So what’s the sweetest thing your current pet does that you absolutely love?
The reactive dog I’m sitting knows I’m His best pal. As I put on my hiking boots and tie my laces he invariably licks my hands and arms.. no photos as my hands are tied!
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@Highfive That is just so sweet 
We once sat a kitty who had the cutest little ritual — he’d gently dip his paw into my coffee mug, like he was checking it was safe for me to drink. Such a tiny, charming moment!
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My neighbour’s cat used to help me plant bulbs in the garden. I’d bang an appropriately sized stick into the ground to create a hole at the right depth, and drop a bulb into it. Cat would watch me do this, then stick his arm into the hole just to check I’d done everything correctly. Ok, so probably trying to fish the bulb out again really, but it was rather charming to think that he was helping me.
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I take my reactive dog to a cafe .. the owner admits they never do! I choose a quiet moment and sit outside with him.. it’s an endurance test for both of us but he is getting better…SLOWLY!
My favourite moment?
He watches my every mouthful!
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As well as a reactive dog I’m sitting two rescued cats -mother is tri coloured.. and very shy, won’t allow me near her normally. Rubio, her tri sized son is very in your face bold and jumps on my lap, laptop, whatever! Rubio doesn’t know what personal space is.. of course I want him that close! Who wouldn’t?
If Rubio is in my lap it’s a total game changer! And mother came too!
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I sat a skittish cat that took to me surprisingly well and LOVED getting brushed and petted. He started sleeping with me and would gently “comb” my hair. It was as if, because he liked being brushed, he thought I would enjoy it, too.
I sat another cat who enjoyed being held like a baby. His primary human was surprised that he let me do it, because she said he’d only let her do that up till then. That same cat liked opera, maybe because his primary human was Italian. So I would play it to him sometimes and speak to him in broken Italian.
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Got to say it’s been a while since someone has brushed my hair, even I don’t bother now lol. That’s so sensual. I remember watching my mum brushing and putting her hair up for the day.. most pets I find enjoy being groomed. One very old dog hated it. We were there two weeks.. the owner recommended daily grooming- the dog wound have hated that. It already had dementia! So I groomed him on the last day. Kept the lead on him so he couldn’t back away..
owner commented how great he looked!
Such a lovely dog. I wanted his last days to be happy ones. He couldn’t decide to come in or go out and would change his mind regularly. We kept the French windows ajar. Happy days!
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Such a lovely memory. You folks were a great match for him.
That first cat I mentioned was the floofiest. Petting him was like petting a cloud. He was so sweet and gentle, even loved having his belly brushed and petted. He was skittish and I was told he would hide in his closet a lot. I saw that he would occasionally sleep on the human bed, but would startle and run easily. So I rolled a blanket and made a half circle for him to cozy up in — I thought he might stay out more if he felt safer. And that turned out to work well.
One early morning, there was a runners’ race just outside the sit apartment. There was a large window and he let me hold him like a baby, so we watched part of the race that way. So sweet.
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I looked after a very chilled chocolate Lab called Hettie. My favourite memory of her was as I prepared her food and just before I put it on the floor for her to eat, she did a little dance . Just read her latest sitter’s review.. yes she’s still doing it! It’s still charming everyone too!
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That’s what I love best, holding them like babies and snuggling with them on the sofa. I’ve been lucky to be able to that in almost all my sits.
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So funny, a host once apologized for their clingy cat, and I was like, no, I love pets that want to snuggle all the time.
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I looked after two Frenchies, one of them, Edward, did that. It was charming and really useful, too, because he was a fast eater and that protocol gave me time to set his brother’s food while he was dancing behind me all the way along the room and back, following his dish, which I held all the time. That way, his brother started eating first and they both finished at the same time.
He was also very solidary with his brother and when he was sent to his bed as a punishment, he joined him. He was also the one who reacted first when I was on my way to get treats for them and he always went to alert his brother so he didn’t miss his share.
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Real bro love ! My own brothers weren’t like that lol most of the time! More dog eat dog! Ha ha!
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Same dog last sit. I took him to the dog park and he’s ball obsessed so he’s looking for me to start the ball rolling. He doesn’t interact much with the other dogs ; he can take them or leave them.
Once we went and it was very busy in the dog park, with lots going on.. he kind of blew a fuse. He jumped into my lap. It was all too much. What a special moment that was ! What a compliment! I felt he really trusted me and loved me.
It’s moments like this I cherish. It’s a pleasure. It’s like being his big bro! He’s very protective of me and he knows I’m looking out for him too!
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Zorro was briefly a media star when my Beach Hut was the focus of a Guardian Newspaper Article on traditional British seasides. Zorro is now 10 and I’ve been walking him since 2017 via Borrowmydoggy he’s my heart dog.
(Edited to remove surname as per forum guidelines)
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@BonnyinBrighton that’s so lovely and what a claim to fame! Hope you’re feeling a lot better now.
Thanks for sharing such a magic moment.
I wonder if borrowmydog operates in Spain prestamiperro posiblemente!
ps Your photo would look good on Tongues out Tuesday!
( you might want to remove your full name from the bottom of the photo? THS don’t like too much disclosure..)I’ve had my wrist slapped a few times!
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I’ve seen the GP, getting tests, got some temporary meds to help me be able to go to Austria on Saturday…. lots to ponder as it seems it maybe wasn’t just a stomach flu bug as it’s lasted 10 days now. It could be the Giardia come back (I had this in India)….or something else. Thank goodness for the nhs.
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He is gorgeous, is his name Patch, by any chance?
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Freddi. But when we are at the port there are real Pirate vibes! In fact he behaves like a pirate 24/7!
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