The Rover Alternative · Houston
The Local Rover Alternative in Houston
Your dog deserves a person, not an app.
Rover and Wag are marketplaces. We are a small, locally-owned Houston business. Let's just say that our processes are more indepth. We care deeply about the families we serve, the team we employ, and the pets we lovingly befriend. That means W-2 employees who are background-checked, drug-screened, and passionately trained with Fear Free Certified standards. Not strangers from a gig app. Proudly serving your neighborhood since 2010.
Certified
Insured, bonded, and CPR trained.
"We tried Rover for a year. We had four different walkers, two no-shows, and one missing house key. The day we hired Shaggy Chic was the day we stopped worrying."Erin M. · Greater Heights, TX
Side By Side
The difference, in plain English.
Six things that change the moment you stop using a gig app.
| Comparison category | Shaggy Chic | Gig Apps |
|---|---|---|
01 Who walks your dog | Shaggy Chic A W-2 employee we hired, trained, and stand behind. | Gig Apps A 1099 contractor the app matched you with last night. |
02 Training & certifications | Shaggy Chic Fear Free Certified, pet first-aid & CPR trained. | Gig Apps No formal training required to sign up. |
03 Insurance & bonding | Shaggy Chic Fully covered under our commercial policy. | Gig Apps A "guarantee" with a long list of fine print exclusions. |
04 If something goes wrong | Shaggy Chic Call Kristen. She owns this. She will fix it. | Gig Apps Submit a ticket. Wait for a corporate queue. |
05 Consistency | Shaggy Chic A consistent, trained team that knows your dog, not random strangers from a marketplace. | Gig Apps A different stranger every time, depending on availability. |
06 How we get paid | Shaggy Chic Direct, with employee taxes and benefits handled by us. | Gig Apps App takes 20%+ commission. Walker is on their own. |
A Note From The Owner
"I started this company because I didn't trust the apps with my own dog."
Sixteen years ago I left a corporate job to do this full time, with one rule: every person who walks your dog is on my team, my payroll, and my conscience.
No marketplace algorithm. No "preferred sitter" you've never met. Just a small, trained group of people who know your gate code and your dog's quirks, and a phone number that rings to me when something goes sideways.
Kristen Parkhurst, Owner
We're a fit if…
- You want a consistent, trained team: familiar faces who know your dog, not a different stranger every time.
- Your dog has medical needs, anxiety, or quirks.
- You'd rather text the owner than file a support ticket.
- You live in Greater Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, or nearby.
We're not a fit if…
- You need a same-day walker in two hours.
- You want the cheapest possible price per visit.
- You'd rather skip the meet & greet.
- You live outside our Houston service area.
Fear Free
Certified
Insured
& Bonded
W-2 Employee
Team
Houston Local
Since 2010
By Neighborhood
The Rover alternative, neighborhood by neighborhood
We actually serve these neighborhoods — on foot, every week, since 2010.
Trade the gig app for a phone number.
Free meet & greet, no contracts, no commitment. Just a real conversation about your dog.
Book a Meet & Greet