Either in your initial request or during our meet-and-greet, tell me about the typical day-to-day routines I should stick to. I also like to know about any quirks I should know are normal for the pet (not cause for concern that they're behaving strangely due to separation anxiety,) as well as any known 'risk factors' (allergies, reactivity triggers, any sensitive spots they might not take kindly tohaving touched, etc.) If your pet has any common hiding spots or sneaky 'mess zones' I might need to periodically check, let me know this too... I'd love to know anything you can think of that might be helpful in setting us up for a stellar stay! Please make sure that there is up-to-date emergency contact and vet info listed in your profile-- though we both hope I'll never need this, it's important that it's readily available just in case.

I'll try to base my time with your pet around what they're accustomed to, and what they seem to be craving at the time (scratches or snuggles? I'll gladly oblige! Fetch or tug-of-war? I'll play along until one of us is tuckered out. Just wanna chill and be left alone for awhile? I get it!) I think pets are incredibly intelligent; they're sentient creatures with their own thoughts and emotions. I've been blown away by some interactions I've had with them, so I talk to them presuming competence-- I believe they appreciate this a lot and trust me more for it, and I've even seen unwanted behaviors change as a result of it!