Frequently asked questions

Common questions

What is Pawsada?

Pawsada is the home for everything important about your dog's life. Every dog gets a Pawsport™ — one home for their identity, health records, milestones, and story — connected to dog-friendly discovery, community, lost-dog recovery, rewards, and trusted hosting between members. Each capability stands on its own and connects to the rest.

What is a dog hosting exchange?

A dog hosting exchange is an arrangement where dog owners take turns caring for each other's dogs instead of paying a kennel or sitter. You host another member's dog, and another member hosts yours — care is traded, not bought.

How does Pawsada work?

Create a free account and a Dog Passport, then connect with compatible owners nearby. Host another member's dog and that care is credited; trade it when your dog needs a stay. Dogs meet before an overnight, and repeat stays build familiarity.

Is Pawsada dog boarding?

No. Boarding facilities and kennels house dogs commercially for a fee. Pawsada is a network of dog owners who host each other's dogs in their own homes and exchange that care through points — an alternative to boarding, not a boarding service.

Can I use Pawsada instead of boarding?

Yes — that's the core use case. Instead of a kennel, your dog stays in a real home with another owner your dog is matched with, and you 'pay' by hosting in return rather than with nightly fees.

How is Pawsada different from Rover or Wag?

Rover and Wag are paid marketplaces where you hire a sitter. Pawsada is a reciprocal owner-to-owner network: members exchange stays through points instead of hiring each other, and the experience is built around dog friendships, compatibility, and repeat stays.

How do dog points work?

Hosting a dog earns points; a guest stay spends them. Overnight stays are worth more than daytime visits. Because care is traded through points rather than cash, the people who host are the people who get hosted — keeping the network reciprocal.

Do points cost money?

No. Points are earned by hosting, not purchased — they are a non-cash way to keep the exchange fair. Membership (separate from points) supports Pawsada.

What is a Dog Passport?

A Dog Passport is a dog's profile and travel record on Pawsada. It captures the dog's stays, the fur-riends (other dogs) they've met, favorite hosts, collectible badges, personality traits, and 'things to know about me' notes that help a host succeed.

What goes on a Dog Passport?

A photo and basics, a travel log of stays, fur-riends and Best Buddies, favorite hosts, earned badges, personality tags, and warm host-helpful notes (loves, comfortable with, needs a little help with, house rules).

How do dog friendships work on Pawsada?

Friendships are relationships between individual dogs — Best Friends, Sleepover Buddies, repeat playmates, and favorite hosts. Pawsada remembers who your dog has played and stayed with, so future stays feel like visiting a friend rather than a stranger.

Can dogs have best friends?

Yes. Dogs form genuine social bonds and often have preferred companions they greet enthusiastically and play with more easily. Pawsada is built to recognize and grow these repeat friendships through familiar, recurring stays.

How does dog matching work?

Dogs are matched on personality, play style, energy level, size compatibility, environment, and routine — so stays are calm and happy between dogs (and people) who genuinely fit.

What if my dog only likes certain dogs?

That's exactly why Pawsada matches on compatibility and builds on repeat friendships. You choose who to connect with, dogs meet before any stay, and over time your dog's circle of trusted fur-riends grows.

How do repeat stays work?

Once your dog has a good stay with a host or fur-riend, you can book them again. Repeat stays with familiar dogs and people are calmer and reduce anxiety — the more a dog returns to the same friends, the easier each visit gets.

How are hosts verified?

Members can earn a Verified badge after Pawsada reviews their account. Beyond that, Pawsada surfaces trust signals — track record, repeat fur-riends, reviews, and honest feedback from real stays — and every match can start with a meet-and-greet so you judge the fit yourself. Pawsada does not run background checks or guarantee any member; you always decide for yourself.

Is Pawsada safe?

Pawsada surfaces trust signals like Verified badges and reviews, encourages dogs to meet before overnight stays, and reminds members that they are responsible for evaluating compatibility and making their own decisions. Pawsada provides the tools and trust layer; members arrange their own stays and decide who to trust.

How do I introduce dogs before a stay?

Meet in a neutral, low-pressure spot first, keep both dogs leashed at the start, watch for relaxed body language, and let them set the pace. A short successful meet-and-greet before an overnight makes the stay smoother.

How do I prepare for a dog sleepover?

Share your dog's routine, food, and any quirks, pack their own food and a familiar item (bed or toy), confirm pickup/drop-off, and do a meet-and-greet first. Familiarity is what makes a sleepover relaxed.

Why do dogs prefer familiar homes?

Dogs are creatures of routine and scent. A real home with a known person and a familiar dog friend feels safe, whereas an unfamiliar commercial facility can be stressful. Pawsada leans into familiarity and repeat stays.

Why do dogs get stressed in kennels?

Kennels often mean unfamiliar surroundings, lots of strange dogs, noise, limited one-on-one attention, and no continuity. Many dogs find a home stay with a known, matched host far less stressful.

Does Pawsada cost anything?

Membership starts free — you can create a Dog Passport and explore. A paid membership tier unlocks the full network, and care itself is exchanged through points, not paid per night.

Where is Pawsada available?

Pawsada is launching in Nashville and grows densest where dog owners join. Apartment listings show how many Pawsada dogs and active hosts are nearby so you can see local density.

Can I host without traveling myself?

Yes. You can host and build fur-riendships even if you rarely travel — many members simply love hosting, and their care is credited for whenever they need it.

What is the Dog-Friendly Living Score?

It's Pawsada's 0–100 rating of how dog-friendly an apartment community is, combining pet policy (fees, weight/breed limits), dog amenities, walkability, nearby services, and local Pawsada density.

Does Pawsada list dog-friendly apartments?

Yes. Pawsada maintains a dog-friendly apartment directory with pet policies, dog amenities, a Dog-Friendly Living Score, and local dog density — plus guides to dog parks, restaurants, breweries, hotels, and campgrounds.

What is a dog sleepover?

A dog sleepover is an overnight stay where a dog stays in another dog owner's home — ideally one they've met and get along with. On Pawsada, sleepovers happen between matched members and build into ongoing friendships.

How do dogs form friendships?

Through repeated positive interactions — shared play, calm time together, and familiar routines. Dogs that meet again and again build trust and recognition, which is why Pawsada emphasizes repeat stays with the same fur-riends.

What are dog play styles?

Play styles describe how a dog likes to interact — chasers, wrestlers, tuggers, gentle players, and dogs that prefer parallel play. Matching compatible play styles makes for happier, lower-stress stays.

How do I know if my dog enjoyed their stay?

Signs of a good stay include a relaxed, happy demeanor at pickup, normal appetite and sleep, excitement to return, and a host's report of comfortable play and rest. Pawsada encourages repeat stays with hosts your dog clearly enjoyed.

What are Pawsada badges?

Badges are collectible markers on a Dog Passport that celebrate milestones — first sleepover, first host, repeat visitor, social butterfly, founding pup, and more. They turn a dog's history into a fun, shareable story.

What is a Founding Pup?

Founding Pup is a scarce, permanent badge awarded to the earliest Dog Passports created on Pawsada — a way to recognize the first members of the community.

Can I have more than one dog on Pawsada?

Yes. You can create a Dog Passport for each of your dogs, and each builds its own friendships, travel log, and badges.

What kind of dogs is Pawsada best for?

Dogs who are comfortable in a home setting and can get along with at least some other dogs and people. Because stays are matched on compatibility and built on repeat friendships, even selective dogs can find their circle.

Do dogs stay one-on-one or with other dogs?

It depends on the host. Some hosts take one guest dog at a time; others have their own dog, making it a playdate-style stay. Compatibility matching and the meet-and-greet help you choose the right fit.

What if a stay doesn't work out?

You always meet before an overnight, so most mismatches are caught early. If a stay isn't a fit, you simply don't repeat it — and Pawsada's matching helps you find better-suited hosts and fur-riends.

How does Pawsada build trust between members?

Through Verified badges, transparent Dog Passports, trust signals from real stays, meet-and-greets before overnights, and the reciprocity of a trusted exchange where everyone both hosts and is hosted.

Is Pawsada a social network for dogs?

No. Pawsada is the home for everything important about your dog's life — a dog's records, discovery, recovery, and a trusted hosting network — not a social feed. It tracks real relationships between dogs (friendships) to support hosting, but it has no posts, comments, forums, or user-created groups.

What are the benefits of repeat playmates?

Repeat playmates mean calmer introductions, more confident play, less stress for the dogs, and more reliable hosting for the owners. Familiarity compounds — each visit is easier than the last.

How do I prepare my home to host a dog?

Dog-proof common areas, set out water and a comfortable resting spot, ask about the guest dog's routine and food, and plan a calm first hour. A short meet-and-greet beforehand sets everyone up for success.

What is dog compatibility scoring?

It's how Pawsada gauges fit between dogs and owners using personality, play style, energy, size, environment, and routine — surfacing the matches most likely to lead to relaxed, repeatable stays.

Why do dog owners stay longer in dog-friendly communities?

Dog owners value walkability, green space, dog amenities, and nearby dog friends — and a community that delivers those keeps residents happy and rooted. Pawsada's apartment directory helps owners find exactly that.

Is Pawsada a Rover alternative?

For the care part, yes — but Pawsada is bigger than that. Pawsada is the home for everything important about your dog's life: every dog gets a Pawsport™ for their identity, health records, and story, connected to dog-friendly discovery, lost-dog recovery, and a trusted hosting network. Where Rover is a paid marketplace for hiring a sitter, Pawsada's hosting is reciprocal — you trade stays with other dog owners instead of paying nightly fees. It's best for owners who want their dog's whole life in one place and are happy to host in return.

Is Pawsada a Wag alternative?

For care between trips, yes. Wag is a paid marketplace for hiring sitters and walkers. Pawsada is the home for everything important about your dog's life — the Pawsport™, discovery, recovery, and rewards — with trusted, reciprocal hosting as one capability: you trade stays with other dog owners, so there's no per-night cost between members.

Is Pawsada free?

Joining, building your dog's Passport, browsing hosts, and hosting are free. Pawsada Plus is an optional $79/year membership that unlocks messaging, requesting stays, spending points, and reviews. New members can borrow up to two nights of points for a first stay, then host back. Pawsada never charges per-night fees or takes a commission on stays between members.

Is reciprocal dog care safe?

Pawsada gives you tools to make an informed choice — Verified badges, member reviews, meet-and-greet checklists, and vet/emergency info storage. You meet the other owner, judge the fit, and decide for yourself. Pawsada does not run background checks, vet, supervise, or guarantee any member or stay.

What is a dog owner exchange?

A dog owner exchange is an arrangement where dog owners take turns caring for each other's dogs instead of paying for boarding or a sitter. One owner hosts; later the favor is returned.

What should I bring when another owner watches my dog?

Bring your dog's food, any medication with instructions, a familiar bed or crate, a favorite toy, a leash, and written notes covering feeding, routine, and emergency and vet contacts.

Does Pawsada provide professional pet sitters?

No. Pawsada is not a sitter marketplace and does not employ or assign sitters. It's a network that helps dog owners find each other and arrange reciprocal stays themselves.

What if my dog has special needs?

Share the details up front in your dog's profile and during the meet-and-greet so another owner can decide if they're comfortable. For dogs needing medical supervision, a professional facility may be more appropriate.

How much can I save with a dog sitting exchange?

It depends on your local boarding rates and how often you travel — at roughly $55/night, a week-long trip is about $385 in boarding. With an exchange you trade stays instead of paying nightly fees. That said, most members join for trusted care, not just the savings.