My routine usually consists of visiting your pet twice a day.  During one of these visits I will take your dog for a walk - usually lasting between 15 - 30 minutes.  So far my experience has been that the pet in my charge welcomes me and have no problem to date filling in for the pets owner.  Many of my clients pets are older so taking them to a kennel is out of the question.  That's where my service fits in perfectly, so I've been told.  It's affordable, friendly, the animal gets to stay in it's own home and I've found my clients trust me instictively just like their pet does.  It helps that we live in a smaller town, though, to I think.