I will ask a lot of questions initially about your dog's personality, likes/dislikes, and if they have any triggers: are they uncomfortable around children, or other dogs, for example? If they need medication, please let me know what it is, how it is administered, and the schedule. (I like to use Pill Pockets, or something similar, for oral medications. I can give injections, but if your dog doesn't respond well to injections and it is safer to do that with another person there to hold your pet, then I would politely decline that.

Dogs rely more on their sense of smell than sight to make sense of their world, so I try to vary our walks and outings to make sure that they have variety and something new to experience. If ww are at home and staying it, what we do depends on what they seem to be interested in -- maybe it's tug of war with their rope toy or stuffed animal, maybe instead it's some gentle petting or brushing. I'll make sure the water dish is filled before the visit is over.