Pet Sitting for Your Friends: What You Need to Know.

I have had the pleasure of pet sitting for a friend who went away on vacation on several occasions. Even though I have never owned a dog and knew next to nothing about them I thought it would be a simple enough task. I thought that dogs were basically the same as cats. They needed to be fed and watered each day. The only difference I really thought of was the size and taking them for walks. If you agree to pet sit for your friend while they are away, I would suggest you prepare yourself better than I did.

To begin with, before your friend goes away sit down with them and find out everything there is to know about their dog. Does he interact well with other animals and children? How long is he usually out for each day when he goes for walks? Can you let him go or does he have to remain on the lead? This one is crucial. You do not want to be left chasing after a dog who has absconded! If possible, ask your friend to make a very detailed list of what needs to be done each day. It may be useful to write down the daily routine that the owner follows. For example, after getting up, the dog receives his meal, followed by a 30 minute walk before the owner leaves for work. The dog stays inside until 5:00pm and is then allowed out in the back yard for an hour. After that, he is given another meal and is taken for another walk, for 30 minutes. The owner then plays with the dog and he if he does not jump up or bark too much he receives a dog treat. It is useful to know the dog's routine, so that you can help maintain the dog's usual daily routine without upsetting him with too many changes.

The dog will likely miss his owner, so try to compensate for that as much as you can by spending time with the dog and paying him lots of attention. When I took care of my friend's dog, the arrangement was for the dog to remain in his own home and for me to go round each day, feed him before I left for work, let him go outside briefly, and then take him for a walk after I got back home. It worked out to an average of about three visits each day, more at the weekend. The dog really loved the attention he was getting, especially when it was time to go for his daily walk. I would recommend taking it easy during walks. I was not used to handling heavy dogs. The extent of my animal handling experience ended with cats. Some dogs are very heavy and strong and can really pull hard on the lead as you walk them, in effect, trying to walk you! So start off by keeping the dog on a short lead until you get used to them and then gradually allow the dog more freedom to walk. I learned the hard way and ended up with cuts on my wrist, as the dog pulled at me. Be wary of other dogs too. Depending on the dog you are caring for, they may not feel at all threatened when they see other dogs. Then again, they may try to get into a fight. Keep a watchful eye on what is going on around you. If you notice another dog who is out on a walk, keep your distance completely. If you must pass by give both dogs plenty of room. The dog you have may brush off an encounter with another dog, but you do not know what another animal will do in the same situation.

When owners go away, even for a few days, dogs can get quite unsettled and need lots of extra care and attention from you. Try to spend as much time as your circumstances will allow with the dog and take the time to play with them. Throw a ball and watch as they run and bring it to you. Or get them to sit up nice and straight and accept a dog treat when they have been good. The dog I cared for loved to receive as much attention as I could give and more in fact! He had boundless energy and this did not seem to change, even after a long walk. I would bring him back inside his home and he would then expect me to play with him by throwing his toys for him to catch. Do what you can, but do not work so hard to entertain the dog that you are left shattered by the end of the day.

Give the dog lots of reassurance and talk to him. This will help to gain the dog's trust. If he likes his ears scratched, then scratch them. If he rolls over on his back, then rub his belly. Take the cues from the dog and make him feel that he is special. Humans like to feel special, so is it any wonder dogs like to feel unique too? You will probably not know the dog as well as the owner, but you can soon get to know his temperament, what he likes and dislikes. Some things are just trial and error, but persevere. If you see the dog chewing on your friend's shoes or jacket, then take immediate action to stop it. At the next safest opportunity, preferably after the dog has released them from his mouth, recover the shoes and jacket and put them out of the dog's sight. That goes for any other clothes or household items that the dog may decide to eat. I remember rescuing a telephone bill just in the nick of time that the dog had tried to eat. Can you imagine the conversation to the phone company? " Sorry, but the dog ate the phone bill". Likely story! So scan the parts of the house where the dog is allowed access to and collect together anything that does not belong to the dog, but that may soon be picked up and chewed. Remember that you will be gone for many hours between visits. Dogs can get very bored when they are left on their own. This is time when they may decide to chew something of value of your friend's.

There is no denying that ooking after someone else's dog is a big responsibility. You have been entrusted with ensuring the animal's physical, mental and emotional welfare are well taken care of. I did not really prepare myself properly for the first time I agreed to pet sit for my friend. But after that first time I had armed myself with much more knowledge about the dog and was in a better position to care for him better on later occasions. It is a privilege to be given this responsibility and it can teach you a lot about your skills with animals that you are not so familiar and comfortable with. You will also be able to build a bond with the animal and be high up on your friend's list of would-be pet sitters in if the need arises in future. So enjoy pet sitting for your friend and you will likely make yourself a new friend into the bargain.