I 100% agree with Barbara! I learned at the dog facility I worked at to hold a leash across your body (at your hip) and then when the dog pulls to turn the opposite direction, having your body pull the leash (which allows more control) and minimizes choking from the leash pulling on the neck.

HI there! I have a similar situation. I had two different clients this weekend, 1 booked on Rover, 1 a new referred pet sitting client. I have two sweet dogs who get along with dogs only their size. I asked my sister who lives less than ten minutes from me to let them out so I wouldn't have to make a 45 min drive to and from the client's house to my apartment.I agree with Deb A. have a family/friend/ or even roommate take care of them for the time being while you are getting situated in the pet sitting community. I stayed at a wonderful home in a well-to-do neighborhood and I would of felt very uncomfortable bringing my dogs along because of the property (that isn't always a factor) and because I didn't think it would be appropriate with the client's dogs (it would of caused stress on my dogs as well as the client's dogs).

I did have a situation when I was meeting a prospective client and had my dogs with me after getting off from work. The client said my dogs were well behaved and could stay over night with her dog if they wanted. Even though I knew they would be fine, the client's dog was not happy and had been recently rescued and was just getting used to having a home. Because I thought my dogs' presence would add stress to her environment and to her first experience of her owner being away I decided to not bring my dogs . It is important as a pet sitter to make sure the client (the animal) and the owner are happy and if your dog's presence might affect the client's happiness then you may need to reconsider bringing him along.

All in all I believe it is a judgement call. As you build a relationship with clients I believe there will come a time where you can propose your idea to the client about your dog staying over ( if it's an extended stay and a meet and greet in a neutral environment is performed first) but for now getting someone you know and trust to let your dog out is probably the best! Hope this helps!

Hi! I agree with Karen and Laura! I have my own personal experience with a dog with extreme separation anxiety. He was a stray who was getting used to a new lifestyle of being fed and being well taken care of. When I would leave for work he would claw at the window and he broke the blinds and was very destructive. Having the presence of my other dog did not help him. Even though they got along and played well, as soon as I walked out the door his entire focus shifted on where I went and if I was coming back.

I agree with Laura about anxiety also being learned. My other dog soon began to show anxious behavior when I would start to grab for my keys. I started giving my dogs tasks to work on ( a tasty bone ((any Kong product)), or a complex dog toy ) when I left. I also would reward them for being calm when I would leave to help desensitize the action of me leaving. I started small starting with grabbing my keys and immediately giving them something to work on and each time I would add time ( I would go outside and close the door and wait for 1 min, and then 5 min and so forth) and then eventually I didn't hear barking when I closed the door and when I came home I would find them sleeping calmly. It helps to not make a big deal of leaving and coming home. When I would come home I would only pet and greet my dogs after they were calm and not jumping on me. As hard as that was, it really helped them understand that it's okay for me to leave and it's okay for me to come back.

All that to say, adding a dog does not help the dog who already struggles with separation anxiety. Doing that can make the issue worse and other animals around him/her will began to express some anxiety as well.