The Pawsitive Pets Sitter LLC

06/18/2024

I got to do a really fun thing last night -
Drop off this box with a selection of 30-plus SodaPup brand chew and rubber toys, a few "stuffies", and some treats, at Zzeek's Pizza.
Jody Pectol was informed of the need for enrichment items for the 900+ dogs currently at the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control facility (MCACC), and she quickly put together a toy and treat drive. She does this a lot!
We're in awe of her ability and desire to do so, and we contribute to her events as often as we can.
We feel extremely fortunate to be a part of our community.

06/17/2024

The early....dog...catches the frisbee!
Who cares about the dang worms?!
4am is a great time to play when the daytime temps are projected in the triple digits.
How we stay sane during an Arizona summer.

06/16/2024

Whether your "kids" be covered in skin, fur, or feathers....
Happy Father's Day!

06/15/2024

C'mon in!
You know you wanna....
Look, I even put my toy there for you!

06/14/2024

Get outside early.
Have enriching activities to do indoors.
And embrace the nap - lots of rest.
Our top three tips for braving the heat with your pets this summer.
Have a great weekend, all!

06/13/2024

As y'all know, The Pawsitive Pets Sitter is as supportive of Cat Enrichment as Dog Enrichment, and we provide a large selection of toys and games designed for our feline friends during our sits.
But our favorite lately? The low-tech box! If you're shopping online, make sure to save your box and paper packing materials to make an impromptu playground for your favorite feline. Toss some treats in there for a treasure hunt!

06/11/2024

Ah- HAH!
Several small dogs in our care do the craziest things when relieving themselves. I found this info fascinating.
Now we know!

06/10/2024

Starting the week with cuteness!
Stay cool everyone.

06/09/2024

☀️
Twinning.

06/08/2024

Can you find her?
Staying cool on the lanai, blending right in!

06/08/2024

Do you know this dog? Let's help him get home!

Day 4 FOUND dog.. ISO this boys family! He was found in southeast Gilbert Monday June 3 by a wonderful woman and I scooped him up and have been housing him until we can find the owner No Tag, No Chip:( PLEASE Share PLEASE text 480-440-0083

06/05/2024

We've enjoyed forming relationships with other professionals in our industry, and nothing makes us happier than celebrating their wins and accomplishments.
We want to shout out "Congratulations" to Sam Klinger for earning her Fear Free Boarding & Daycare Certification. We refer all our small-dog inquiries and clients who seek boarding to Sam because she consistently provides high-quality service, is a good and supportive friend, and now we have another reason!
In an industry that has no regulations, no oversight, no guidelines/standards, it is reassuring to find Professionals who care enough to seek professional certifications and education to elevate their standards and care.
As fellow Fear Free Certified Pet Sitters, The Pawsitive Pets Sitter LLC salutes Little Paws Pet Sitting LLC!

06/04/2024

We show a lot of pictures of our client dogs and cats enjoying enrichment activities. We firmly believe that animals, as sentient beings, deserve a stimulating environment. So many behavior problems are created simply by boredom.
Here's a great infographic with benefits and activities for you to do with your dog - and cat! And here's a link to some other DIY Fear Free enrichment ideas.https://missbehaviortraining.com/blog/diyenrichment
It's getting hotter out, and indoor confinement can be stultifying. Be proactive for a happier, better behaved pet!

06/03/2024

Starting the month with a little excitement. Taylor and I are confirmed to attend SuperZoo! This August in Las Vegas! This is the premier pet care industry event for new products and information. Is there any pet care item you'd love to see? Let us know, and we'll look for it. We're on the road to Mandalay (Bay)!

06/02/2024

Sunday Funday, and it's getting hot out there!
I just finished a live-in pet sit with this gorgeous pair of Weimaraners. I was delighted to introduce them to puzzles during the sit to keep them entertained and engaged.
We had nice, long, long-line morning walks in the cool, but the hot afternoons got boring.
Solution? Lunch and dinner in puzzles! Yummy kibble is even tastier when they work for it!

06/01/2024

Rabbits, rabbits.
Happy June 1 - Summer is Coming!

05/31/2024

I wish I had the zeal for learning in my college classes that I do for continuing education as a pet sitter! I would have graduated waaaaay earlier (some day you can hear my story of how I started my degree in 1981, but didn't finish until 2005, after many changes of degrees and colleges).
But I digress - yesterday's Fear Free Webinar on Preventing Dog Bites was fascinating. The statistics presented on how many more households have pets now, especially dogs, was mind-blowing. Also mind-blowing was the increase in incidents of dog bites.
The main point of the webinar - LEAVE DOGS ALONE. Don't force yourself on them. When out and about, don't ask the dog owner to pet their dog - ask the dog! Pay attention to their cues, they'll let you know. Boundaries!
This infographic is great to remember when you take your dog out.

05/30/2024

I start today with gratitude for all of our clients, who hire us the first time, hire us again, refer us to their friends, respond to our Client Satisfaction Survey, and post reviews for us on Facebook and Google.
As a result, we gain new service inquiries - and unfortunately, have to turn some down.
But we still want people to have the best pet care service possible. The reputation of the Pet Sitting Profession is very important to us.
So - I created a comprehensive guide, posted as a blog on our website, to help those seeking a quality sitter to find one. It includes where to look, questions to ask, how to conduct a first meeting, and how to prepare for the pet sit, and beyond.
It's available here: https://yesspet.com/pawsitive-notes
Please feel free to read and share!

05/29/2024

New Feature - "Pet Sitter Pet Peeves!"
Not really, but I need to vent today. Read on, or scroll by.
I'm currently on a live-in pet sit in the lovely community of Lakewood. Beautiful homes and community, an outstanding greenbelt and lake area for resident recreation, so very pleasant.
Except for all the dog sh*t.
Except for all the off-leash dogs.
My dirty secret - I actually like well-behaved, trained off-leash dogs. It's not a big deal in the early morning, when no one else is around. But it's dicey to have them around leashed dogs, so I always politely tell (yes, tell, not ask) the unleashed owner to "please leash your dog."
For the most part, they understand and do so. Responsible pet parents know the law, and want to abide by it and polite society, and understand dog behavior. They leash the dog, we move past each other, they unleash again, all good.
Then there are those like the person I encountered recently with three leashed dogs and one unleashed dog, who, when requested to leash the dog chose to argue, demean me and my dog, told me to mind my own business - before finally leashing, then moving on.
This morning I observed a couple other unleashed dogs defecate, with the owners on the phone and just continuing to walk (I wasn't walking in their area, I didn't need the aggravation today).
Is there a correlation between unleashed dogs and rampant dog sh*t on the greenbelt? Is the correlation simply clueless owners?
One wonders.....
I know our clients don't do this!

05/27/2024

Day Three of the 3-Day Weekend.
Start it right.

05/26/2024

Ahhh! Day two of a 3-day weekend!
How's your weekend coming along?

05/25/2024

It's the first day of a 3-day holiday weekend!
Are you ready?
We just completed a check-in pet sit schedule with this adorable boy. He has such lovely leash manners. We can't wait to care for him again (we will, in a couple of months).

05/23/2024

Are you having trouble getting your dog to walk next to you on the leash; move away from the front door when people come by; come to you when called?

It might just take a "touch."

"Touch" or "hand targeting" is a foundational skill that is often one of the first things a positive trainer will teach. It's a versatile skill that can be used in many ways. Learn more from leading positive trainer Stilwell (she's got some great stuff on the web).

https://positively.com/dog-training/article/canine-life-skills-touch-hand-targeting?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

05/22/2024

I was just asked to provide some information for an article about my business, including my "origin story."

And it made me want to share this with YOU.

You may know that The Pawsitive Pets Sitter was created after the death of my beloved companion of 15 years, Cami, my only foster "fail." While at home during the pandemic, I was privileged to be there constantly with her, and give her the devoted care she needed during her last months and days. Her final day was so, so bittersweet. Her pain relieved, but mine begun.

So when I had the opportunity to relieve that pain, first through fostering, then through pet sitting, I took it. Then, the start of my own business opened up a whole new world to me of education and experience in providing the best pet care possible to your pets. I don't have a pet of my own, as that would take away from my commitment to yours.

Then this. Reward beyond measure. A Mother's Day card, created by my daughter, Taylor, with YOUR input.

Thank you for thanking me. It is my pleasure to continue to provide the best care and service to you through our continuing education, training and growth. And sheer love.

It's not just a tagline when I say "We care for Ahwatukee's Best Loved Pets."

We care for the pets owned by Ahwatukee's Best Loving Pet Parents. Thank you for trusting us with them!

05/22/2024

Tiny Twofer Tuesday!
I just finished up a pet sit with one of my favorite dynamic duos, and definitely the smallest one!
These itty-bitty girls may be tiny in stature, but they are big on personality. From scoping out and guarding the property from the "wildlife" (I was so lucky to get the picture of the bunny in the pool), to helping water the plants, to snuggling, a pet sit with them is always delightful!

05/20/2024

Happy Monday, as we celebrate National Rescue Dog Day!
This day was created to increase the awareness of the countless number of dogs in shelters and rescues, awaiting their forever homes.
I spotlight today our own favorite rescue girl - this sweetheart was one of our foster puppies from The Farm Rescue, who was adopted by one of my best friends! She has an amazing home now, and I even get to pet sit for her sometimes!
Please feel free to share YOUR Spotlight Rescue, and their story.
Here's more about the day:
https://www.nationalrescuedogday.com/

05/19/2024

This is it! The final day of voting! Finally!
We know how obnoxious it is to be asked to vote every day. We appreciate your support.
Other worthy candidates for Pet Category votes: ABC Dog Premier Training and Boarding, Best Pet Resort; Bark & Luv, Best Pet Store; Nate Dog Training, Best Dog Trainer; Mak Pack, Best Dog Park!

05/18/2024

We're down to the wire on this, finally! We'd appreciate your vote for us as Best Pet Sitter, and for ABC Dog Premier Boarding & Training as Best Pet Boarding Resort. Voting ends midnight Sunday. (yay!)

Vote once per day per category. Winners will be published in the July/August issue of PHOENIX.

05/17/2024

Starting the weekend with a smile!
(big scary dogs, lol)
Here's how to make US smile today -
Please remember to cast your vote for The Pawsitive Pets Sitter for Best of the Valley Pet Sitter! Voting ends midnight Sunday, you can vote every day.
We ask you also to consider voting for our professional friends:
ABC Dog Premier Boarding & Training Best Pet Boarding Resort
Nate Dunham, Best Dog Trainer
Bark & Luv Best Pet Store
Spencer Mak, Best Dog Park
Poodini, Best Pet Waste Disposal
Good Vibes, Best Pet Portraits
Thank you!
https://www.phoenixmag.com/2024/04/25/best-of-the-valley-2024-readers-choice-ballot/ #/gallery/433230479

05/15/2024

Ah, Arizona. Life in the desert. The benefits of early morning dog walks.