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How do you show owners you love watching their dog?

What do you do to show your clients that you care about their pets? I've tried things like thank you cards and little Christmas gifts. I'm curious about what you do for your clients.

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During the stay I try to take cute or adorable pictures and send them to the client. When the client comes to "pick up", I share cute/funny "moments" their pup(s) did. For Christmas, I have a 3x5 picture printed and ready to hang.

I make necklaces out of beads for my dogs, my clients seem to love the gesture. My repeats come to visit wearing them. its so cute.

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Hi Kathryn- Try to get really cute pictures and in the update/message tell the client a cute/funny short blog/story that their dog did. I always tell my customer to read my messages and updates with a sense of humor. My customer Love hearing what their dog did that was funny. When they come to pick up, tell them any other cute things their dog did. One night I had a dog have a bad dream and panic still 1/2 asleep. Another customers' dog got up and went over to calm him down. She calmly leaned against the dog having a bad dream. I was talking softly and reassuringly to all the dogs and got to him quickly. The contact with the other dog calmed him down so he laid back down and went right back to sleep. Both customers Loved hearing about it and were very surprised they care about each other. Also, praise the dog and talk to them. You want your dogs to be very happy and excited to see the pet parent. When they come back the next time, they will be very, very excited to see you. Praise the dog to the pet parent and tell them how much you enjoyed their visit.

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I think for almost every dog that I've watched, I've sent at least one photo where their dog is snuggled up on my lap on the couch, either sleeping or just relaxing with me. I always like to send photos that show a variety of activities, like going to the park, playing with other dogs, getting a belly rub, etc., but a photo of their dog flopped in my lap always gets a great response. It just really demonstrates the level of care their dog is getting and that their dog is feeling comfortable and happy with me.

The other thing I do is to craft very personalized update messages. It's not just that I tell them "All is well, no need to worry". What I typically do is tell them something specific that their dog did that day, who he/she played with, where we went, or something he/she enjoyed doing. I also keep them appraised on their physical well-being, with comments about their dog's appetite, how they've been sleeping, etc. It shows owners that this isn't just a job for you and you're invested in their pet's well-being.

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I always get the doggie's bday and there is a pet store by my house that has a birthday card with every breed of dog in a silly pose. I keep reminders on my calendar when their birthday is nearing and send them a card and include my business card. I also keep track of important county vaccination dates when the county does vaccinations for cheap. I think text each of my clients with this information and a small personalized note about their dog.

As mentioned above, if folks boarded their dogs in a kennel, they certainly wouldn't get the constant updates and photos you are able to send. It then solidifys boarding in a home environment was the best decision they ever made. I even had clients showing their friends the photos I send and their friends response are "wow, give me her number! My dog is board at home with the teenager down the street that just comes in for feeding and potty runs". If they can get videos on their phones, I even send play time videos or videos of their dog relaxing after a full day of play:) They LOVE it! If the dog is especially sweet, I even send little messages like "You are very lucky to have Shelby, she is such a sweet and loving baby, as I am also sure she is very lucky to have you":) If they are a rescue, doggie parents love hearing this..

More importantly, do what you feel you would want to know while you were away from your doggie. Always remember, more is never to much when it comes to caring for someones baby..

Good Luck

Rosie

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I like to send tons of pictures! More than they would ever expect to receive. Everyone loves to know that their dog is being well taken care of and I've found that to be a great way to do it.

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I've sewed dog toys for owners!

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Weather permitting, I like to take my Rover dog on at least one cool adventure, like going to a state park, and take lots of photos. I also like to make an impression by getting their dog a small toy, or picking out a little plant (from the store not the state park!) for the owner if I'm doing a traveling stay. Additionally, I leave little welcome home notes if I'm staying in their home and send holiday cards to my clients at the end of the year.

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yes, lots of pictures, and I send a cute 'thank you' card with a gift package when they leave, containing homemade healthy dog treats (ingredients included), and a dog bag container that I have had labels with my Rover profile address on it. (the dog bag containers and bags, I can get at the Dollar Tree!)

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I love this thread. What a great way to make leaving your best friend behind a little easier when you need to go on vacation or whatever. I leave a card or small something for when they return

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I also send a lot of pictures, and try to get at least one wall-worthy shot from each visit. For my guests who stay longer than a couple days, I send them home with a goody bag of treats and chews (keeping in mind any allergens/preferences they have) and note, thanking them for their stay. I've made homemade dog cookies (canned pumpkin + plain yogurt + honey + whole wheat flour) to send home. The dogs staying with us for Christmas got a present to unwrap on camera. We take on a lot of anxiety cases, so for those dogs I walk the owners through the process of helping them acclimate and give them frequent updates, especially on that first day to let them know of all the progress their pup is making.

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I send thank you notes home with each dog in addition to photos during the stay.

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