5 Star Housesitters

Category: Canine Friends

Senior Wieners – An Adorable Troika!

Our time dog sitting Bubba, Lucy and Big Daddy, the senior wieners

A wonderful doggie mom contacted us about dogsitting her dachshunds during her mother-daughter European vacation. She’s a very caring soul, and in her good-heartedness, rescues dogs that are difficult to place. That’s how we had the opportunity to love Bubba, Lucy, and Big Daddy. (pictured left, left to right)

All seniors (around mid-teens) these three are like a little sibling family, each very different, but bound together emotionally. Big Daddy is on the giant end for a standard smooth dachshund, pushing 30 pounds and built very low to the ground. Perhaps not an Einstein in doggie intelligence, he has such a sweet, undemanding demeanor. But first, you’ve got to get past Bubba to be part of the “circle of trust.” Besides being the oldest, Bubba is the protector of them all. Until he knows and trusts you, he will put himself in between you and his family – barking, snapping, and even biting to keep you away. He is a toughie, until you figure out his “kryptonite” — his teeth are so worn and sparse, he can’t hurt you. 🙂

The trials of puppy mill rescues

I tell it as a light-hearted anecdote, but his back story isn’t a happy one — he and Lucy, his mate? daughter? (their unique and similar coloring, and their attachment to each other, make it likely they come from the same breeder), apparently were discarded from a puppy mill once they reached old age. Bubba has an ineffective bite, but Lucy’s teeth were so bad, many of them had to be removed. Now, in a darling but sad way, her little tongue slips out when she’s asleep or resting. It’s not hard to empathize with Bubba’s distrust, aggression and protectiveness when you have a sense of what they’ve been through.

Still, they’re happy kids, once you break through. They love snuggling on the couch together, they LOVE LOVE LOVE mealtime, and, getting them out for a short walk is like doggie nirvana for them. These usually sedentary elders get all puppy hippy hoppy when they see their harnesses and leashes, especially Big Daddy. It is seriously hard to get Big Daddy off the couch, but not when he thinks he’s going for a walk!

One of the other “bless her heart” issues their kind owner has to deal with is accidents. It doesn’t appear to be age-related incontinence, it seems as if there are just times they decide to “release,” and it’s not always outside the doggie door. We have heard that’s pretty characteristic of puppy mill dogs, because for years, they’re just kept in cages until they’re called upon to “perform.” (It really is remarkable how these little ones can come through so much and still have the capacity to love and be happy in a good environment).

Even with all the “extra” that comes with dog sitting elderly dachshunds, it’s impossible not to love this trio and deeply appreciate good people with big hearts! 🙂

July 24, 2016
Three’s company! (and great companionship, too)

Three beautiful little ones to enjoy, how does it get better than that! This mixed trio of two cats and a dog (the smallest of which was the dog) came to us when their wonderful parents looked for some “live-in” pet care while they vacationed. Dogsitting for this fox terrier mix and providing cat care for her two feline housemates, kept us busy, in a fun way!

Sprocket at 11 months was all of about six pounds, and just a handful of puppy spunk and love. Although she was much smaller than either of the cats, she worked tirelessly at establishing her alpha position with them. (Not that cats care about who’s the leader — they tend to be rather libertarian and prefer everyone just go about their own lives and leave them alone 🙂 ). All the dust-ups between Sprocket and the cats needed some attention — occasionally a cat would get very annoyed and claw back, but they generally just gave her the “whatever” look cats have and moved on.

Caring for a six-pound dog can be a lot of fun because they are so transportable, you can take them with on any excursion! (Not saying we hid her in pack-along bags and took her places dogs aren’t technically allowed, but hypothetically, if we did, she’d be hard to notice!) Sprocket is an excellent traveler, up for any experience, very well-behaved for a puppy, and oh so affectionate.

And of course, as a fox terrier, chasing and retrieving “prey” is her favorite game, which can be pretty hilarious when most of her toys are almost as big as she is! Terriers, however, are tenacious, and size doesn’t matter when it comes to getting the “job” done!

The two cats were unique personalities, too. Sedona is a beautiful silver bengal, very confident, curious and affectionate. She enjoys being brushed, and just luxuriates in the feeling of the bristles along her skin. People are very interesting for her, she often hangs around to see what’s up and pick up some loving, too. She is an indoor only cat — you do have to watch as she would LOVE to sneak outside — but she does have a second story deck she can use to enjoy the world.

The bed gets a little crowded at night — “princess” Sprocket, of course, takes the center, and Sedona has to find a nook or bent leg somewhere to get that contact she enjoys at night. Oh, and did I mention this cat likes belly rubs in the morning, too?

And then, there’s Marley, the “ghost.” 🙂 I’m not sure if it’s a tuxedo cat specific thing, but it seems that all the tuxedo cats we’ve watched are, well, scaredy-cats. It can take days for their curiosity to overcome their aversion to new people. Finding a hiding, black “ghost” can sometimes be a bit problematic, so we’ve learned to check with owners about favorite hiding places before they leave (Marley’s favorite was under their bed.)
Good thing Marley enjoyed being brushed, too, or we might never have gotten to enjoy him. Banging the brush vigorously next to the bed eventually got him to poke his head out and enjoy some brushing — that is, until the little terror, Sprocket, would figure out what was going on and come in to assert her “leadership!” And then Marley would dash for cover, Sedona would come in to see what the ruckus was, Sprocket would start with her and…a wonderful, raucous time was had by all! 🙂
Although it was a relatively short dogsitting and cat care engagement, we thoroughly enjoyed, and absolutely fell in love with, all three. Wish we had some video of the cats, but, we do at least have a clip at the beach with Sprocket, at “work!” (Click here, or on the picture.)

May 19, 2016
Crazy for Coco and Loco for Lulu!

We had the opportunity to do some dogsitting and cat care in the Monterey area for two wonderful pet parents. They entrusted us with their little Coco, an adorable two year old girl of mixed breed, and Lulu, the male orange tabby. “Mixed” households can be interesting — sometimes dogs and cats don’t play together well, but there two were fun to be around, individually and together (although Coco gets very jealous when Lulu’s getting the attention!).

Dogs have a wonderful gift of making an open heart sing — their innocence and openness to experience really connects with that memory of being a child in love with life. Little Coco girl has the special gift of giving that momentary connection to virtually everyone she meets — watching people who caught eye of her brighten with joy became a wonderful add-on to the fun of being out with her.

Coco is an intriguing breed mix (Tibetan spaniel?) that just turned out to be practically perfect in every way :). At about 15 to 20 lbs., she’s sturdy, athletic, endlessly cuddle-able, and very transportable, besides being highly intelligent, social, and eager to please, with a sunny disposition to boot.

Coco has a housemate, Lulu, an affectionate, yet independent, and very curious orange tabby. Lulu will keep to himself as the situation requires (he has a doggy door for indoor/outdoor access as he chooses), but he certainly seems to prefer engaging with people — we moved one of his toys into the room where we watched movies, and it was so much fun watching him discover ways to play with it when we were there! Like many cats, he also enjoyed being in physical contact with us at night, sleeping in the crook of a bent leg until his internal alarm clock rang his “I’m hungry, right now!” bell (usually pre-dawn, of course).

When people hear we watch cats, too, we often get the question about cats and “gifts,” a particular hazard with indoor/outdoor pets. It’s not a regular occurrence, but, yes, Lulu was very demonstrative about his affection. How thoughtful, in cat world, to forego a tasty mouse you’ve killed to offer it as tribute, you would think “they” would be more appreciative! Although we understand the nature of the compliment, we could have done without Lulu’s rodent cuisine!

Coco’s beach video

The Monterey area has a terrific amenity — in addition to dog parks and off-leash open space, they have a beautiful and spacious beach where off-leash dogs are welcome! Coco’s enthusiasm for beach play is infectious — that ecstatic smile and uninhibited romping made many beach goers’ faces light up. This is a link to a video we shot of her (or you can just click the picture!)

Leaving these two after our dogsitting and cat care duties were complete wasn’t easy (even when the owners came back, both Coco and Lulu spent one more night cuddling with us in bed!), but they have such wonderful, loving parents, we’re just happy we have the opportunity to spend time with them!

May 16, 2016
What a bunch of bull…dogs, of course!

What an experience, dog sitting for two bulldogs in Santa Fe! Bullitt is a 35 lb French bulldog, and Tank is a 70 lb English bulldog. Both were very lovable, and had their unique quirks, making this adventure in Santa Fe, memorable!

I know there are many schools of thought about when, and even if, male dogs should be neutered. In this experience, having two mature, competitive, “intact” bulldogs seemed a less than ideal situation for both, to us. I’ll just say the interactions between the two would likely have been more pleasant if there were less testosterone, or more outlets for a healthy release of the hormones and libido (i.e. incessant humping wasn’t the worst of it).

Tank

That being said, the two were really good with people, particularly one on one, and very loving in their own way. Tank, the big English bulldog, loved having his haunches scratched and really appreciated attention and affection. Whether it’s a trait of bulldogs or just an individual issue, Tank had almost an obsession about shiny objects — silver drawer pulls, “tinkerbells” created by sunlight through glass windows, the silver dryer door — all had this fascination for him which made him want to mouth and pull them vigorously. It’s a tough match trying to get a 70 lab bulldog off a drawer pull and get him distracted, but we did learn a bulldog secret. As it turns out, bulldogs really don’t have much in the way of teeth! When your hand happens to get between a bulldog’s mouth and the object of his obsession, your major downside is an unpleasant encounter with gooey, slobbery gums and mostly stubby teeth. Tank was also very territorial, we think — leaving the house was a little traumatic for him, even for a walk, but once we got him past the driveway (a struggle, one day Jeff even had to resort to carrying him) he enjoyed himself immensely.

Bullitt

Bullitt is also a real character, on the large size for a French bulldog at 35 lbs, and very confident and intelligent — maybe even a little domineering and possessive particularly in interacting with Tank. He, of course, slept on the bed as the pack leader (at least in his mind he was), and was very competitive with Tank about attention, particularly attention from females. One on one, Bullitt is a wonderful companion, very athletic (loves his walks), adventurous and engaging.

We treasure every opportunity we have to love and learn in our dog sitting enterprises. Tank and Bullitt are beautiful boys, and experiencing the two breeds (particularly “intact” individuals) gave us some really unique insights, for which we are grateful!

May 4, 2016
Parson Russell or Jack Russell, these are terrier-ific companions!

We had the pleasure of dog sitting two Parson Russell terriers in Santa Fe, and what a treat they were! (Apparently Parson Russell terriers have relatively recently been designated a breed separate from their “cousins,” Jack Russell terriers, for dog show purposes, and the Parson Russell terriers term seemed to be favored by the owners, so we’ll go with that). On top of the bonus of these two having delightful parents and a wonderful home environment near the Canyon Road area of Santa Fe, Hedy and Bing (Lamar and Crosby, of course) were a joyous riot -they play hard, play harder, then collapse lovingly into a welcoming lap at the end of a happy day.

Jack Russell terriers (and their Parson Russell cousins) are easily recognizable dog breeds, and popular, but they should come with a caution label – “I am high energy and I must play hard or I will be mischievous.” Give them plenty of exercise and stimulation and they are some of the most lovable dogs in the world. However, a bored Jack Russell (or Parson Russell) could have been what put the word “terror” in “terrier” (just kidding, of course – terrier comes from “terra,” earth, and refers to the above- or below- ground activities terriers were used for, such as flushing prey, hunting rodents, and the like).

These dogs are incredible athletes, known for jumping ability, speed, tenaciousness and intelligence. We were so amused with their antics, we videoed Bing and Hedy on a normal days play (click here, or on Bing’s “tree hang,” for the video post) — favorite activities include tug, running at full speed, bouncing off walls (for real), and hanging from branches (Bing favors the mouth grip hang). On nice days, this brother/sister duo (yes, they really did come from the same litter) would be at the games full tilt for as long as we’d let them, out in the courtyard. The challenge was getting them in, which required an artful exploitation of Hedy’s fondness for treats and Bing’s curiosity — Hedy could be lured in with a treat, and if you left the door open enough to trick curious Bing into coming in to see what was going on, AND if you could get in position to close the door behind him before he caught sight of you, success!

Bing’s “Tree Hang”

Mental exercise is also really important for all dogs, particularly those with high intelligence, and these two loved their long walks to explore new sights, sounds and smells. Both were very well-behaved on leash, except for Bing’s reactivity with other dogs — fortunately, being a little guy, it was easy enough to just pick him up and get him interested in something else before resuming the walk. As handsome and as different as they are, our walks along Canyon Road were even longer as so many people in the stream of passers-by just had to stop us to enjoy the two beautiful rascals.

Hedy, camera ready!

Even more memorable than their energy and antics is Bing’s and Hedy’s cuddle-ability — we so love snuggling with dogs, and these two enjoy nothing more than being physically close to their pack leaders after a full day of play.

Saying goodbye till next time to our “terrier-ific” twosome leaves us longing for the next time we can get back to Santa Fe, dog sitting Parson Russell terriers!

May 2, 2016
The beauties and the beasts 🙂 in Durango

On our dog sitting and cat care ventures, we had the opportunity to visit an 80 acre ranch in Durango and care for some “beauties” and some “beasts” — Willow, a black lab, Abbie, an English lab, Kiki, a silver bengal cat and Sammy, a shy tuxedo cat, plus feed around 20 feral cats being housed in a stable adjacent to the guest house where we stayed (well, the feral kittens were cute, but some of the older ferals were a little “beastly!”)

Willow and Abbie exemplify what everyone loves about labs – affectionate, playful, well-behaved (because they’re eager to please), athletic, and great companions. What a great environment for them – 80 fenced acres to run, roam and explore, interesting other characters to interact with, such as the 9 cows on the pasture land, the cats, particularly the young ones that sleep in the stables and wander the property, the deer that amble around close to the house, even a skunk (that one occurred before we got there — predicatable ending to the story, hope there isn’t a repeat).

Haven’t had many experiences with feral cats before — these were being quartered because of the generous good nature of the homeowner, who inherited the first few when they first purchased the property and then had to deal with a couple of wild litters before all the original cats were able to be neutered. The last batch of kittens were about 5 or 6 months old when we arrived, and were very used to human contact, having been extensively handled by the property owner throughout their kitten-hood. Extremely endearing — love to play, love hanging around people, hanging around for walks with the dog, even jumping (unexpectedly) in your lap, always wanting to check out the inside where the people go. In terms of pet sitting, particularly cat care, a little bit of a challenge (especially keeping track of them), but a very unique experience.

What was most special for us was the simple majesty of the environment, and being able to share it with the other non-human occupants!

April 4, 2016
Even happier trails, hiking with Barnegat!

Barnegat is a German shorthaired pointer and lab mix who is almost magical in his effect on people. See those beautiful, soulful eyes? We’ve read it’s an animal equivalent of a hug when a dog makes long, relaxed eye contact with you, and that’s just what it feels like with Barnegat, a soul-to-soul hug!

We had the pleasure of spending three weeks with him, in the hills around Santa Fe, on a long term house sitting and dog sitting engagement over the fall. At 13, he is in great shape and still very puppy-like, loves playing keep away with his “Bear” (which is actually either a stuffed toy sheep or pink flamingo), long walks in the woods :), and, EATING! 🙂

There is food motivated and very food motivated — Barnegat is in the latter category. His internal alarm clock about feeding time is always way ahead of what the clock says, which leads to a twice daily “conversation,” with him insisting that the clock is wrong, again! Because we never seemed to notice the clock defect 🙂 he uses the nose flip to tell us it’s time– he’s found if he wedges his (healthy) cold wet nose under your hand, or under your elbow, or even under your notebook, giving it a strong flip up is a very effective communication that he has unmet expectations for you to fulfill!.

Besides being a lovable goof, Barnegat is a great hiking buddy, too. He enjoys hiking as much as he enjoys food, judging by the little happy circle dance he breaks out when all the signs are in place — shoes on? Yes! Water bottle filled? YES! Fanny pack with treats strapped on? YES!!!

The owner’s requested we give him the time on the trails off-leash, which can be a little dicey if excellent recall isn’t in place, but fortunately, not an issue with Barnegat. On the trail, he’s incredibly mindful of staying with the peeps, even as he’s relishing the smell of every pinon pine or rock that’s been marked (or anything else that interests him, which is pretty much, everything). There are so many beautiful places to hike around Santa Fe, and there’s something about sharing that experience with a joyful canine companion that so amplifies our appreciation, too.

As are many working dog breeds, Barnegat is a happy companion. Whether it’s running errands (LOVES car rides), hanging out watching a movie or just moseying around outside, it’s very sweet and comforting having him by your side.

He’s also quite the card (probably not intentionally) — watching him in his very intense positioning of the dog bed (which we dubbed Mr. Pillow) is incredibly cute (click for the quick video). At odd times throughout the day, we’d hear rustling, and come in to watch Barnegat in an active wrestling match with Mr. Pillow — picking it up, turning it around to slam it to the ground, rolling it over, standing it up and straddling it, yet somehow, always coming out on top with the win (we think the match is rigged 🙂 )

It is such a privilege being entrusted with long term house sitting and dog sitting precious little ones such as Barnegat – it’s why we love what we do, and are grateful for the opportunity to provide in home pet care for owners traveling for a few weeks or more!

November 29, 2015
Two ways to say adorable – Frankie and Teddy!

Although our core business is medium- to long-term housesitting, dog sitting, (and cat care, too!), it’s often fun when it works out for us to help with shorter term needs, too. We were so fortunate to have the opportunity to care for two cockapoo brothers (litter mates) in Boulder — it’s a good thing it was for just a long weekend, the two were so enchanting, we could hardly stop ourselves from taking picture after picture after picture!

Frankie and Teddy are adorable, and it’s not just our biased perspective — just look at the pictures! 🙂 We loved being out with them — not only were they fun, well-mannered and easy to be with, the happiness they sparked in people was so wonderful to see! And such personality, too — Frankie act the “big brother,” pretty cautious, independent, watches out for “little brother”, Teddy, who is a little more open, accepting and generally good-natured.(However, Teddy can also be a little stubborn — f, for instance, you’re actually trying to get somewhere on a walk with him and he’s enjoying the smell of every plant, tree or pole along the way, you might have a bit of a challenge!)

Happily for us, Frankie’s and Teddy’s owners were part of a small dog meet-up group in the area, which had scheduled some morning meet-ups the dates we were there. It was just the perfect group for our little guys — we had expected them, particularly Teddy, to be a little reserved, but they were so excited to go romping, chasing and playing with their friends, the one morning we we weren’t able to take them, you could just feel their disappointment. (The day wasn’t a total bust for them though, because they got to go on a CAR RIDE!, another favorite past time).

It’s always a little sentimental to leave some of our favorites (actually, all of them steal our hearts in their own special way), and it was particularly tough to leave these little two, but knowing how loved and well-cared for they are makes it easier. We are so looking forward to the next time it works out for us to be housesitting and dog sitting for this great family!

September 19, 2015
Dog sitting Amstel– the Mighty in the Mini! 🙂

Ever have the experience of committing to something, then showing up and feeling “what have I gotten myself into?” Meeting Amstel, a 100 lb cross between a pyrenees-mastiff and an Australian cattle dog, was like that for us, but, fortunately, the story has a happy turn!

When we talked to his owner about long term house sitting and dog sitting Amstel for a month, he upfront told us Amstel was very protective, but a sweetheart once you knew him, so, he thought it best that we come in a couple nights early to get acquainted with him..

…and, my, was that first night a challenge! When you meet Amstel outside the house, even in the front yard, he’s a friendly, beautiful, calm boy who loves being petted. However, once you cross the threshold into “his” domain, you’re now a threat. Although he doesn’t have a history of biting, the snarling and nipping to herd you away is, unsettling, to say the least. As we headed to bed that night, both of us were thinking he’s never going to accept us and we’re just not going to be able to make this long term house sitting arrangement work. The next morning when we woke up, there was Amstel, 100 pounds of menace (it seemed to us) guarding his owner’s bedroom door — we felt the only safe option was just to stay in the room until his owner was up and around.

And now the story gets better, for us! As we spent more time with Amstel that day — accompanying him on his hour long walk in the park, being there for his morning piece of toast, getting him breakfast and dinner — we saw the beautiful, regal, playful boy he is to those in his “circle of trust.” By the next day, when the owner left, he had fully adopted us, and it just kept getting better from there!

Amstel is, of course, stunningly handsome, but he is a big boy who has to be careful. His daily routine starts with a trip to the park in “his” Mini Cooper convertible, top down whenever possible (the owner kindly instructed us to use the Cooper whenever we could take Amstel with us). The happiness on his face as the wind blew his fur back and offered his nose a constantly-changing menu of street and landscape smells was precious. People in other vehicles were constantly doing a double-take to see this human-sized beauty riding upright in the back — we often had people stop when we parked and come over to tell us how it made their day to see such a sight!

The hour or so we’d spend on his walk in the park was also a treat for us — clear summer mornings in Colorado are glorious, with crystalline blue skies, just a hint of cool in the air, and, in this park, shimmering sunlight on the large pond. Back at home was time for Amstel’s toast, a particularly heart warming ritual. This big boy was such a gentle giant with those in his “circle,” watching him rise on his hind legs and ever so gently take the piece of toast being offered was a special bonding ritual we loved.

Besides going for car rides in “his” convertible whenever possible, Amstel’s other fun times included playing keep away with his ball (his excited breathing as he held the ball in his mouth made him sound like a raging animal, which took some getting used to), and occasionally playing with his best bud, Toosa, a small golden retriever owned by the owner’s daughter (who was always around to help out when needed). On his least favorite list of things is firecrackers (and of course we were there 4th of July season), people coming to the house (I thought we going right through the window) and ambulance sirens (although it’s hard to say whether the sirens bothered him or intrigued him — here’s a video of him howling with sirens, would be interesting to know Why do dogs sing?).

The month housesitting and dog sitting with Amstel flew by, but, he will always be one of our very special “little” friends, and we hope we have the opportunity to see him again, soon!

September 18, 2015
Happy at home in the Blue Ridge Mountains or a pet resort?

Elle’s (pronounced Ellee) and Grace May’s owners were planning a trip out of the country, and chose “happy at home” housesitting and dogs sitting (shouldn’t it be plural? 🙂 ) instead of a fancy pet resort for their two. And why not? With 10 acres to ramble across in the forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Elle and Gracie May had a pretty idyllic life, at home!

The girls were a lovely twosome to care for. Elle is a cross between a poodle and a black lab, making her a labradoodle, but different looking than any other we had seen! Gracie May’s long, long lashes hinted cockapoo to us, but the owners thought perhaps schnoodle (schnauzer/poodle). Both girls are beautiful and easy-going, but Elle had developed seizures as an adult and was on orally administered phenobarbitol (thankfully we had no incidents during our time with them). Interestingly, although the literature says most dogs with epilepsy will start exhibiting symptoms before the age of 5 or 6, many of the dogs we’ve been introduced to which are taking anti-seizure medication started having symptoms later than that.

As relative newcomers to their rambling habits, we’d sometimes find ourselves a little unnerved about Elle’s and Gracie May’s casual style of recall — the girls would always come, but, pretty much, when they were ready. To soothe our need for reassurance, they trained us up into yelling “cookies,” if we were a little anxious and wanted them to come now instead of on their own time, which, they were happy to do, as “cookies” meant something fun to eat — a win/win! Of course, “cookies” doesn’t have to mean fattening dog treats — some cooked yam cubes, carrots, or other good-for-them non-kibble made them just as happy.

Both girls had very sunny demeanors — Elle is a big girl (about 75 lbs), and enjoys ambling and sunning, even in the hot and humid Carolina sun, and for little Gracie May, happiness is all about the nose. Of course, what’s more powerful a scent than poop? Yep, Gracie May had a little tendency toward coprophagia, not unnatural behavior, just gross to human sensibilities and something to watch out for.

Besides poop getting her into trouble, Gracie May surprised us all on one of our daily walks in the forest when, one day, she was curiously sniffing a decaying log on the forest floor and upset a hive of bees! Poor little girl was so confused and frightened by all the buzzing and swooping, but we finally got her attention and got her to run home. She escaped without any stings that we could see, thank goodness, but picking out lingerers that got caught up in her long, thick, curly fur was a bit of a challenge for us!

Besides the walks, forest rambles, and time in the sun (seriously, what would a pet resort have over that? 🙂 ), one of the girls’ favorite rituals was a night time chomp stick (a smoky, animal hide chew). For those of us looking to watch a show on TV, it wasn’t exactly a movie theater environment, listening to two dogs enthusiastically gnawing and crunching their chews, but it was pretty heart warming to see how happy and content they were!

There’s so much we love about being “professional” pet sitters (there really isn’t a PhD program or anything, but it is our full-time pursuit, and with our experience, we feel we’re very professional), and top of the list is meeting all the wonderful owners of these beautiful little ones. It seems to go hand-in-hand — of course people who want the best care for their pets are kind and caring people by nature! We hope life continues to bring more of everything wonderful to this special family! We left them with a little video of our time together — if you have a couple of minutes, you might enjoy it, too, here’s the link to Elle’s and Gracie May’s video.

September 17, 2015
Louisville’s Darling, Duke!

We had the pleasure of watching Duke, a beautiful two year old English lab, on a long term house sitting and dog sitting engagement in Louisville. What a great personality! Duke was still very much a puppy (who doesn’t love puppy sitting? 🙂 ) and we loved watching him joyfully learning about the world.

Our time with Duke included highly structured walks. The owner had recently decided to work with a trainer on Duke’s leash reactivity and, asked us to incorporate the trainer’s techniques on our daily walks with Duke.

As a two year old, besides leash reactivity, Duke also was dealing with impulse control — his motto, ‘stop to smell…the mailbox pole, the tree stumps, the garbage cans, the candy wrapper…’ 🙂 . Being very food motivated, it was really easy to get his attention and focus, and we really enjoyed developing better communication with him as we practiced (and practiced!) ‘leave it.’

Leash reactivity is an interesting situation owners find themselves dealing with. We’re certainly not experts, but it’s always interesting for us trying to decipher what’s going on internally for the dog. In Duke’s case, while there seemed to be some component of intuitively reacting to the leash holder’s anticipation of an encounter, there also seemed to be an element of fear, although the owner didn’t specify any previous, traumatic dog encounters. For Duke, a big factor was the unnaturalness of the “meeting” environment — not being able to approach in a natural way and particularly direct eye contact, seemed really frustrating.

At least for the time we were with him, we were able to get Duke to sit and look at us when trigger stimuli were in view, and choose to pay attention to treats as we would walk past other dogs (at a distance), so good progress for the month we were with him! Because working dogs love to learn and “work,” we also taught him “shake” and “back” to reinforce the structure of how we were asking him to learn (pay attention, make an association between a word and the response we wanted from him, get a treat for success or a good effort!)

Duke, as are many labs of any color, loves ball — you could say perhaps he was even a little obsessed with it. He’s a terrific athlete, and it’s a joy to watch his elegance and coordination catching a ball careening off a slope. Here again, we always wonder what he’s thinking — he had an interesting quirk in his play expectation, if we were holding only one ball, he would catch the ball, sit down and chew on it! It took having a second ball in hand for him to return the first ball — you didn’t have to release the second ball, but having it in hand was somehow an incentive for him to bring the initial ball back to be thrown again.

Duke’s open heart. and loving, affectionate nature made him such a joy to spend time with! At two, he was still puppy playful, and loved physical contact — happily for us, this owner was comfortable with him curling up on the couch and sleeping in bed with us, too. (To be clear, we understand both sides of how close do you get to the dogs — dogs do get dirty on the one hand, and on the other hand, they are social “pack” animals that establish bonding with contact. Our rule — just keep it consistent!)

As always, we were so pleased this owner decided long term house sitting and in home dog sitting, was the best solution, for Duke — we loved our time in Louisville, and hope to reconnect with them again!

September 16, 2015
A Terrier Twosome to Love!

It’s wonderful how things work out…one day, between sits, we went to a dog park to get a “doggie fix” and happened upon a lovely couple with two little ones at play — a very independent and strikingly handsome West Highland white terrier (Augie) and a somewhat shy “mommy’s girl” cairn terrier mix (Abby).

As it turns out, the couple were going on a cruise, and were really concerned about kenneling them, particularly little Abby, who was a pretty recent rescue and very attached to her mom. Happy to find out there was a dog boarding alternative for their two, the couple kept in touch with us and in short time, we were seeing them off on their cruise!

Fortunately, both dogs, particularly little Abby, were happy to have two new people to love! For them, everything other than mom and dad being out of the house was pretty normal — walks, morning brush outs, meal times, chasing lizards on the lanai :), copious belly rubs and cuddles, night treats, snuggling up at bed time, everything they’re used to, just different peeps on the “delivery” end!

And that’s exactly why we love providing an in home dog boarding service as a dog kennel alternative — of course animals are very sensitive, it can be very stressful when the hand that feeds them is gone, and compounding that with relocation and a total disruption in schedule can be a little (or a lot) traumantic for some!

For us, stepping into being a great dog parent and caring for people’s homes (and plants! The variety and abundance of indoor and outdoor flora was amazing!), is a challenge, and really personally rewarding. Abby and Augie are heart-stealers!

Abby is curious, a terrier-tenacious flusher of prey (on the ground and airborne, chasing birds in flight is on her wish list, for sure 🙂 ), a loving kisses-monster, and a crafty belly rub manipulator — if you make eye contact, she’s “in position” as you blink!

Augie…Augie, Augie, Augie. Handsome, joyful at play, inquisitive, persistent and willful (okay, stubborn), independent, good-natured (when he’s not on high-alert), and a loving snuggler — he’s kind of a Tom Sawyer of the dog world persona, endearing in his exploits even though and probably because of his tendency toward mischief!(we put together a little video of him, linked here).

We often tell people one of the hardest things for us in our in home pet sitting and is leaving the little ones we’ve grown to so love…we miss these two and their antics, but we know they have two of the most genuine dog parents two pups could have!

May 11, 2015
A Pit with…Personality!

Deogi (not the exotic name it looks, just D-O-G!) is an 18 month old pit bull. I’ll say it — the breed has more than its share of well-publicized incidences, but you can’t but wonder whether it really is a breed issue or a training issue. These owners had a lot of experience with large dogs that needed a very firm hand, and because of their rigorous work with him, Deogi was a really loving little boy we were able to pet sit.

Now there may be something about pit bulls and other dogs, and for that reason alone we’re glad the owners chose us for in home pet sitting as a dog boarding alternative for the little guy. He’s still a young boy and very excited about everything, but with their diligent work, he had already established great relationships with a number of other dogs on the block, as well as kids and adults of all ages.

Deogi loves playing with the dog next door, a black lab, and we tried to find as many opportunities as possible to give them both play time (with the help and cooperation of really terrific neighbors, of course!). We were a little worried at first that the neighbors’ three year old boy would jump on both dogs in the middle of their tussling, but, as they say, a good time was had by all!

Most endearing about Deogi was his cuddling — this little guy wants to be with his “pack,” even slept with us (or on us) at night. Trust me, there’s nothing quite like waking up with a pit’s muzzle smacked up against your forehead, snoring like the angel he is! 🙂

We are really grateful we have the opportunity, and can provide a service, many dogs need when their owners are away for extended periods. In home pet sitting (at prices very competitive with kennels) is a perfect dog boarding alternative for many dogs (and cats) for whom kennels are just not a good option.

April 8, 2015
Golden doodle darling, Marley!

It’s no wonder the “doodles” (golden doodle, labradoodles, and all the variants in the genre) are so popular — they are intelligent, great learners, affectionate, and, no shedding! Marley’s parents selected us for in home pet sitting as a dog boarding alternative for their little girl, which gave us the opportunity to spend time with this elegant and well-mannered doodle!

Besides daily walks, Marley loved the water! Her parents are boaters, which gave her extra opportunities to enjoy swimming. Although we didn’t take her out on any boat, we did spend a lot of time with her doing another favorite water sport, ball toss in the pool!

Marley’s happy demeanor was a joy to be around — very patient, excellent on the leash (seriously, you could lay the leash over your arm and she wouldn’t pull it off) yet fun-loving and playful. There’s something about a poodle’s gait, too – I’m sure there’s a technical term, but their dancer-like leg and foot action is beautiful, we just call it sassy prancing!

Marley’s poodle intelligence and great training made it very easy to care for her — if we missed anything, such as her treat after a walk, she would very patiently “correct” us in an appropriate manner (standing in front of the treat cabinet until we figured it out, for instance!) She was so well-behaved, we were shocked when she tried to sit with us on a couch the first evening, as we had heard she wasn’t allowed on the furniture. Fortunately, we asked the owners as it was uncharacteristic of Marley to be wrong, and sure enough, she wasn’t — there was one couch, in one room where she was allowed, and was her favorite spot for cuddling (yeah!)

A dog kennel was never an option for these owners, and we’re grateful we made their acquaintance and had the opportunity to in home pet sit for Marley. Particularly as a dog boarding alternative, it’s hard to beat! (and, I might mention very competitively priced 🙂 )

April 8, 2015
Andy and his little friend, Bear!

We met Andy, the 70 pound golden retriever, and his little friend, Bear, the 8 pound malti-poo in southwest Florida for a long weekend while their parents went away to play, and we were very happy their parents chose pet sitting as a dog kennel alternative for these two!

As it turns out, little 8 pound Bear wasn’t expressly named with irony in mind, he was just as cute and cuddly (and no bigger than) a dear little teddy bear. And beneath all that curly hair is a very territorial and courageous little heart. The owners trained him to an invisible fence and then just removed the fence, so true to his training, Bear’s fierce defense of his home front stopped exactly at the end of the driveway.

Just imagine this 8 pound ball of fur, furiously racing down the pavement then pulling up as if a brick wall was an inch from his nose — well, that’s just gotta strike terror into any would-be wrong-doer’s heart, right? 🙂 As amusing and cute as it might have been for us, Bear took his “work” very seriously; watching him walk back with an obvious sense of satisfaction of a job well done was precious.

Now Andy…Andy is a very big, very handsome boy, with just the opposite temperament to Bear’s. For all his size, Andy was…well, let’s say timid, too timid to even go for a walk in the neighborhood! Usually the challenge in caring for a large athletic breed is meeting their exercise needs, but, for gentle Andy, cuddling and general hanging with the peeps kept him content.

Any number of dogs might have a better experience with in home pet sitting than with an extended stay at a kennel, and some, like Andy, just aren’t a good candidate at all. Fortunately, their parents went looking for a dog boarding alternative, and everyone was all the happier for the experience!

April 8, 2015
Puggles — Too Cute to be in a Dog Kennel!

Bugsy and Sully are best buds, and their parents made sure they get great care while they’re away — we’re providing a great dog boarding alternative, pet sitting in their home!These two cutie pies have such great personalities! Bugsy is a little 20 pounder who loves snuggling up, whatever you’re doing! Sully is almost twice the size, certainly more beagle in him, and very affectionate. Both are VERY curious with a keen sense of smell — any activity in the kitchen is met with great excitement by these two!

With the owner’s permission (of course) we tried sleeping with them at night. They were so happy with the opportunity, and things were fine for a little while, until we experienced what has discouraged the owners from making it a nightly experience — they burrow! Both were resting peacefully, then suddenly decided it was time, which meant walking up over our heads and getting under the sheets to position themselves by our legs!

We’ve not experienced this with pups before — even the snugglers like to stay a little cool at night. But these two were determined that the only place for them on the bed was going to be nestled deep under the covers, snugged up against us. It’s a very heart-warming (and leg-warming!) experience, so we let them rest there for a little while before tucking them in to their kennel, where we all got a much better night’s sleep!

One of the reasons we’re big proponents of in your home pet sitting as a dog kennel alternative is the level of care, comfort, and (relative) consistency in schedule we can provide pets while you’re away. You’ll love coming home to happy, healthy pups!

January 18, 2015
A Loving In-Home Presence as a Dog Boarding Alternative

Punkin and Shadow (you’d probably guess Shadow is the black lab) don’t mind so much when “mom and dad” go out of town, because, instead of dog boarding at a kennel, they get loving and attentive in-home pet sitting!

They have an interesting history — they both mysteriously “found” their forever home on their own!

Punkin’s story — Not long after the owners’ long time four-legged companions passed on, a beautiful, silky cream and white puppy walked into the garage, sat down and wouldn’t leave — apparently she knew she was “home!” Of course, the owners checked all resources to see if the beautiful little girl was missing but no one was looking for her. Even though her new “parents” had resolved not to jump into replacing their lost friends, someone had other plans, and Punkin has been part of the family since.

Sure, she had her collie-like chewing phase, but she trained out of it and is a delight! And a clever girl, too — she ingeniously sidles up and gets you to stroke her head, then slides down gradually as your hand follows, before she gets to her payoff, rolling over with you already in position for…BELLY RUBS!

Shadow’s story — not too long after Punkin chose her new home, a young black lab showed up, walking in and making it clear she was now home, too! However, this pup was chipped, and of course the owners were contacted to come pick up the lost dog.

Some time passed, and no one had yet come to claim her. Then a call came in — for whatever the reason, the “old” owners asked them to keep the girl! Apparently it wasn’t working out at the previous home, and as the kids at that home were still away and knew the dog was missing, it was just going to remain the situation.

Did Shadow somehow know she belonged somewhere else? Wish we could tell what dogs think and feel — they have such a wonderful instinct for the way things should be!

And, if you asked them, tI bet hey would tell you, if you have to leave, let them stay home with a pet sitter to love them! The In your home dog boarding alternative to a dog kennel gets “5 Stars” from these two!

January 17, 2015
Sweet Shih-Tzus Get to Stay Home for the Holiday!

It’s not always possible to keep your four-legged loved ones with you when you’re away from home. The owners of Bailey and Samie (short for Samantha) made the decision to get in home dog boarding instead of a dog kennel experience for their two!

Little Bailey is an aging Shih-Tzu, getting around but having some health issues which require a special diet and special care and handling. She still wants to cuddle on the bed and on the couch, but really doesn’t have the spring any more to get there on her own, even doing her business requires some assistance.

Bailey lost a long time companion awhile ago, and had a hard time thriving., so her owners picked up a tiny little puppy at a rescue shelter that was probably shih tzu (at least in part), and now Bailey has Samie to “liven up” her life.

Samie is just under a year old and 12 pounds of loving “let’s play!” which is usually a little more enthusiasm than Bailey’s up for! Besides being an excellent cuddler and super affectionate, Samie loves nothing more than playing (except maybe eating!) She has “Play!Play!Play!” puppy energy non-stop until she drops, and, because she still has those teeth that need to be worked out, she needs to be monitored — A LOT! Just like a little toddler, Samie is constantly finding new fun things she shouldn’t be getting into, but with such a sweet and affectionate temperament, it’s more charming than annoying.

It was wonderful being able to spend time with and care for these two bundles of love, and very satisfying to know that their time away from their parents is in their own home, with trusted, responsible loving caretakers. Dog boarding at a dog kennel is an option, but when you can provide them an “in their own home” experience, and have your home cared for, too, while your away, for about the same price, perhaps it’s an option you should look into, too!

January 2, 2015
New Guardians Instead of a Dog Kennel for Muxy and Sierra!

We really appreciate owners who choose in their own home pet sitting as their dog boarding alternative, especially when it involves, beautiful, sweet and fun “kids!”

Muxy is a “mixed parentage” 🙂 boy, with a sprinkling of pit bull and possible Rhodesian Ridge Back (he had the characteristic coarse line of fur down his spine which stands at attention when he’s on alert). Having picked him up as a stray puppy, his owner raised him with much love, and in return, he’s VERY affectionate (a downright snuggle-bunny), well-behaved, and a little precocious!

Muxy is a quick study when it comes to patterns — it doesn’t take him long to learn what comes next — and even in the short time we were with him we had to laugh at how clever he was about trying to train us up: letting us know when it was time for our daily walk; working a quick pat on the head into full belly rubs; reminding us to feed him by noisily flipping his bowl over until we got the message; and uncannily, always being first in bed to get the best position!

His “sister,” Sierra, is a beautiful Husky who was a rescue and has adapted beautifully to a loving and caring environment. The breed has a bit of a reputation for being somewhat aloof, but Sierra loves affection — being hugged and petted is obviously something she enjoys, but she’s reserved in “asking” for it, in contrast to Muxy who is unabashed in reminding you he’s right there and obviously way too cute not to love up.

I can tell you, we all had a wonderful time while Muxy’s and Sierra’s owners were away. We spent lots of time out on walks in Scottsdale’s beautiful mountain preserves (December is a great time to visit the valley!) and lots of time cuddling, all in the familiar environment and routines of their own home.

Dog boarding in a dog kennel is an option, and there are many really good operators out there, but if you can have them cared for as you would, and have your home more secure by being lived in while your gone, too, for about the same price, isn’t it something to consider?

December 29, 2014
Honey, Golden’s favorite (maybe only!) Norbottenspets

Not only had we never heard of norbottenspets, trying to remember the breed name was challenging, and fortunately, we have the opportunity to memorialize it here! 🙂

We met Honey in in an in home dog boarding engagement in Golden, Colorado. She’s a relatively recent adoptee from a prison program, about a year old and just about three months with her new family. And what a sweet little girl — extremely intelligent, very eager to please, affectionate, playful — a wonderful family dog.

Upon reading up on the breed, norbottenspets are an old breed related to the spitz (the curled tail is the most obvious similarity). Once thought to be extinct, a few specimens were found in their native Sweden in the 1960’s (largely on farms) and were accepted as an AKC breed. That they were household dogs used for small game hunting is no surprise to us after spending time with Honey — bunnies and squirrels are just far too exciting even if they’re on the other side of the window!

One year olds have their own set of challenges — impulse control for a prey-driven dog is so hard for them — but “adorable” makes up for a lot! Honey’s time in the prison program probably also contributed to some scarcity issues around water and food, which were diminishing even during our time with her. She’s also very attached to Jeff, who spent tons of one-on-one time with her — really attached, as in, would mysteriously escape a relatively secure yard to find “her main man” if he wasn’t in view!

Although duties at the house also included pool care (checking chemicals) and two fish, the highlight was certainly getting to know Honey, and gaining familiarity with this fun-loving companion breed!

(Jeff also pulled some “double duty” time with our special border collie, Kita — had to include a picture of the both of them for the record!)

August 6, 2014
Huey, our giant puppy in Southern California
For a long time (and perhaps still), black labs were America’s favorite dogs, and it’s easy to see why with precious little souls such as Huey!

We fell in love with our in home pet care “ward” pretty much at first sight – all 100 pounds of Huey is pure puppy love. Extremely well-trained (a good thing — Huey is not neutered…) and very popular with so many other dogs in the neighborhood, he is the epitome of all the good traits of black labs, including:
- Intelligent,
- Affectionate,
- Playful,
- Happy to please,
As a non-neutered animal, Huey’s off leash options were virtually non-existent, so his primary exercise was a long, night time walk. The owners reinforced a lot of training during the walk (a practice we continued in their absence), which made sense for Huey — it became almost his “job,” something working dogs relish.

Being new to his routines, we weren’t always perfect with his “cues” on the walk. And even when we were mistaken as to whether he broke routine or was answering nature’s call, he was always very calm and patient with us! 🙂

Most memorable, besides his striking beauty and stature, was Huey’s puppy-like good nature. At almost six years old, Huey is still all good-natured, ready to play, and happily accepting belly rubs!
December 23, 2013
Double the fun, with Bella and Jake in San Diego

The advantages of housesitting as a couple include – being able to provide extra attention for multiple pet households!.

….which came in very handy during our extended stay pet care engagement caring for Bella, a chocolate lab, and Jake, a husky/golden mix. There’s no other way to say it – Bella is an attention hound!, (and a dear girl) Give your attention to stunningly beautiful Jake, and you will experience what the owners called “Bella-sy,” — you’ll soon find you’ve got a 70 pound lab inserting herself onto your lap or into your face!

With two of us able to give plenty of loving to both, Bella’s competition for attention went way down, which was great for us all, particularly Jake! Jake initially seemed a little aloof, which the owners attributed to his husky bloodline, but we found, with lots of one on one attention, Jake was anything but distant — he was not only responsive to commands, he sought out cuddling.
It’s so very satisfying being able to help out owners who need extended stay in home pet care, and we feel blessed to have connected with these special little souls and their beautiful, thoughtful owners!

December 15, 2013
Mattie will steal your heart!

Mattie — look at those eyes!

Mattie’s combination of boxer and pit bull had us guessing what kind of temperament we might be dealing with, but any caution we might have felt dissipated immediately — she is so happy around people! So happy, the biggest challenge is staying clear of that tail, which is like this big whip that will pound your leg as she shows you how excited she is to see you!

Mattie also had difficulties interacting appropriately (or more correctly, as people would like her to interact) with other dogs. Unfortunately for her, that meant no off-leash time, but, she was a such a happy girl just going for walks and being with us.

Of course, that meant dodging even “line of sight” contact with other dogs. Sometimes, there was just no way to avoid her seeing another dog, which really got her agitated and nervous, We discovered, however, just kneeling down and hugging her was all the reassurance it took to help her through whatever anxiety she was experiencing. What a sweet pie, right?

We get extremely close to the little ones we care for, and some, particularly those that have some stuff going on that requires a little extra attention, really grab your heart, like precious Mattie!

December 10, 2013
A Thanksgiving full house with a King Charles spaniel and 3 cats!

(Part 1 of 2)

It was wonderful having the opportunity to help out a family planning a Thanksgiving trek to ski country, and the Santa Monica area was not a bad place for us to spend the holidays!

Did I mention it was a packed house? The “normal” household included little Chelsea, a beautiful and sweet King Charles spaniel, and Sylvester, an independent-natured longhair cat. However, the homeowners had accepted temporary care of two cats from a niece for an extended period, and, as is sometimes said, “…that’s when the fight broke out!” (Read more about the cats in Part 2).

As for Chelsea girl, well, she’s a very sweet-natured, well-behaved, low maintenance girl — a little walk in the morning, some ball tossing in the hallway, a little couch-snuggling before bed equals a happy girl!
As well-behaved as little Chelsea was, she still had quite a bit of spunk, particularly when it came to the visiting (male) cats, and standing her ground when there were “territory” issues.

We certainly loved the short time we were able to spend with this good-hearted, loving soul!

November 29, 2013
Linda! Downtown San Diego’s sweetest pit bull mix!
It’s hard to ask for a better climate than San Diego offers, and having the opportunity to care for very special pets takes “great” to “superb!”

While Linda’s (pronounced as in Spanish — “Leen-da”) parents took some well-deserved time to visit South America, we got to fall in love with this 45 lb, beauty. From tough beginnings (as is the story of many rescues, sadly), Linda has blossomed into a playful but patient lick monster! (Ask Linda to “tell me a secret” and you’ll get a very thorough washing behind the ears!)

As is the case with other pit bull mixes, Linda is excellent with people, and difficult to gauge regarding her response to other dogs. As is the case in “people world,” there are likely a lot of first impressions, past history and patterns, and body cues in dog-to-dog meetings which cue a dog to be friendly, cautious, or aggressive, and, because our approach is the dog’s safety is always are first priority, dodging even line-of-sight encounters with other dogs became the mission on walks.

Being a very athletic dog, we worked hard to get Linda some off-leash exercise. Our afternoon at Dog Beach was memorable! Some notes:
- Linda is VERY fast,
- Linda is VERY agile,
- Linda does not have a food drive
- Linda finds shore birds irresistible
- Linda is VERY fast…:)
The occasions we’ve had to visit Linda and her parents have been just as delightful as the time we spent with her alone, and we hope there are plenty more of them in the future!
November 23, 2013
Double “trouble” 🙂 with two Goldens…

Bentley and Madison, two rambunctious but well-behaved Goldens we were housesitters and petsitters for in Phoenix!

Adorable Bentley

Bentley is a big boy, and like most Goldens, loves being close, which is endearing, and a little challenging because he’s LARGE! Loves walks, too — VERY interested in other dogs we see along the way, and curiously not so much interest in the ducks which congregate in the park pond (yeah!)

We only had Madison a few days, but quickly learned DO NOT play ball toss with this one! In our experience, Goldens aren’t AS “obsessed” with particular toys as are, say, labs or spaniels, but not the case with Maddy! Once she’s started with the ball, she is persistent, ingenious in finding ways to get you to play, and she actually gets angry when you put the ball away! The similarities between dogs and 2 year olds is striking…:) And that’s what makes housesitting and petsitting engagements, such as caring for Madison and Bentley, so much fun!

Madison

November 10, 2013
Santa Barbara’s most beautiful spaniel, Quila!

What a great experience spending time with Quila, the field spaniel, in Santa Barbara!

We admit, we’re part of the local “choir” — Santa Barbara has got to be one of the nicest places in the world. Just a relatively narrow strip between the mountains and a pristine beach, part of Santa Barbara’s charm is that it never will be developable into a major urban area! Beautiful beach line, sunny, temperate climate, wine country to the east — what more could one ask? 🙂

And little Quila! (short for Tequila Sunrise — her litter was named for tequila drinks) We love working dogs, and Quila was a great example of all the excellent characteristics of her breed, thanks to years of loving, consistent attention by her owners. Of course Quila needed physical exercise, but she also needed stimulation of her instinctual gifts — tracking ball tosses and general off-leash exploration were such an important part of her day, and such a great time for us!

Quila’s intensity and focus on ball or birds or tracking is part of her DNA, and it required that we be extra vigilant when she was off-leash. Fortunately, the owners have done such a wonderful job, working with professional trainers, it was relatively easy for us to step into the routines and thoroughly enjoy our outings with her…

…and that’s really the reason we embarked on this journey — it is so joyful spending time with these beautiful companions, and helping out the people who love them while they’re away!

October 24, 2013
Hawaii’s Big Island with Koko and Lilo

Our first experience in house and petsitting was six months on the beautiful Hilo-side coast of Hawaii with Koko, a shepherd mix, and Lilo, a pit bull. Read the post here…

September 15, 2013
Suzzie the Sheep Dog (and Bunnies, too!)

What a beautiful and delightful companion we enjoyed in Suzzie, the old English Sheep Dog! Suzzie is convinced she’s a 90 lb. lap dog, and really, who are we to argue? 🙂

Caring for Suzzie and her buddies, two male rabbits, Max and Flopsie (aka Mr. Nibbles) while her family enjoyed a 5 week European vacation was a joy. Suzzie loves walks and vigorous games of tug (which is a real workout with 90 pounds of bounding energy on the other end!)

The rabbits require some custodial care (wouldn’t it be great if they could be litter box trained), but they certainly were fun to watch during their exercise romps!

We were also fortunate the Suzzie’s parents gave us permission to take her with us at times. Beautiful Mt. Baker in July was a great respite from the heat, for all of us!

September 10, 2013
Cody and Barbie — what a contrast!

Our travels took us to “Gold Country,” California, to care for a year and a half old Golden Retriever, Cody, and his “sister,” a 5 year old Pomeranian, Barbie.

Cody is a high energy, rambunctious boy, very curious, clever, determined, affectionate — all those wonderful golden traits to enjoy! Cody loved going for walks, swimming laps, and fetching his toys, with all the exuberance you’d expect of a boy his age.

In contrast, little Barbie…such a dear! Barbie had a near fatal dog attack which injured her trachea, making everything extra-strenuous for her little 5 pound body. But she did have lots of energy for putting Cody in his place when he was infringing upon her territory, (like the bed!)

In addition to caring for the dogs, there were also 3 pygmy goats and six chickens to feed and water, morning and evening. They were all very well behaved, and it was fun interacting with them!

September 7, 2013
Bella by the Bay!

We had the pleasure of spending time in the Oakland/San Francisco area with beautiful Bella, a 14 month old standard poodle.
Bella loves taking trips in the car! She very much enjoyed taking long walks along Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Marin Headlands and the San Leandro Marina! As a 14 month old, Bella had lots of energy for games of fetch, and particularly liked cooling off with her favorite treat, ice cubes!

As a recent adoptee, we were happy to be able to spend some time with her mom before she left, to get to know the schedules, routines and boundaries for Bella — consistency is so important, and really helps minimize the stress of mom leaving!

Bella’s home also had a keypad-based security system — great peace of mind knowing the house was secure!

We so enjoyed our time with Bella, and the time we were able to spend with her delightful mom!

September 2, 2013