LuvPetslife answers 10 questions to ask when hiring a dog walker:

These are good questions!! So, we want to share them with you along with the LuvPetslife answers:

• Are you a part of a large company or an independent dog walker/pet sitter?

LuvPetslife is an independent, personalized service that provides undivided attention and time for your pets on each visit.

• Can you provide references to other current clients?

Yes, we have multiple current clients ready to tell you how great Linda is!!

• How long have you been working professionally with dogs? Do you have any formal training?

At LuvPetslife we don't just "like" pets. Linda started pet sitting as a child but professionally, she has co-managed a large ranch, owned and worked her own grooming business, worked as a groomer in large companies and worked as a pet sitter for large companies before starting her own pet sitting business.

• What does a pet visit consist of?

For a regular dog walking client, a visit is pre-scheduled for a certain time frame on particular days of the week. Your dog is picked up and either walked in the neighborhood on leash or taken for a ride (in the comfortable back window seat- seatbelted if desired) to the closest park. Linda carries fresh drinking water to offer in a clean bowl and always picks up the poo...

Your dog(s) can be fed, your treats given and training commands can be reinforced at no additional charge.

• How many dogs do you walk at a time?

Linda likes to give lots of personalized attention so more often than not, it's just one dog at a time. However, the occasional "play date" between LuvPetslife client dogs can be arranged or trips to off leash parks for socialization.

• If you do walk multiple dogs at a time, where is my dog when you pick up others?

Since LuvPetslife does not regularly attempt to take several different households of dogs for a walk at the same time, this is not an issue. No dogs are ever left tied up outside (even for a few minutes). Further, no dogs are ever crowded into one vehicle with dogs from other households.

• Do you ever take my dog off-leash?

With the personalized service offered by LuvPetslife, this option is up to you to decide and arrange with Linda.

• What kind of discipline/punishment do you use with unruly dogs?

The LuvPetslife mission is to be like extended family for your pets. On the extremely rare occasion that a dog would need discipline, usually a strong tone of voice will suffice. Also, you may direct Linda in how to handle your dog but spanking is never an option...sorry.

• What is the protocol if a dog is injured or lost on one of your walks?

The LuvPetslife protocol is to take every precaution to prevent injury or loss from happening in the first place. At LuvPetslife, personalized attention is key. In our years of business, no pet has ever been injured or lost and we don't want it to ever happen!

Nonetheless, Linda is certified in emergency first aide for cats and dogs by the Red Cross. With this training, the goal is not to replace the veterinarian but to be ready to safely get the pet to the vet if needed.


• Will you provide daily or weekly updates on how my dog is behaving on their walks?

A daily note is provided to alert you to any unusual behaviors or just to let you know Linda's been there and a furry family member has been taken out and brought safely home.

Pet Palooza 2009

This year I was too busy with pet visits to stay very long but I did enjoy it and I took some photos which I will share here.

These are Swiss Mountain Dogs. They are a "working" breed...can you tell?



Of course there were frisbie catchers -




and Bunnies -




and Alpacas -



and a shy parrot -



Serena is such a sweet dog -




Some dressed up for the event -

Rudy

Dog Show at QWEST Field 3-8-2009

Here are some highlights of the Dog Show at QWEST field this weekend...




Pet Sitter Pet Sitting Dog Walker Cat Sitter Auburn Kent

Gordon plays

Pet Palooza 2008

I had a booth at the Pet Palooza in Auburn on Saturday May 31st and it was a blast! Here are a few photos I took at the event:

Great Danes have sure gotten pretty, I remember when they were all the same color...


These guys visited me at my booth...I think they wanted breakfast...




The big guy in the stylish outfit is being trained to be a protector dog, the leather is for holding him back from whomever is posing a threat. The little pug in the center looks to me like Yoda a character from Star Wars.


He doesn't seem to mind what our current reputation is...he's a proud fan!


This seems to be appropriate summer attire this year around here!


There were several Springers (not mine)



I have no idea why these two were kept in their crate instead of being walked but they don't seem to mind


A true hippy


I'm going to be a Great Dane what are you? Well, I'm going to be a Great Dane too...



Huh?


I'm the princess


May I have my biscuit now?

Auburn Clean Sweep at Lea Hill Park

I was a volunteer today for the City of Auburn Clean Sweep project. After doing morning pet sitting visits, I checked in at the Park at about 9AM. The Yount family was checking in at the same time I was so I got to see their baby! I hadn't seen them since I did a pet sit for them at Christmas time in 2006 and the baby was not born yet so this was a real treat for me.

After checking in, getting instructions and a big pair of loppers, I went right to work. My job was to chop down the blackberry bushes that had completely taken over the wetland area of Lea Hill Park. I had plenty of help too! We all sort of found our own spot and started hacking at the thorny branches. As we chopped, we talked. I got to visit with the principal of Rainier Middle School, several ladies wearing T-shirts that declared they were "Working Democrats" and several Cub Scouts. There were photographers from the City of Auburn and people from the Parks and Rec department and about a million GRCC students.

And there was treasure to be found under all the thorny bushiness...I found a baseball which I immediately handed to the boy working quietly next to me. Someone found a volleyball and there were several golf balls retrieved from the thorny masses and I think someone even found a bat. Then as the blackberry branches began to lose their stronghold altogether, we found the trash. A rotted wooden traffic sign, two big iron pipes, lots of plastic and lots of empty beverage containers. The trash was gathered up into bright orange bags for disposal and we kept on with the blackberry chopping.

The Democratic ladies and I worked next to each other until we had hacked our way under some overhanging tree branches. The blackberry vines had climbed high into the trees above us. So we pulled them down. We'd just cut the thick trunk of the vine at the ground level and then yank the vine down. They were twenty feet long or more and on atleast one occasion, the branch came down with the vine so we scattered to avoid getting hit. But when we came to a vine that was growing through a bird's nest, we just trimmed it and let the high part stay put. None of us wanted to displace a bird from it's nest!

All in all it was a fun experience and I'm glad I had a chance to participate. It was nice to see such a good turnout of folks willing to help and the next time you go by Lea Hill Park, I'll bet you will notice a difference!