dog walking on Fri 4/20

Nika - I just got a quick note from Shannon.... "My first visit with Nika was AWESOME last night! She might be the best big dog Ive ever walked!  She likes to go FAST! like me :O)"  Sounds like all is well.  She is in very good hands!! Here is another note from Shannon after her walk this morning:  Nika is doing GREAT on her walks!  She's peed and pooped both times.  She's eating and drinking and getting LOTS of love!  All is well!

PS  This is the last blog post of the weekend.  Please contact Shannon directly if you want to check in with her (or feel free to contact me as well.)

pet sitting on Sun 4/15

Turk & Hawk - they are just fine.  Last night I walked them before putting them in the house for the night.  There was a golden retriever just a few houses down from you that came running and barking at us.  Hawk got a little worked up but not too much.  I was more worried about the golden.  He stayed in his yard but I did turn the dogs around so we didn't walk past him.  There was a lady getting into her car parked on the street and Hawk got pretty growly and jumpy when she came out.  That surprised me.  This morning I just played with them in the yard and then fed them before I left.  The house looks to be just fine :)

Jay and Chloe - Jay heard me this morning and was barking to greet me when as I walked up.  She took care of all of her business and then we played ball.  I fed them both, rubbed on Chloe a little bit and scooped her box too.

Lesson #31 Learned by this pet sitter

I should own a "chuckit."  At some point today, I will.  Hawk will be happy!! :)  Thanks to Jay's mom and dad for this realization b/c they have one and I think Jay is very happy about that bc I can't throw the ball very far!!

dogs that LOVE tennis balls on Saturday 4/14

bahahahahaha.... that's my first thought and I did spend quite a bit of time on this early Saturday morning laughing.  I learned something new too:  I am not sure who loves tennis balls more, Jay or Hawk.

Hawk & Turk - let me start with last night's visit.  They were fine when I arrived.  They barked but they LOVE treats. :)  I made them each sit and gave them one.  The walk was uneventful (I did walk them together) but wow, Turk was really pulling.  Turk didn't really want to walk at a heel.  Bless Hawk's heart, every time I said "heel" (which was fairly frequently), he stopped in his tracks and walked at a heel.  Turk on the other hand required a correction as well, but not Hawk.  He was really good!  We didn't see anyone or any dogs while we were out.  This morning I took your suggestion and just played in the backyard.  They were HIGH-larious running after the ball.  They are also used to someone (their dad) who can obviously throw the ball further than me!  I laughed a lot watching them try to find the ball as they'd run out lots further than I ever threw it!!  **See next post about Lesson Learned #31**

Jay playing soccer (Click the link to watch a short video of Jay.)

Jay and Chloe - because I know you read the blog, Hawk and Turk are fairly new clients.  I've pet sat for Turk a couple of times but never Hawk because he is young and his parents prefer that he stay with a friend who is home all the time while they are away.  (i.e. they're not quite sure they can trust him home alone for long periods of time so we are testing it out this weekend.)  What I have learned in my 2 visits with Hawk, he LOVES the tennis ball as much as Jay does!  Seriously... he's crazy for the ball and if you read Lesson Learned #31, thank you for this realization!  I've been tossing the ball for Jay.  I still manage to hit a few trees but not like before!  Jay is gobbling up all of her food and she even tried to eat Chloe's as I was leaving this morning.  (She probably did after I left!)  Chloe is doing well  too.  I rubbed on her this morning, fed her and scooped her box.

I'm trying to post a short video of Jay playing with her ball.  Fingers crossed that this works!

pet sitting on Wed 4/11

Max and Genny - they are both doing just great.  Max's leg looks so much better.  I can tell that the cone is working!  He's so good about putting it back on too. :)  They've enjoyed their outside time and this cooler weather.  They're both eating really well too (no surprise there!!)

Lesson #30 Learned by this Pet Sitter

I cannot walk with a full bowl of water without spilling it.  I always change out the water bowls and if an owner fills the bowl to the top and their dog or cat hasn't had very much of it, I have a very hard time getting to the sink to dump it out and refill it.  When I refill the bowl, I never fill it all the way to the top.  Something I've just noticed over time.  (As a pet sitter, I have a lot of time to think..... can you tell??? :) )