A huge benefit of my job that I didn't expect at all: when I decide to redecorate my den, I get tons of great ideas from my client's houses! Don't be surprised if I email you and ask you about: where you got your couch (I have done this already), chair fabric (I have done this too), mirrors on the wall (I have done this and I'm getting ready to email another and ask the same question.) Now if anyone knows of a designer they recommend, I definitely need one!
Lesson #37 Learned by this Dog Walker
This has been an earlier lesson learned, perhaps one of my first but now I have another reason for doing this. I should always, always, always take one more poop bag than I think I will need. I was walking Turner and Bailey, 2 dachshunds so I only had one poop bag. They don't always poop and even if both do, one poop bag is enough. UNLESS the poop bag I have isn't sealed on one end. Ugh! Luckily they are small dogs, I could still make the bag work. :)
Lesson Learned #36
Citronella spray works. I have a canister of citronella spray that I bought from my vet. It clips on like a can of mace. I was walking a dog this past week and another dog was off-leash and approaching us. Another woman who was out walking her dog said that the dog approaching us had attacked her dog 3 times. I did try tossing treats at the dog first to distract it but that didn't work. He got about 5 yards away from us and I sprayed the citronella in his direction. The first time he didn't stop but the 2nd time I sprayed it, he turned around. Success! It is not harmful to dogs but they dislike the smell.
Lesson #35
Even with bug spray on, mosquitoes still love me. Ugh!
Lesson #34 Learned by this Pet Sitter
When hanging out in the backyard while Otis and Lola are sniffing around, if some of the lawn chairs look wet, they're all wet. Do not sit down. Learned that one the hard way. :) LOL!!
Lesson Learned #33 by this dog walker
Some of my clients know I am not a fan of retractable leashes... sorry. I know many of you use them. After this morning, I may ban using them. I probably should have already. This story ends well and there wasn't ever any danger to this dog but in case you didn't read the "Tail of the Day" from this morning, this is what happened: I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. I didn't walk Jackson this morning. I'm not sure why b/c if I'm going to walk him it would be on the morning visit when it isn't so hot. We were hanging out in the backyard and he must've seen a chipmunk. He went digging (and digging and digging) and I couldn't get him to stop. I grabbed his leash and leashed him up so that I could keep him away from the hole. He wasn't even pulling and the leash snapped. Next thing I know I've got the handle in my hand and he is back at the hole. My immediate thought was thank God I wasn't out walking him when this happened. So... you need a new leash. I left one of my 6 foot leashes at your house to use.
If I would've been out walking Jackson and this happened, it could've been a disaster. It wasn't and I thank God for that.