5 Star Housesitters

Tag: pet sitting

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
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
Westie’s Just Gotta Have Fun!

We learn a lot from the companions we care for! Our little Westie, Augie, is all about the “fun!” 🙂

This little Westie wasn’t keen on being kenneled, and we loved sharing his joy! Sure you can arrange (at additional cost) for a dog kennel to take your dog for a walk, but in home boarding keeps it part of their normal routine — less stress, happier dog! Particularly when you need to be away for extended periods, consider in your home pet sitting as a preferred dog boarding alternative!

May 4, 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
Scrapbook slide show for our 70 lb pit bull!

February 27, 2015
Muxy’s Unique “Dinner Bell”

Dogs…what characters! This little pit bull mix we recently sat for had her own way of letting us know when it was time for her dinner!

Why kennel your pets when there are better dog boarding alternatives available? When you use 5 Star Housesitters to dog sit and house sit when you travel, particularly for extended periods, you get two loving carers with years of experience as both previous homeowners and pet sitters!

February 26, 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