I had my own caretaking/housesitting business for five years and pet sitting was often a big part of it. I have house and pet-sat dogs, cats, birds (including a talking parrot), overnight and longer; one 14-year old Australian Sheppard for a whole year. I once house-sat one dog, two cats and 12 very cantankerous, finicky, vocal donkeys on the side of a volcano in Hawaii for eight weeks. Though he had developed a hip problem, the australian sheppard was the best dog I ever watched. Even at his age, he still wanted to swim every single day in the ocean and chase his toy into the surf. That made him the happiest dog in the world. All my dogs seem to be at peace around me because I have a calm nature. I love dogs and instinctively know how to play with them. (Now located in Tucson, since 2013, fyi).