5.0

Hi, we’re Frank and Leticia. Oh, the joy of finding someone to watch your dog when you have to go out of town. NOT! At least for me, this was always so stressful. We tend to think anyone can watch a dog, but no... not really. Some people just don’t care that much. To them, it’s just a dog. And unfortunately, there is really no way to know that beforehand. And I’m not even talking about someone treating and caring for your dog exactly the way you would. I mean the basics — feeding them, taking them out to do their business, getting them some exercise and, hopefully, giving them a little attention. You would think that part would be easy to find, whether it’s a friend or a sitter. It isn’t always. Maybe I’ve just had particularly bad luck, but I had a few horrible experiences that made me much more anxious about leaving my dog with anyone. Once, I came home after being away for a week and found the TV room covered in poop and the blinds chewed up. This was a dog who had never once gone to the bathroom inside the house and had never been a chewer. He didn’t even destroy his own toys. Not one. It was pretty obvious he had been left in that room for far too long. Long enough that he had no choice but to relieve himself inside and became stressed enough to chew the blinds. Another time, someone I knew and trusted kept him confined to a bathroom because she said his fur was bothering her allergies. He basically spent the week in there. And then, out of desperation, I once looked into boarding him at a well-known facility. I was already not a huge fan of that kind of environment for anything longer than a day, but while setting up his stay I was asked whether I wanted to add daily walks. As an optional extra. What? The additional charge wasn’t what bothered me. It was the fact that walking the dog was optional in the first place. The idea that leaving a dog in a kennel-type environment for a week without regular walks could even be an option just did not sit well with me. So trust me, I get it. You go through a few experiences like that and you can’t help but worry about everything. At the same time, I was also very lucky to have friends who cared for Louie with so much love, and I will always be thankful for them. Once you finally find someone you genuinely trust with your dog, what a relief. It honestly feels like you found a pot of gold. My own experience with all of this is a big part of how we approach pet sitting today. We lost our little guy Louie during the pandemic, and we still miss having a dog around more than I can explain. We’re not quite ready to adopt again, so we found that pet sitting gives us some of that companionship back. I joke sometimes that I’m not really sure whether we’re keeping the dog company or the dog is keeping us company. Both Leticia and I work from home, so we are around a lot. And the way we care for your dog is pretty simple: we treat them the way we would have wanted someone to treat Louie. Pet sitting is obviously not the same as having your own dog, but a lot of the time it actually requires even more attention and patience. And that makes sense too. They don’t understand that you went on vacation and will be back Sunday night. All they know is that their person left. Some dogs adjust very quickly and make themselves at home almost immediately. Others are a process. They’re nervous. They’re still trying to figure out who you are and whether they can trust you. Some don’t eat normally at first. Some follow you everywhere. Some need more walks, more interaction and lots and lots of reassurance for the first day or two. That is the part of pet sitting I think people sometimes underestimate. It really isn’t just listing a service and having a dog stay at your house, or going over to theirs. They need real company. They need interaction. They need walks. They need play. And sometimes they just need to be able to stay next to you as much as possible while they figure everything out. We try to keep their normal routine as much as we can — meals, walks, bedtime, commands, treats, medication, where they like to sleep, and whatever little habits they are used to at home. Senior dogs especially need a different kind of patience, and we love them. Slower walks. Medication schedules. More frequent bathroom breaks. Helping them get comfortable. Going up and down the stairs with them every single time because, of course, they have to follow you everywhere haha. Sometimes we may need to cook them something like a little rice and chicken, if their owner allows it, just to get them interested in eating. Sometimes they need to be hand-fed for a bit. You name it. Whatever helps them get through that initial separation anxiety and start feeling like themselves again. Usually, after a couple of days, they settle in and their personality really starts coming out. And of course, right when they get completely comfortable with us, it’s almost time for them to go home. But that’s okay. We had a good time too. As far as having a fenced backyard, either ours or yours, it honestly doesn’t make a big difference to us. I wouldn’t leave a dog outside unattended anyway, and to me, opening a back door isn’t a substitute for exercise or interaction. When we go outside, we go do something. Sometimes it’s a short walk. Sometimes it’s a long one. Maybe some exploring, playing, or time at the fenced dog area in our subdivision if that is something your dog enjoys and you’re comfortable with. Louie was never the kind of dog who would just hang out outside and entertain himself anyway. If your dog genuinely loves hanging out in the yard, absolutely tell us. Every dog is different. But enough about us. There really isn’t anything I can write here that will completely take the worry away. I totally understand that. Anyone can write a nice profile. Anyone offering a service can say all the right things and sound wonderful. Unfortunately, that is what makes choosing someone so difficult. So more than anything, I just hope you find someone you genuinely trust to take care of your best buddy while you’re away — whether that ends up being a friend, a family member, us, or another sitter. You will find them. Don’t settle for anything less. Best, Frank & Leticia