Welcome to Bestest Buddies, the premier Frisco and Plano pet care source for luxurious pet sitters and dog walkers.  It is our mission to equip our professional pet sitters and dog walkers with all the necessary tools to ensure a “grand time” for your little family friends!  More importantly we provide you with the peace of mind that your pets are being cared for as if they were our own.

For additional information on the availability of our Plano and Frisco pet sitters and dog walkers , please call 972-832-3253 or you can contact us online.

| Bestest Buddies | 972-832-3253 | Luxury Pet Care | Pet Sitters | Dog Walkers | Frisco | Plano | Texas |

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Bestest Buddies Luxury Pet Services is now accepting new reservations for our luxury pet sitters for Plano and Frisco, Texas!

• Do you have a spring break trip planned with the family?
• Does it break your heart leaving your little Buddie at a kennel or boarding facility while you are away?
• Does your current pet sitter or dog walker provide the most luxurious pet care?
• Wish your pet sitter provided you with daily updates and pictures of all of the fun your Buddie is having?
• Is your current pet sitter a local resident from Plano or Frisco?

If any of the answer to above questions is yes, then Bestest Buddies is the Best choice for your pet care needs!

For reservations, please call 972-832-3253 or contact us online

Bestest Buddies | Frisco Pet Sitters | Plano Pet Sitters | Dog Walkers | In-Home Pet Care | Texas

You just hired a new pet sitter. You have checked the sitter’s references, and he or she comes very highly recommended. But you’re still worried, and that’s natural.

Having a new pet sitter care for your pets for the first time can be stressful for all involved. But by doing your homework upfront, you can make this the start of a long and mutually rewarding relationship. Your pet sitter will appreciate the effort, and your pets will thank you as well!

Below are some tips.

Get Acquainted.

Before you leave your pets in the care of a new sitter, invite the sitter into your home for a visit. Get to know him or her. See how comfortable you are with this new person in your life, and try to get a feel for the chemistry between the sitter and your pets.

If something about the new sitter makes you feel uneasy, or if your pets seem uncomfortable with him or her, you might want to look for someone else to care for your pets. In matters as important as this, it is wise to trust your instincts.

Make Your Expectations Clear.

When you meet with the sitter initially, be very clear in communicating your needs and expectations. Here are some sample topics that you’ll want to discuss and agree on:

• Live-in vs. Commuting: Some pet owners prefer that the sitter stay and their home and house sit while pet sitting, especially during longer trips. Other pet owner (especially cat owners without higher-maintenance dogs) simply look for someone to drop by once or twice per day to feed and water the pets, exercise them if needed, tend to the litter boxes, etc. Be sure that your new sitter knows what you expect in this regard, and is comfortable with the arrangement.
• Payment: Make sure that you and your new sitter have discussed payment arrangements and have agreed to all terms, preferably in writing. Be sure to settle on the per-day or per-visit fee, amount to be paid in advance (if any), terms for final payment, etc.
• House Rules: Whether or not your sitter will be living at your home while you are away, let him or her know what your expectations are regarding use of your home and your appliances, food, and so on. Also set terms for visitation by the sitter’s friends.

Leave Detailed Instructions.

• Make sure that the sitter has complete instructions regarding the care and feeding of each of your pets. Here are some examples the types of information you might want to include:
• Feeding: Provide feeding instructions for each pet, including who, when, where, what, and how; for example: What are your preferred feeding times? Where should the food be placed? What food should be given to each pet? What should the sitter do if multiple pets compete for food? Should the sitter wait around until the food is gone and then clean up the dishes immediately, or should the food be left out unattended for the evening or overnight?
• Medication: If a pet is on medication, leave complete instructions for administering the medication; for example: Where is the medication stored? At what time(s) each day is the medication given? What is the dosage? How is the medication administered? If possible, demonstrate the process to your new sitter during your initial visit, and, if possible, have the sitter administer the medication in your presence at least once before you leave.
• Exercise: Provide detailed instructions for exercising your pets. How often should your dogs be walked? How should the sitter clean up after the dogs? Should your cats to have interactive playtime each day?
• Household Tasks: Provide detailed instructions for routine household maintenance tasks. How often should the litter box be cleaned, and how? Where should the daily mail be placed? Will you want your sitter to take out the garbage? If the phone rings, should the sitter answer it? Also, if your home has a burglar alarm system, ensure that your sitter is properly trained in how to operate it and what to do in the case of a false alarm.

Provide Contact Information

Hopefully nothing will go wrong while you are away. But it’s best to be prepared. Be sure to provide your sitter with emergency contact information, including the following:

• Your Whereabouts: Provide your sitter with your detailed itinerary, including hotel contact information and cell phone numbers.
• Local Contacts: Provide your sitter with the names and phone numbers of at least one local contact who can help in an emergency. This can be a local relative, a trusted neighbor, or a close friend.
• Veterinarian: Be sure to provide your sitter with your veterinarian’s name, address, and phone number. Also, if your veterinarian uses an after-hours emergency service, provide contact information for that service as well.

Don’t Worry!

If you’ve followed the guidelines above, chances are good that your pets will be well cared for in your absence.

It won’t hurt to call your pet sitter once or twice while you are away, but don’t overdo it. If you’ve done your homework, you, your pets, and the sitter can all have a relatively stress-free time while you are away.

- By Mary Shaw

Bestest Buddies | 972.832.3253 | Pet Sitting | Dog Walking  | Frisco | Plano | Dallas

• Reduced Stress.  Your pet stays in its own familiar and secure environment, where all the sights, smells and sounds say “home”.
• No “Travel” Trauma.  Travel in a vehicle to a relative’s home, boarding facility or kennel may upset your pet.
• Diet & Exercise.  Customary diet and exercise routines are followed, with no interruption to upset your pet.
• Health Concerns.  There is minimal exposure to illness of other animals.
• Travel.  You will not be inconvenienced or upset by transporting your pet to a boarding facility.  And your pet will be at home, waiting for you upon your return.
• No Imposition.  You will not be imposing on a friend, neighbor or relative to care for your pet.  Instead, you can rely on a pet care professional who will put your pet’s needs first.
• Peace of Mind.  While you are away, you can feel confident that your pet is in capable, caring hands.
• Special Services.  A pet sitter can provide additional home services while caring for your pet, such as watering plants and bringing in the mail.
• Security.  Your home is made more secure by the crime deterrent services provided by a pet sitting service.
• TLC.  Most importantly — your pet receives love and personal attention while you are away.

Bestest Buddies | 972.832.3253 | Pet Sitters | Dog Walkers | Frisco | Plano | Dallas

Our Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers in Collin County offer an array of luxurious in-home pet care services including all of the following:

• Daily Dog Walking Packages

• Doggie Field Trips
• Pet Sitting Packages for Extended Business Trips
  
• Dog Sitters, Cat Sitters and Caged Animal Pet Sitters
  
• Friday “Happy Hour” Pet Sitting Service
  
• Personalized Luxury Pet Care
• Our On-Call Pet Sitter Service
  
• Personal Pet Concierges
  

For Additional Information, please call 972.832.3253 or visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page

Bestest Buddies | Luxury Pet Sitters | Dog Walkers | Frisco | Plano | Allen | McKinney | Texas

The first step in modifying this problem is to figure out why your dog is barking in certain situations. Once you’ve identified the cause, you can then go about solving the problem.

There are several reasons dogs bark and you have to remember they are DOGS and barking is how they communicate. No matter how good a trainer you are, you can never remove barking altogether. The goal here is to control their barking to times when you need or want them to bark.

Scenario # 1: My dog goes nuts at the doorbell!!!

More than likely your dog feels it is his responsibility to inform you of someone arriving at “his” door. Take into account that dogs are territorial creatures on top of being breed to either be watch dogs or guard dogs… It is OK for them to alert you, it is NOT OK to continue to bark or lose control and not listen to his master and it is definitely NOT OK for him to think he owns the door.

First step in defusing this situation is to plan ahead…You know eventually someone will ring the doorbell, so desensitize him to the sound in advance. Make a game every day until he performs the way you would like him to. You cannot get angry or frustrated during this game, this has to be happy fun time for him! If you feel yourself getting frustrated he can too! Stop the game and start back up when you are in a better state of mind!

Get a hand full of small bite size treats and take him to the door. Then ring the doorbell with no expectations and give him the treat. Do this every day until he relates the sound of you ringing the doorbell as a time when he gets a treat. You will know when he gets it by him looking to you for the treat at the sound of the doorbell.

Next Step – Have a neighbor come over with the expressed knowledge that they will be helping you with your dog’s behavior. Have them stand outside and ring the doorbell. Your dog does know the difference between you ringing it and another person ringing it so he will not react the same as above. Now move towards the door calmly with him and do not speak even if he is barking. Now watch his reaction when you put your hand on the knob, he will either get more excited or look to you for guidance. If he looks to you for guidance then that is great, have him sit and wait for his treat. In most scenarios he will get more excited because it is a learned behavior.  Now when he gets more excited remove your hand from the knob and step between him and the door, facing him block him from focusing on the door all the while you have not said a word! Now walk towards him, in essence you are claiming the door as your own and he will move back which should shift his focus. Try to open the door if he barks make two short and sharp AH-AH sounds and remove your hand from the door and back him away again. Do this over and over until you can open the door without him barking. The very instant he stops barking and focuses on you, you must praise him and treat him. This is a process and it will not happen instantly. The key is it doesn’t matter how smart your dog is it’s a matter of how much they respect your authority. You must own the door and it is your responsibility to greet guests not his. Never ever get angry with him for not understanding what you want him to do because he may very well understand you; he just may not respect you and we all know you must earn respect!

Scenario #2 – My dog barks constantly for no particular reason!

This is the dog who cried wolf syndrome: To me it’s one of the easiest things to fix, in most cases the dog is trying to get your attention or anyone’s attention because he is bored or under stimulated and he has nothing better to do.

Again the first step is to plan ahead: Knowing what the problem is, is half the battle. Everyday at least a half hour a day; they must be exercised by a good long walk or run, for larger breeds this should be more frequent.

Second step is to add mental stimulation: Obedience commands are a good place to start.

Sit, Stay, Come and Heel are the most important things you can teach your dog and they should be started very early on (as soon as you get them), but if you adopted an older dog they can still be taught fairly easily. There are several tools that can be used while teaching commands – voice sounds, hand signals and clickers are most common all used with positive reinforcement work.

I will share my way of training a dog to sit in which the process can be duplicated on to other commands.
Sit on the floor with your dog and have a handful of treats that he is fully aware of. Hold your hand with a hand signal of pointing down with the treat in that hand as well and do not say a word. He is going to work through different things he knows how to do to get that treat, eventually he will sit even if only out of sheer frustration. As soon as he puts his butt on the floor even if its five minutes later give him the treat and say “GOOD BOY”.  Repeat this over and over until he figures out sitting on the floor is what you want. After that association is made add the word “SIT” to your hand signal and repeat until he associates sitting with the sound and signal. It should only take a couple of sessions for him to make this association but in order for it to become a command you must repeat it on a daily basis until he will do it on command without the treat.

I must reiterate the importance of not losing your cool because it can be very frustrating at first, step away if you need to and never ever yell! Remember your dog will follow you in to any endeavor; if you are a worthy leader!

Article Written by ~ Laurie Poulopoulos

Bestest Buddies | 972.832.3253 | Pet Sitting | Dog Walking  | Frisco | Plano | Dallas

By Mary Anne Miller XQKC3BH65KNT

Before the Pet Sitting Industry

In this day and age of modern technology and fast-paced living, travel is as easy as the touch of a button. Either through the internet or your touch-tone phone you can make travel arrangements to suit your vacation needs, or fill a work request. But, if you happen to have one or more pets, you have a responsibility to your companion animals. You aren’t always able to leave at your own whim, so what do you do?

Prior to 1997 when Pet Sitters first became a commonplace word there were only a few options available for away-from-home pet care: Ideally, a family friend or relative to come in and feed and care for the cat or dog would be the best option. But failing that, the only other alternatives were boarding at a cat and dog kennel, or boarding your pet with your vet. Neither of these latter two options took into consideration how pets become comfortable with routine and dislike change. Boarding at a kennel, that oftentimes contains other stressed out animals, exposed your pet to stressful, unfamiliar situations and even sickness. While boarding at the vet, the same applies in being surrounded by stressed animals in unfamiliar surroundings. The only difference is your pet is monitored so if your pet becomes ill there is help available quickly.

How to Choose the Right Pet Sitter

Enter the professional pet sitter. Someone who will come to your home, feed your pet, administer meds, make sure that your pet has company at least for a portion of the day, and make sure your pet is safe until you return home. Sounds like a great idea right? You bet, but how do you find the right pet sitter for you? Opening up the Yellow Pages and looking under Pet Care (depending on what area you live in) you are confronted with a virtual buffet of names to choose from.  Websites such as www.pet-sitters.biz.com can be a great help, as your can easily browse the profiles of pet sitters in your area, or register to be informed when pet sitters are available in your area.

If your pet has a special need, your best bet is to ask the girls at your vet’s office if they know of a qualified pet sitter. Many pet sitters have worked, or still do work in the field of veterinary medicine, and are skilled at pilling cats, getting a finicky cat to eat, or simply watching out for the very real danger of a pet becoming ill at the absence of the owner. Also talk to other pet owners and find out if they have someone they use which they can recommend. Use the internet and network on pet boards and in emails. Make sure that the person you find will give exemplary care to your pet(s).

Once you secure the phone number, call and see if the pet sitter is receptive to meeting you in their home first. This is a good way to gauge the person you wish to entrust your pet(s) to because while you are there, you can observe their animals and make your own determination.

Some pet sitters will only meet with you at your home, if that be the case then during that meeting, watch how they interact with your animals, and how your animals respond in kind to them. Trust your instincts. If something unsettles you, be polite about it, but tell the person you need to keep looking and interviewing and you will let him or her know. And always follow-through, don’t leave the person hanging about the job. Give them a courtesy call and let them know you have found someone else. It is the proper way to do things

Be Prepared

Have a list of questions beforehand to ask. Here are a few samples: (I am using the female gender for ease of writing only)

Does she have assistance in caring for your animal? If something should happen to her is there back-up?

How many clients does she have – and insist on referrals

Is she licensed, bonded and insured?

Formal training to handle emergencies should they arise?

Why does she feel she is different from other pet sitters?

How long has she been in business?

What types of jobs did she hold before becoming a pet sitter?

What led her into the field?

Are there certain pets she enjoys over others?

Request a copy of her resume.

Once you determine that you have found the right person, and that person has also passed your inspection in your own home with your animals, it is now your turn to make the pet sitter’s life easier in caring for your pets.

Prior to leaving town, make sure that you have gathered all the extra feeding and water bowls in one central location in your home. Leave a list of feeding instructions taped to your refrigerator or wall-

Leave out leashes and collars. If it is wintertime, arrange for a neighbor to come and shovel snow, or mow the grass (if you are going to be gone awhile).

Before you leave town, take a ratty old pair of sneakers and slip them on barefoot and wear them as you do your housework. Get them all nice and sweaty, slip them into a Ziploc bag and leave them with a note for the pet sitter to put one shoe down the day after you leave town, and then the other a few days later. (This just reinforces your scent to your cat, and comforts her to let her know that you are near).

Make sure you have an emergency plan in effect – Leave a photo of your pet(s) on the refrigerator – (in case the worse thing happens and the animal gets outside). Leave alternate numbers of people the cat knows who would be able to capture the animals outside more so than a stranger would be able to.

Leave all the phone numbers where you can be reached and an itinerary of your trip.

Leave your vet’s phone number and name and the hours the clinic keeps, provide an after-hours phone number if available.

Shut all extra room doors to other bedrooms and bathrooms. Leave your cat access to the living room, your bedroom and master bathroom. Make sure all closet doors are shut,  use the childproof safety locks in your absence so the pet doesn’t get shut up into a cupboard and become trapped.

Leave enough food and litter to compensate should you have to be gone longer than expected. Make sure your litter pans are cleaned and full of new litter right before you leave town.

You also want to pet proof your home before you leave. Take off all breakables that are on shelves and dressers, put up any cleaning products etc… When pets are left to their own devices in an empty home, many things can and do happen. What you want to happen, is for your pets to remain safe, and so pet-proofing is a good way to maintain the home. When you get back, you can return things back to normal, it only takes a few minutes. In being prepared ahead of time, you can then achieve peace of mind and enjoy your trip.

Bestest Buddies | 972.832.3253 | Pet Sitting | Dog Walking  | Frisco | Plano | Dallas

A good pet sitter also spends quality time with the animal, gives him exercise and knows how to tell if he needs veterinary attention. What’s more, pet sitters typically offer additional services, such as taking in mail and newspapers and watering plants.

But just because someone calls herself a pet sitter doesn’t mean she’s qualified to do the job.

Why hire a pet sitter?

A pet sitter—a professional, qualified individual paid to care for your pet—offers both you and your pet many benefits.

Your pet gets:

• the environment he/she knows best.
• his regular diet and routine.
• relief from traveling to and staying in an unfamiliar place with other animals (such as a boarding kennel).
• attention while you’re away.

You get:

• happier friends and neighbors, who aren’t burdened with caring for your pet.
• the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your pet is being cared for by a professional.
• someone to bring in your newspaper and mail so potential burglars don’t know you’re away.
• someone who will come to your home so you don’t have to drive your pet to a boarding kennel.
• other services provided by most pet sitters, such as plant watering and pet grooming.

Where do I find a Plano or Frisco pet sitter?

Start with a recommendation from a friend, neighbor, veterinarian, humane society or dog trainer.  You can also contact Pet Sitters International (336-983-9222).

What should I look for?

It’s important to learn all you can about a prospective pet sitters’ qualifications and services. Before selecting a pet sitter, interview the candidates over the phone or at your home. Find out the following:

What training has the pet sitter completed?

Will the pet sitter record notes about your pet—such as his likes, dislikes, fears, habits, medical conditions, medications, and routines?

Is the pet sitter associated with a veterinarian who can provide emergency services?

What will happen if the pet sitter experiences car trouble or becomes ill? Does she have a backup?

Will the pet sitter provide related services such as in-home grooming, dog walking, dog training and play time?

Will the pet sitter provide a written service contract spelling out services and fees?

If the pet sitter provides live-in services, what are the specific times she agrees to be with your pet? Is this detailed in the contract?

How does your pet sitter make sure that you have returned home?

Will the pet sitter provide you with the phone numbers of other clients who have agreed to serve as references?

Even if you like what you hear from the pet sitter and from her references, it’s important to have the prospective pet sitter come to your home to meet your pet before actually hiring her for a pet-sitting job. Watch how she interacts with your pet—does your pet seem comfortable with the person? If this visit goes well, start by hiring the pet sitter to care for your pet during a short trip, such as a weekend excursion. That way, you can work out any problems before leaving your beloved pet in the pet sitter’s care for longer periods.

How can I help the pet sitter and my pet?

Of course, even the most trustworthy, experienced pet sitter will have trouble if you haven’t also kept your end of the bargain. Here are your responsibilities:

• Make reservations with your pet sitter early, especially during holidays.
• Ensure your pet is well socialized and allows strangers to handle him.
• Affix current identification tags to your pet’s collar.
• Maintain current vaccinations for your pet.
• Leave clear instructions detailing specific pet-care responsibilities and emergency contact information, including how to reach you and your veterinarian.
• Leave pet food and supplies in one place.
• Buy extra pet supplies in case you’re away longer than planned.
• Leave a key with a trustworthy neighbor as a backup, and give him and your pet sitter each other’s phone numbers. Be sure those extra keys work before giving them out.
• Show the pet sitter your home’s important safety features such as the circuit breaker and security system.

Finally, have a safe and fun trip. And remember to bring your pet sitter’s phone number in case your plans change—or you just want to find out how Fluffy and Fido are doing.

Bestest Buddies | 972.832.3253 | Pet Sitting | Dog Walking  | Frisco | Plano | Dallas

by Marianne Skoczek

As published on PetPlanet.com

I remember the first time we left Muki (our then four-year-old husky-mix) home without us while we went off on a three-day bike tour. One of our most trusted friends, and a favorite “uncle” of Muki’s, moved in to our apartment to dog sit. For the most part, things did go smoothly. Although he was a bit sad, moping around the house, clearly missing us, Muki was very well taken care of. On our end, my husband and I learned that we were indeed capable of living without our favorite furry creature for a few days. And of course, we also learned some important details that helped immeasurably the few other times we brought someone in to “sit” with our dog. Trusting pet sitters

While it’s often wonderful to share your travels with your dog, cats and other animals are usually more “home bodies.” And even dogs can’t go everywhere. With the holidays close at a hand–and following them, months of ski trips and other winter adventures–you may find yourself needing the services of a reliable pet sitter, essentially someone who will care for your animal with the same dedication and concern you do. Finding this extraordinary person often isn’t easy, but with patience and persistence, it can be done. Finding the right pet sitter

Because your dog, cat, rabbit, or other animal is truly part of your family, approach finding a pet sitter with the same care you’d give to finding a babysitter. While there are no guarantees for finding the right person (and if you need someone for the holidays, you’ll need more than a little luck on your side this late in the game), there are several potentially excellent resources. Start by asking family, friends, and co-workers for a recommendation. Find out what their experience was, what worked well, what to watch out for. If you currently hire a dog walker, ask them if they also pet sit (some do, many don’t), or if they can give you a referral. Your local animal shelter may also be able to give you a recommendation, or at least a list of area pet sitters.

“One of your best resources,” notes Kortney Eichenberger, a professional dog walker in San Francisco who also pet sits, “is your vet’s office. Talk with the office manager, the receptionist, the technicians. If you have a good relationship with them, they’ll know your dog or cat and be able to recommend pet sitters who can work with your animal.” Another resource: the local dog park. Talk with other Pet Parents; again, ask who they’ve trusted to care for their animal while they’re away. Getting to know you

Once you’ve gotten a recommendation, set up a time for the pet sitter to come over and meet you and your animal. This is your opportunity to find out if they will be able to provide the kind of care you are looking for. “Watch how well they interact with your animal, listen to their questions,” advises Eichenberger. “Let them tell you what they’re going to do. This is a great way to find out if they really know what they’re doing.” If your animal seems comfortable with the pet sitter and you feel confident they could handle this very important job, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty. Find out exactly how much time they can spend with your animal; be sure they understand your animal’s exercise and “quality time” needs.

Because routine is so important to most animals, find a caregiver who can stick to your animal’s current routine as much as possible. If you do have to deviate from this, make sure that the pet sitter can stick with the new schedule and make this your animal’s routine while you’re away. The ideal situation for most animals is to have someone stay in your home. Some pet sitters will, instead, board animals at their home. Some dogs may be comfortable with this; others will become too anxious. Cats–who generally do not adapt well to change–should never be boarded in someone else’s home.

Review what the pet sitter should do in the event of an emergency. Leave numbers where you can be reached, but also give them the information they need to take immediate emergency care of your canine or feline companion. It’s a good idea to give your veterinarian a letter stating that the pet sitter will be caring for your companion and giving the veterinarian permission to do whatever is required in the event of a medical emergency. Provide your veterinarian with your credit card number, so valuable time isn’t wasted trying to track you down.

Be sure to ask a prospective pet sitter the following questions:

* Are you bonded and insured? * Can you give me two or three references? * How long have you been doing this? What has your experience been? * Do you understand my animal’s special needs? (If, for instance, you have a herding breed or a diabetic cat.)

A stress-free holiday

While your companion animal will undoubtedly miss you terribly, there are a number of things you can do to make your time away less stressful for them:

Have the pet sitter come by and visit with your animal several times before you leave for your vacation. Having them walk and get to know your canine friend is a good way to ensure that both your dog and the pet sitter are comfortable with each other.

Make sure your dog will have plenty of exercise while you’re away. It’s simple, explains Eichenberger: “If they’re exhausted, they won’t be anxious.”

Make sure they’ll have plenty of companionship. This is especially important if your dog is staying at the pet sitter’s home.

Review with the pet sitter your animal’s likes and dislikes, as well as your “house rules”: how to call them, what types of treats they can have and how many, if they can play off leash, if they’re allowed on the furniture.

Keep your cat in your own home. Eichenberger recommends asking the pet sitter to come by once or twice a day, with one visit lasting a full hour. After providing food and fresh water and scooping the litterbox, the pet sitter can play with an especially affectionate cat–or simply provide a warm body in the house for a less sociable feline.

To avoid accidents and emergencies, keep indoor-outdoor cats inside only while you are away.

Leave your dog a worn T-shirt that has your scent on it. If your pooch will be staying at the pet sitter’s home, be sure to bring his own bed, food bowls, and favorite toys.

Make sure your animal is wearing current ID tags! Ask the pet sitter not to remove the collar at night.

Finally, put everything in writing–your animal’s name, how much and what they eat, where the food is kept, any medications, where the leash is, where you can be reached, when you’ll be back–everything! Kortney Eichenberger suggests keeping this information at “the communications center of any home,” the refrigerator.

Having a trusted pet sitter is a wonderful and sometimes necessary option for any Pet Parent. Give yourself plenty of lead time, know your resources, and ask the right questions. You and your animal will both be happier for it.

Marianne Skoczek served as editor of the Peninsula Humane Society’s “Pawprint” and “Animal Talk” publications from 1994 to 1999. She is currently the editor of the quarterly “Journal of Wildlife Rehabilitation.” She and her husband, Paul, share their home with their beloved seven-year-old husky-mix, Muki.

Bestest Buddies | 972.832.3253 | Pet Sitting | Dog Walking  | Frisco | Plano | Dallas