Before moving to Tampa a few years ago, I used to independently provide house/pet-sitting services for friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. I loved visiting all my furry nieces and nephews! Since many of them were rescued, I worked on building trust with each pet which starts with greeting them with calm energy. Once we had a secure relationship, I felt comfortable taking them to the beach, the park, a local cafe, their grooming appointments, and regular playdates. For overnight stays, I would stick closely to the owner/parent's normal schedule to reduce any separation anxiety, and of course, I gave them lots of scratchies before bed.