves her visits and really gets excited to see her. read more

I've been meaning to write a review for a while. Thought I'd give it some time so that I could be fair and not write something in anger. I had a very similar experience as some of the people that have posted. At first everything was great. Then things got sloppy. Coming later and later to pick up my puppy. Twice forgetting to pick him up! Blaming confusion on text or email. I have the texts and emails, there is no confusion on the information I provided. I'm always very thorough and I like to provide as much info as possible. My dog is my child. I started to really get a bad feeling and I felt I couldn't trust them after a while. Once, they watched our pup one night while we were out of town. When we got home our pups water bowl was bone dry. When I text Samantha asking what the heck was going on, she text back saying that Holly did give him water, but in another bowl before she left. Um what?!?! Made no sense at all. I couldn't even push the issue. It was such a ridiculous excuse. If his bowl is right there empty, why wouldn't she fill HIS bowl before she left. What bowl did she use? Her own? There was no other bowl out when we got home. On numerous occasions I felt that they didn't take him out for the amount of time they were supposed to or to the dog park on the days he was supposed to go and instead, likely took him for a walk around our neighborhood. I had that verified more than once by either my mother that comes to our house a couple times a week to watch our pup and also by a friend that was working on our house for some weeks. We hadn't mentioned anything, he reached out to us concerned that our dog was being taken out but coming back very soon. Anyway, I just couldn't put my dog in their "care" any longer. Just awful. read more

We have been using Four Paws to walk our 2 dogs daily for several years. Samantha and team are very flexible and always available via text or email. We often need extra walks or have special requests and they always accommodate even last minute. Highly recommended! read more

Wonderful, wonderful service. Samantha is very personable, reliable and careful. Her professionalism impressed me right off the bat. She really cares about the well-being of your pet. Not only that, she takes the time to understand and cater her services to your pet's needs. For me personally - I have a very stubborn puppy who is still in early stages of training, and she makes sure to reinforce his training as she's taking him out on walks. Simple things like sitting and good manners. Her service is great, especially for people who work full-time and may not be able to get home in the middle of the day to check-in on their pet. Two thumbs up! read more

The dog walkers at FPR are truly dog lovers. We use them all the time during the day and our two Labs and they always come back from their walk happy and tired.We particularly like Yvonne.She is calm and experienced with energetic dogs.. read more

Samantha watched our five birds (four cockatiels and one pionus parrot) for a total of three weeks over the past couple of months. Birds are very high-maintenance, but she was completely up for the challenge - cutting up vegetables and apples every day for them to eat, changing their water and seeds twice a day, and hanging out with them for nearly an hour per day to make sure they had some human companionship. The birds obviously love her company, as she would sing to them and even play them their favorite music videos! Her rates are very reasonable, especially considering how well she looks after your pets. At this point, I would not hire another pet-sitter -- Samantha is simply head and shoulders above any we have used before! The birds must agree, judging from how much happier they seem when we come back from vacations now than when we used other sitters in the past. read more

Sam and the staff at Four Paws Running are awesome. We just went out of town for 4 days and Sam watched our pup. She even texted us with daily updates. We have been using her service for over a year and have had nothing but a wonderful experience. I find if really hard to believe a reviewer thought she needed to work on her people skills. I couldn't disagree more. read more

I love these guys so much. They are always on time and leave notes that let you know how everything went. Pics and video too if needed. They have done walks and also stayed at my home. I am gone most of the day, travel some and they are always there and not too expensive. So worth it for piece of mind read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Four Paws Running!! They have been walking my dog Willow (who is like my child) for the last 4 months and I am incredibly pleased with their service. I interviewed several of the most reputable dog walkers in Pasadena before making my decision - Willow was very picky about who she responded to, but she just climbed right into Laura's arms. I trust Sam, Laura, and Hayley with her implicitly and it feels so comforting to know that she is taken care of when I am at work. If I need to change the schedule last minute, Sam is immediately responsive and offers total flexibility. Every day, a little note is left telling me exactly the time she was walked, what she did, and often, a fun little anecdote. They know and love her quirks and take amazing care of her. I know that if I go on vacation, I can leave Willow with them and she will be well taken care of. I truly appreciate this service and would recommend them without hesitation!! read more