The Rover alternative Garden Oaks dog parents actually trust.
If you've used Rover or Wag in Garden Oaks, you already know the problem: a different stranger every visit, no real accountability, and a 1099 contractor who may or may not show up. Shaggy Chic is the opposite: a small, owner-run, employee-based dog walking and pet sitting team built for 1940s ranch homes, mature live oaks, and the easy pace of a true neighborhood. A consistent team that knows your dog. Real reports. Insured and bonded. Run by Kristen Parkhurst, Fear Free Certified, since 2010.
What you get in Garden Oaks
- W-2 employees, not 1099 gig contractors
- Familiar faces: trained employees your dog learns to trust
- $2M business liability insurance + bonded. Rover hosts are not
- Full background checks, in-person training, ongoing supervision
- Real photo + GPS report after every walk
- You can call Kristen directly. There is no app support tier.
- Word-of-mouth is how most Garden Oaks clients find us — we're probably already walking dogs on your block
- In a neighborhood where people know their neighbors' dogs, the rotating stranger problem is especially visible — we're the stable alternative
In Garden Oaks
Garden Oaks is a neighborhood where people know their neighbors — and their neighbors' dogs. Word-of-mouth is how most of our Garden Oaks clients found us, not a search engine. If a Rover or Wag experience sent you looking for something different, we're probably already walking dogs on your block. Ask around.
Why Garden Oaks pet owners pick us
Sixteen years walking Houston dogs. Owned and operated by Kristen Parkhurst, Fear Free Certified Professional, Certified Professional Pet Sitter. Insured, bonded, and built around an employee-based team that actually shows up.
Call Kristen Directly
832-868-8430Kristen's team handled a week of overnight care for our anxious rescue while we were out of town. We came home to a dog who didn't even seem to notice we were gone. That's the bar.
Garden Oaks · Frequently asked
What Garden Oaks dog parents ask when switching from Rover.
Do you actually serve Garden Oaks, or just list it on a map?
We actually serve Garden Oaks. Our walkers and sitters work this neighborhood on foot, not from a contractor pool across the city. We've had clients here since 2010 — we know the streets, and we're genuinely local. Booking starts with a free meet & greet in your home.
What's the real difference between Shaggy Chic and Rover?
Rover is a marketplace — every walker is an independent 1099 contractor who sets their own rules, holds their own (or no) insurance, and gets matched to you by an algorithm. Shaggy Chic is an employee-based team. Everyone on our team is a trained, background-checked W-2 employee covered under our $2M business liability policy. You get the same familiar faces, not whoever happens to be available.
If something goes wrong, who do I call?
You call Kristen directly at 832-868-8430. There is no app support queue. Kristen Parkhurst owns and operates Shaggy Chic — she is not an account manager or a bot. If there's a situation with your pet, you have a real person who knows your dog and can respond.
How do I switch from Rover to Shaggy Chic?
Easy. Send us a note or call, and we'll schedule a free meet & greet in your home. After that visit, you're set up for ongoing care. Most clients find the transition seamless — we handle everything through the meet & greet and take it from there.
How do most Garden Oaks clients find you?
Word of mouth. Garden Oaks is a neighborhood where people know each other, and dog owners talk. If you're unhappy with a Rover experience, there's a reasonable chance a neighbor can tell you who they switched to. We don't run ads in Garden Oaks because we've never needed to — satisfied clients are the whole marketing strategy.
More in Garden Oaks
All Shaggy Chic services in Garden Oaks
- Dog Walking
- Pet Sitting
- Cat Sitting
- Rover Alternative
- Almost Overnights
- Staycations