Tag Archive for: sitting

What Pet Sitting Visits Do I Need for My Puppy?_Header

What Pet Sitting Visits Do I Need for My Puppy?

What Pet Sitting Visits Do I Need for My Puppy?_Header

Are you going out of town but are worried about your puppy? Curious about what pet sitting visits for a puppy are ideal? Puppies require a lot of care but sometimes you have to leave town when they are young. A family emergency comes up, or maybe you got the puppy unexpectedly and already had a trip planned. We can help! Visits and schedules are going to vary dramatically based on the age of the puppy and where she is at with house training.

A good rule of thumb is: a puppy can hold it for 1 hour per month of age

This means a 2 month old puppy can last for 2 hours, 3 month old puppy for 3 hours, etc. Your puppy also needs to go outside if she has been playing, eating, drinking, or just woke up. We need to set up visits based on the age of your puppy and how long she can go without outside trips. In addition, some breeds tire faster than others, which will change how much exercise your puppy needs.

 

Puppy of French bulldog lying on floor indoor

Puppy Of French Bulldog Lying On Floor Indoor by Scopio from NounProject.com

Puppy Option #1

This is an ideal schedule for very young puppies that need out every two hours.

 

30 Minute Visits – Every 2 hours starting 2 hours after you leave 

Your sitter will arrive and take your pup out first thing. We want to use whatever reward system you have been using for consistency. Then your sitter can give your pup a snack and have playtime, followed by more potty time and settling in for the next nap. If you pup uses pee pads or a similar set up then your sitter will change those out and clean up your pup if needed.

12 Hour Extended Overnight Stay 

Your sitter will arrive in the early evening (around 7 pm) and let your pup out first thing. Then comes feeding and playtime. Puppies need some time with ongoing interaction, rather that the sitter being in and out. These evening times allow your pup to be out in the areas of the house that you allow. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. Right before bed, your pup goes out for the last potty break and then settles down for the evening. With young puppies you may want the pup taken out at specific times during the night, which your sitter can follow through with. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. In the morning there is time for playtime and feeding, as well as other pet chores.

Example with times:

Extended Overnight – Sitter stays until 7am

9am – 30 Minute Visit

11:30am – 30 Minute Visit

2pm – 30 Minute Visit

4:30pm – 30 Minute Visit

7pm – Sitter arrives for Extended Overnight Stay

These visits can be adjusted based on how long your pup can be home alone in between visits without a potty break.

 

Puppy sitting on brown ceramic floor tiles

Puppy Sitting On Brown Ceramic Floor Tiles by Scopio from NounProject.com

Puppy Option #2

This is a good schedule for puppies who can go a little longer between visits but need to play.

 

30 Minute Mid-Morning Visit

Your sitter will arrive and take your pup out first thing. We want to use whatever reward system you have been using for consistency. Then your sitter can give your pup a snack and have playtime, followed by more potty time and settling in for the next nap. If you pup uses pee pads or a similar set up then your sitter will change those out and clean up your pup if needed.

1 Hour Early Afternoon Visit

This is the perfect visit for your pup to get some extra exercise and get worn out for the afternoon. This is a great time for your sitter to take care of any extra chores and make sure sure everything is taken care of. The longer visit will let your pup play for awhile and have a more normal routine like when you are home.

12 Hour Extended Overnight Stay 

Your sitter will arrive in the early evening (around 7 pm) and let your pup out first thing. Then comes feeding and playtime. Puppies need some time with ongoing interaction, rather that the sitter being in and out. These evening times allow your pup to be out in the areas of the house that you allow. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. Right before bed, your pup goes out for the last potty break and then settles down for the evening. With young puppies you may want the pup taken out at specific times during the night, which your sitter can follow through with. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. In the morning there is time for playtime and feeding, as well as other pet chores.

Example with times:

Extended Overnight – Sitter stays until 7am

10am – 30 Minute Visit

2pm – 1 Hour Visit

7pm – Sitter arrives for Extended Overnight Stay

These visits can be adjusted based on how long your pup can be home alone in between visits without a potty break.

 

Cavalier spaniel puppy running in the snow outside

Cavalier Spaniel Running In The Snow Outside by Anna Fotyma from NounProject.com

Puppy Option #3

This is a good schedule for puppies that can last 4-5 hours during the day but have a lot of energy.

 

1-2 Hour Mid-Day Visit

Your sitter will arrive and take your pup out first thing. We want to use whatever reward system you have been using for consistency. Then your sitter can give your pup a snack and have playtime, followed by more potty time and settling in for the afternoon. A long visit can really wear out even the most energetic puppy, which is great for puppies that are 5+ months old. They need less frequent visits but to burn a lot of energy.

12 Hour Extended Overnight Stay 

Your sitter will arrive in the early evening (around 7 pm) and let your pup out first thing. Then comes feeding and playtime. Puppies need some time with ongoing interaction, rather that the sitter being in and out. These evening times allow your pup to be out in the areas of the house that you allow. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. Right before bed, your pup goes out for the last potty break and then settles down for the evening. With young puppies you may want the pup taken out at specific times during the night, which your sitter can follow through with. Your sitter sends you a picture with an update so you can rest easy knowing your pup has company. In the morning there is time for playtime and feeding, as well as other pet chores.

 

Three Parson Russel Terrier puppies near display counter

Three Parson Russel Terrier Puppies Near Display Counter by Scopio from NounProject.com

Our Considerations for Puppies

For puppies, there are a few factors we like to consider when setting a schedule:

  • How long have you been leaving your pup home alone so far?
  • Is your pup sleeping through the night?
  • How long does your puppy take to tire out during playtime? If you pup get tired quickly then you may be able to alternate a few 15 minute visits. Alternatively, if you have a high energy pup that is a litter older you may want a couple longer visits.
  • Young puppies usually just have playtimes instead of going for walks. We check with you to see your preference on activities.
  • Do you need regular clean ups? If you are using puppy pads or if you pup is making messy blankets, then we need to include time for cleaning.
  • For you – are you more comfortable having someone active around the house to make it look lived-in? If so, then you want an Extended Overnight.

Time to Customize!

We want to work with you to set up the best possible schedule for your dog, so you are all happy during your trip. We also know that each home is different, and a lot of people have more than just one dog!

After you have the basic idea of your schedule we sit down to figure out the nitty-gritty:

  • Are there any other pets in the home that need feeding, medication, etc? We make sure your visit has enough time to get everything done.
  • We like to allow enough time for feeding, changing water, walks and some cuddles (if your dog is so inclined).
  • There needs to be enough time to clean out food and water bowls, clean up any messes, toys, etc.
  • Many people who love animals, also love plants! Normal visits have time for a small bit of plant watering. If you have beautiful summer gardens, then we need to see how long they take to the water and add that on to your normal visits.
  • On your normal schedule, we can complete household tasks like bringing in the newspaper, collecting the mail, turning lights off and on and taking out the trash.
  • Do you want updates every visit? Many clients do, just keep in mind that your sitter will take 5+ minutes to send an update and that is time during your visit not focused on your pets.
  • It will take a sitter a bit longer to get the work done then it takes you, especially if you have extensive routines for your pets and home. You have had years to perfect your system! We always try to make sure your pet sitter will have enough time for everything so she will not feel stressed and your pets will receive the focus they deserve.

Work With Us to Keep Your Puppy Happy While You are Gone!

Will You Watch My Dog if She is in Heat?

 

We often have clients ask, will we watch your dog when she is in heat? Well, the short answer is yes. The long answer is that there are a lot of stipulations we require in order to make this safe. We will try to cover all of the details here and definitely feel free to contact us if you have further questions.

Our primary concerns with dogs in heat are safety and time.

At Wet Noses Pet Sitting we want to be overly safe. We make sure we do not run into any problems, so we have put together these rules:

  1. Dogs that are in heat will only be exercised under supervision within their own yard.  This means that they will not be taken on walks.  If there is not a fence, we will walk your dog in the immediate vicinity around your home.
  2. When the fence is not found to be sufficient (too short, dog is able to climb it, holes, etc) the dog will be kept on leash even when in your own yard.
  3. If there are intact males in the house then there must be a foolproof way to keep them separate.  Solid walls, preferable two, will need to separate them at all times!
  4. We will change diapers as long as the female is agreeable, which must be determined by our sitter before the trip.
  5. Any messes must be contained to hard floors, we will not clean up blood messes on carpet or in crates. We will change out blankets when needed.
  6. Appropriate time must be scheduled taking all of the concerns in consideration. We do require 30 minutes for dogs, but if your dogs cannot be together then we might require a 45 minute or hour long visit in order to make sure they all get enough attention and activity. We also need to factor in any cleaning time that might be needed.

I myself have had intact dogs so I understand the concerns that go into their care. At Wet Noses Pet Sitting we want to be sure that your dogs receive the best possible care is the safest fashion whether you dog is in heat, or not. Feel free to contact us with any questions!