Frequently asked questions

Common questions

What is Pawsada?

Pawsada is a points-based dog hosting network where verified dog owners host one another's dogs in real homes. Owners earn points by hosting and spend them when their own dog needs a stay, and dogs are matched on personality and compatibility so friendships develop over time.

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, get verified, and connect with compatible owners nearby. Host another member's dog to earn points, and spend points 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 verified 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 a verified 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 the platform.

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 complete identity and vaccination verification before they can host or request stays, earning a Verified badge. Pawsada also surfaces trust signals like track record, repeat fur-riends, and honest signals from real stays.

Is Pawsada safe?

Pawsada verifies members and surfaces trust signals, requires 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.

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. Verification (identity and vaccinations) is required to host or request stays, and a paid membership tier unlocks the full network. 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 to earn points and build fur-riendships even if you rarely travel — many members enjoy hosting and bank points for the future.

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, verified 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 verification, transparent Dog Passports, trust signals from real stays, meet-and-greets before overnights, and the reciprocity of a points-based exchange where everyone both hosts and is hosted.

Is Pawsada a social network for dogs?

Pawsada is a trust network and hosting marketplace, 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?

Yes, but with a different model. Rover is a paid marketplace where you hire a sitter. Pawsada is a dog owner exchange network — you trade stays with other verified owners instead of paying nightly fees. It's best for owners who are willing to host a dog in return.

Is Pawsada a Wag alternative?

Pawsada is an alternative to Wag for owners open to reciprocal care. Wag connects you with paid sitters and walkers; Pawsada connects you with other dog owners to trade stays, so there's no per-night cost between members.

Is Pawsada free?

Joining and creating your profile is free. Pawsada Plus is an optional $99/year membership that unlocks unlimited browsing, messaging, and reviews. 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 — identity verification, 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 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 platform 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 costs about $385 in boarding — money exchange members keep by trading stays instead. Try the cost calculator to estimate your own savings.