PET SITTING

It’s common sense that pets feel safer in their own homes. As a pet owner myself, I know the feeling of scrambling to find someone trustworthy and knowledgeable to care for my furry family while I’m away on vacation or visiting friends and family. While there are many excellent kennels here in Pitt County, some dogs need another option. A pet sitter allows your pets to stay in their own home, sleep in their own bed, and enjoy the normal scents and sounds of home while you're away. This simple act can greatly reduce separation anxiety, especially for those of us who have nervous or fearful animals. The one-on-one care given by a pet sitter is second to none. When you go on a trip or vacation, wouldn’t you rather have the sense of security that comes with knowing that a trusted, local professional is caring for your animals with love and compassion in the comfort of your own home? That you have the additional peace of mind that comes with knowing someone is there to keep an eye on your pets and your home, to water your plants and bring in the mail, to rotate the lights and blinds to give your home that lived-in look, without the burden of imposing on friends and family?

Well, you’ve come to the right place.

DOG WALKING

Not only do we provide pet-sitting services to care for all of the animals in your home for one low price, including cats, dogs, birds, reptiles and all other small mammals, but I also provide daily dog-walking services to keep your canine in top physical and psychological condition.

As a believers and practitioners in the philosophy of the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, we know that your dogs need three things to keep them happy and healthy: Exercise, Discipline and Affection, in that order.

Exercise: Dogs are pack animals, whose instincts lead them to want to move and roam in groups every day in the search for food and water. This deep instinct is alive and well in your dog, whether he/she be a poodle or a lab, and whether you believe it or not, your dog wants to go outside and walk. Every day. Satisfying this urge in your dog not only gets rid of destructive behavior such as obsessive barking and chewing, it also stimulates the mind and the senses so your dog feels whole. This is the absolute essential ingredient in maintaining a happy and healthy dog. Without a “job”, your pup becomes restless, resulting in a buildup of energy within that quickly becomes toxic. To release this toxic energy, a bored dog destroys furniture, barks excessively, digs holes in the yard, or any number of unwanted and unhealthy behaviors that can quickly drive you and your dog crazy. So what’s the answer? Give your crazy mutt a job! I come to your house and pick your dog up, then take him for a long 45-minute to 1-hour walk with up to three other dogs - in your neighborhood or someone else’s.  If you prefer your dog to have a private walk, that's fine too.  We'll come to your house and give him/her 30 minutes of focused one-on-one attention and play.  This exercise not only rids your dog of unwanted destructive behaviors, it also acts to socialize and teach your dog about proper pack behavior - which takes us to the second area necessary to make your dog a “whole” dog: Discipline.

Discipline: As pack animals, dogs have a real need for structure within a pack. Contrary to popular belief, not being the “alpha” in a pack is not something you should pity. In fact, the alpha in the pack should always be you! Your animal gets a real sense of security from his place in the pack. As the leader, you relieve your dog of the burden of having to care for the safety of the pack. In that sense, you deeply fulfill a dog’s need for order when you give him/her a set of rules, boundaries and limitations to live by. When I exercise your dog(s), I am always the pack leader. I rule the pack without anger or anxiety. I set forth the rules, boundaries and limitations as a calm, assertive leader. As a result, your dog gets the benefits of exercise, socialization and “pack” practice without any of the anxiety, stress or toxic energy release that comes from feeling the need to be the dominant dog.

Affection: Finally, we get to the good part. When your dog is calm and happily exhausted from a wonderful day of exercise, he/she is ready to be loved. When you give your dog affection while he/she is in an excited state, you are nurturing and encouraging this unhealthy state of mind. When you come home from work, is your dog bouncing off the walls? When you take your dog for a walk, does he/she walk you? Wouldn’t you rather come home to a tired, happy and calm dog? If anyone knows, I do: when you get home after a long day at the office, you’re ready to give your best friend some love. Wouldn’t you rather have the peace of mind and pride that comes from knowing that you are giving love and praise to an animal in a healthy and stable state of mind? Sign up for our dog-walking service today!