5 Star Housesitters

Tag: dog boarding alternatives

  • A Terrier Twosome to Love!

    A Terrier Twosome to Love!

    Dog boarding alternative for Westie and cairn terrier mix was in home pet sittingIt’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!in home pet sitting as a dog boarding alternative for cairn terrier mix

    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!

    In home pet sitting as a dog boarding alternative for a West Highland white terrier (Westie)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!

  • A Loving In-Home Presence as a Dog Boarding Alternative

    A Loving In-Home Presence as a Dog Boarding Alternative

    In Your Home dog boarding alternative to kennels for a lab and collie mixPunkin 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.Punkin gets in her home dog boarding as an alternative to a dog kennel

    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. Shadow the black lab is very satisfied with in her home dog boarding alternative to the dog kennel!

    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!