|
| Confessions of a Dog Sitter |
| About the author: Suzanne Stowe is the consumer marketing manager for DOG FANCY, Dog World, and Dogs For Kids magazines, as well as other titles. She is also a professional pet sitter, and in her spare time makes dog beds to sell at pet events. Read about her crafty and crazy pet-sitting experiences with all types of dogs in her Confessions of a Dog Sitter blog. | |
JULY 21, 2010, 6:30 P.M. EDT
Farewell, Dog Lovers
After a year and a half of blogging twice a month on DogChannel, it’s time for me to move on. I have really enjoyed writing about the dogs in my life, from my childhood dog, Titi, to my pet-sitting clients, to my mom’s dog, Duchess. More »
JUly 15, 2010, 6:30 P.M. EDT
Goodbye to Yoda
Those of you who read my blog on a regular basis have read about Yoda. She is a Shiba Inu who was getting on in years. I have taken care of Yoda for over three years and have become quite attached to her. More »
JUNE 24, 2010, 12:00 P.M. EDT
Do You Have a Special-Needs Dog?
Many people with special-needs dogs – those who suffer seizures or are diabetic – put off traveling because they don’t know what to do with their pets when they are gone. More »
JUNE 3, 2010, 12:30 P.M. EDT
Keep Your Pet Sitter in the Loop
As a pet sitter, I naturally get attached to many of my clients. When I don’t hear from a regular client for a while, I wonder if something has happened to their pets or the owners. This last week, I was able to get updated on two of my favorite households. More »
MAY 19, 2010, 6:00 P.M. EDT
Duchess Has a Makeover
Since my mom now lives in an assisted-living facility, it is up to me to help her take care of her pets. I get all their pet food, treats and toys. I also needed to find a groomer that we liked to groom her Yorkie, Duchess. More »
APRIL 29, 2010, 4:00 P.M. EDT
The Family Pet Expo
One recent weekend, I had the opportunity to attend America’s Family Pet Expo in Costa Mesa, Calif. This is always a fun and informative show to attend and this year was no different. More »
APRIL 14, 2010, 8:00 P.M. EDT
Another Canine Cancer Diagnosis
I’m not sure why, but cancer seems much more prevalent in pets than it used to be. Maybe it’s because they are living longer, so it has more of a chance to rear its ugly head. I’ve lost two of my cats to cancer, both at 12 years of age. More »
MARCH 24, 2010, 5:30 P.M. EDT
The Hardest Part of Pet Sitting
I love being a pet sitter. I get to take care of a lot of different pets while providing a service to nice clients. I tend to develop a strong bond with the animals I care for, which makes it very hard for me when they become ill or pass on. More »
MARCH 10, 2010, 3:30 P.M. EST
Talk to the Animals
I was recently contacted by animal communicator Bonnie Taplin to see if I wanted to host a session at my home, and have my friends come over and have her talk to their pets. I would receive a free reading if I hosted, so it was an opportunity I didn’t want to pass up. More »
FEBRUARY 23, 2010, 6:30 P.M. EST
A Canine Cancer Survivor
Piccolina, an Italian Greyhound I sit for on a regular basis, was diagnosed a few months ago with a cancerous tumor on her leg. Luckily, her owner could afford aggressive treatment and she is doing well. More »
FEBRUARY 9, 2010, 7:30 P.M. EST
AKC/Eukanuba Dog Show Revisited
The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship dog show was on TV this weekend. I was able to attend this show in Long Beach in December, and seeing the judging brought back memories of one of the most interesting breeds I encountered. More »
JANUARY 19, 2010, 4:00 P.M. EST
Seniors Need Their Pets
My mom moved to an assisted-living facility three months ago because she has dementia and needs daily care. When we were looking for a place for her, it was imperative that I find a place that would allow her to keep her Yorkshire Terrier, Duchess. More »
JANUARY 5, 2010, 7:00 P.M. EST
From Dog Barks to Cuddles
This holiday, I got the call to sit for a new client that has two dogs. One is a Papillon and the other is a hairless Chinese Crested. I had never sat for either of these breeds before, although my sister has a Papillon, so I was familiar with that breed. More »
DECEMBER 16, 2009, 4:30 P.M. EST
AKC/Eukanuba National Championship: A Breed Apart
The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship was held December 12 and 13 in Long Beach, Calif., so I took advantage of the close proximity to attend my first large dog show. And large it was! More »
DECEMBER 2, 2009, 2:30 P.M. EST
The Great Escape Artist
I take care of Yoda, a senior Shiba Inu, on a regular basis. Yoda has many of the characteristics included in the breed standard for a Shiba Inu, including “quicksilver agility” and “legendary cunning.” Yoda can turn on a dime and has the ability to climb fences. More »
NOVEMBER 4, 2009, 6:15 P.M. EST
Pets Help With Life’s Transitions
My sister and I knew we would have to move my mom into some kind of assisted living facility after she was diagnosed with dementia. This is one of those life transitions that can be difficult for all involved. I knew it would be easier for Mom if I could find a place that would accept her cat and dog. More »
OCTOBER 20, 2009, 6:00 P.M. EDT
The Rescued Greyhounds
Many pedigreed dogs are available for adoption through rescue organizations. One I’m most familiar with is the Greyhound Rescue group. One of my clients has rescued three beautiful dogs from a life of racing in Mexico and they are currently fostering another rescue. More »
OCTOBER 5, 2009, 6:15 P.M. EDT
Lucky Cedar
Recently I took care of Cedar and her kitty friend, Jasmine. Cedar is a special-needs dog because she has a seizure disorder. She is on medication, which keeps her under pretty good control, but she did have a seizure a few days before I took care of her. More »
SEPTEMBER 15, 2009, 4:00 P.M. EDT
New Dog in the House
Those of you who read my blog regularly have read about Flax the pit bull. Flax died earlier this year at the age of 17. His owner, Elise, was heartbroken and wasn’t sure she would get another dog, but fate intervened. More »
AUGUST 24, 2009, 6:15 P.M. EDT
Listening to Yoda
I recently got a pet-sitting assignment to stay with a Shiba Inu, Yoda, for a week. I’ve taken care of Yoda several times over the last three years and was looking forward to staying with her again. Yoda is about 12 years old now, has some kidney problems and is hard of hearing, but she loves her walks. More »
AUGUST 12, 2009, 3:55 P.M. EDT
Save Money on Pet Care
These days, with high unemployment rates and many people losing their homes, it is more important than ever to save money whenever we can. While I certainly don’t advocate skimping on pet care, there are many ways to save money on your pet supplies and even routine medical care if you just work a little at it. More »
JULY 21, 2009, 3:00 P.M. EDT
The Good Samaritans
As someone who is totally immersed in the world of pets, I often hear stories from people about cats and dogs. They know I can identify with the situation and that I have a genuine interest in pets, so they share with me. More »
JUNE 30, 2009, 3:00 P.M. EDT
Fun at the Dawg Walk
A local animal shelter put on a Dawg Walk and Pet Faire event Saturday. My pet-sitting company bought booth space so I went to work the event and promote the company and the pet publications I work on. It was a beautiful day and there was an excellent turnout. More »
June 10, 2009, 1:00 P.M. EDT
Dogs Are Goodwill Ambassadors
Over Memorial Day weekend I took a short vacation to California’s Central Coast. My friends and I drove up to San Simeon, stopping on the way in the quaint city of Solvang. After three and a half hours on the road, we were ready for a break to stretch our legs. More »
MAY 20, 2009, 6:00 P.M. EDT
The Irrepressible Italian Greyhounds
This week, I spent four nights with two Italian Greyhounds, Gardel and Piccolina. They are both more than 10 years old, but neither acts his or her age. It is also a bit of an adventure staying with them. More »
May 11, 2009, 3:30 P.M. EDT
Mother’s Day – Gone to the Dogs
This Mother’s Day one of my regular pet-sitting clients asked me to spend the day with her son and daughter’s four dogs. How could I pass up the opportunity to earn a little money while playing with four active pooches? More »
April 22, 2009, 2:40 P.M. EDT
Fun at America’s Family Pet Expo
The nation’s largest pet show, America’s Family Pet Expo, was held Friday through Sunday last week in Orange County, Calif. The expected attendance was 60,000 over the three days of the show. I was lucky enough to go on Friday. More »
April 6, 2009, 7:00 P.M. EDT
Close Call on a Walk
Recently, I read a news article on DogChannel about pet-related falls. The statistics were very interesting because one fact listed was that 88 percent of the falls were caused by dogs. In my job as a pet sitter, I’ve been knocked down several times. More »
March 25, 2009, 3:00 P.M. EDT
Memories of a Childhood Dog
When I was 7 years old, my family decided to get a Miniature Poodle. Saving the money to buy a puppy from a breeder became a family project. More »
March 9, 2009, 3:30 P.M. EDT
Farewell, Old Friend
Those of you who read my blog on a regular basis have read about Flax. He and I got along great and his pet parents felt very comfortable leaving him in my care. I spent my Valentine’s night with Flax. Two weeks ago, his family requested I sit with Flax again. More »
FEBRUARY 18, 2009, 12:30 P.M. EST
My Furry Valentines
When you are a pet sitter, you often spend holidays and weekends in someone else’s home. This Valentine’s Day was no different. I had three different clients that needed my services over the weekend that also included Presidents Day. More »
February 10, 2009, 4:30 P.M. EST
Attending a Blessing of the Animals
Shortly before the holidays, I was able to attend a blessing of the animals ceremony in Laguna Beach, Calif. It was a beautiful day and I was really looking forward to the ceremony since I had never attended one before. More »
JANUARY 27, 2009, 3:30 P.M. EST
How I Became a Pet Sitter
I have always loved animals and enjoyed meeting lots of different pets and their owners. About 15 years ago, I thought I could make a little extra money and meet people and pets by offering to pet sit for them. More »
JANUARY 15, 2009, 5:30 P.M. EST
How to Make Your Own Dog Bed
I’ve been making catnip cat pads for years to sell at pet shows and boutiques. About a year ago, I was approached about making dog beds, and added them to my product line. They have turned out to be a bestseller at the pet events I attend. More »
January 5, 2009, 4:15 p.m. est
Getting Ready for Disasters
Even though we don’t like to think about it, disasters can happen to anyone. When I lived in Florida, Hurricane Katrina came ashore in my city of Aventura. More »
December 11, 2008, 7:30 p.m. EST
A Late-Night Doggie Surprise
One of my favorite households to care for includes Zoe, a Maltese, Ruby, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, two Persian cats, and a Himalayan kitty named Mocha. The menagerie also includes a fish named Nemo. More »
November 25, 2008, 3 p.m. EST
Dealing With a Dog's Diabetes
As a pet sitter, I have encountered all sorts of pets with all sorts of medical problems. One that I am seeing more and more is diabetes. More »
November 17, 2008, 4 p.m. est
Why Can’t People Be More Like Dogs?
A new pet store opened by my house last weekend and I went to the grand opening. The store opened at nine, but the lure of free gift cards for the first 50 customers meant that there was a crowd gathering an hour ahead of time. More »
November 12, 2008, 2 p.m. EST
Welcome to My Blog
I am very excited to join DogChannel as its newest blogger. I am the consumer marketing manager for DOG FANCY, Dog World, and Dogs for Kids. In addition to that responsibility, I have been a professional pet sitter for the past three years. More »
« See All DogChannel Blogs »
|