When hosting dogs in your home, how many will you watch at one time? Do you just take one client at a time, or limit yourself to a set number of dogs? How do did you come to this decision?
I only keep one dog, or dogs from the same family, at a time, and I don't have dogs of my own. My reasoning is that I don't want to chance mixing dogs who are strangers to each other. There is too much potential for bad outcomes.
I have had many clients say that they chose me because of the fact that their dog(s) would be the only ones in my house. This just reinforces the fact that I made the right decision.
I'm not criticizing those who do take in multiple dogs, I'm just saying that it's not for me.
I'm the same way :) in addition to the reasons you mentioned, I feel like limiting the number of dogs also allows me to focus on the quality of care rather than quantity. Thanks for your reply. Was just curious what others do and why they do it. No right or wrong way, just personal preference.
I only watch dogs from one family at a time. If the family has two dogs I will watch them. But I don't want to mix pack's of dogs. I just think it is a better quality of care for the dogs and much safer!
I usually only take in one dog at a time, although I have had three dogs over the holidays. When I do accept more than one dog, I have to know the dogs. I won't take in two dogs that are new to me.
At one point I was watching 11 dogs, my 3 included! It was amazing to see so many personalities meshing so well together! I loved every minute of it!
I would be terrified that there would be conflicts with that many dogs. Maybe not all of them, but several not getting along together could cause a nightmare. My first dog didn't get along well with other dogs, so I would not have been able to board other animals or leave him with a sitter and multiple dogs.
I've had three dogs in the house at once, one of my own, and two others, each from different homes. I guess you just have to trust the owner when they say the dogs get along well with others. And if they aren't coming from out of town I always try to do meet and greets at a dog park so I can see how they'll interact with other animals. I haven't had any issue with this method before. Meet and greets are crazy portant in my opinion. Awhile ago i once watched a dog for a friend and it did not get along well with my dog at all, and doing a simple meet and greet would have eliminated any possibility of that experience.
I prefer one dog at a time. I will accept up to 4 if they are returning regulars because I know them & their preferences well and they know me.
I limit myself to 4 guest dogs. This is because that is what my pet-sitting business permit from the County states I can have at my home at one time.
Julie- what kind of conversation / email do you send to the owners? I am looking for some language to help me formulate a good response / let the owners know that there will be other dogs staying at the same time I will be watching their dog.