What are your favourite pet ‘tricks of the trade’?

The Love of Pets & Other Fun Stuff
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We’ve been pet sitting for about two years now and have completed five sits, including some long-term sits, so far. Compared to many experienced sitters here we’re still learning, which is one of the things we enjoy most about this adventure.

Here are three little things we’ve discovered so far:

  1. The cat and the lickables

One example was a cat who needed daily medication. We followed the instructions carefully, but let’s just say he never became a fan of the process. Then we discovered a particular lickable treat that he adored.

Medication first, lickable afterwards.

The cat still didn’t enjoy the medication, but all three cats were very happy when the lickables appeared afterwards.

  1. The dogs and the favourite treats

We’ve had a similar experience with dogs. We actively look for new treats they value most and use those during walks. Most of the times the HO have treats in the cupboard which the pets are familiar with. As ‘new people’ we might need some extra new input, we thought. And it works like a charm!

Calling them back, rewarding calm behaviour around exciting distractions, helping them stay close when they’re feeling nervous. The difference can be remarkable. It seems to help build trust, communication and confidence, especially with more sensitive or reactive dogs.

  1. A goodbye and welcome-back routine

When we leave the house, or when we go to bed, we gently stroke the dogs on the head and clearly and lovingly tell them: ‘You can relax. We’ll be back.’

When we come back, or when we return to the living room in the morning, we take a few minutes to cuddle and reconnect before moving on with the day.

We’ve noticed it makes a real difference. They seem calmer because the routine helps them understand: ‘When they say goodbye like this, they really do come back.’

So now we’re curious:

What are your favourite ways of tuning into the animals you’re caring for?

Do you have special routines, tricks, feeding setups, training habits, bedtime rituals, favourite rewards, or little discoveries that made life easier for both you and the pets?

We’re always looking for new ideas and would love to hear your stories.

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Hi @EmilyDickinson,

After 14+ years of full-time travel and 155+ sits, I’d say the biggest “trick” we’ve learned is that every pet arrives with their own instruction manual… and our first job is figuring out how to read it. :blush:

A few things that have worked well for us:

• We become enthusiastic narrators. We tell pets what we’re doing before we do it. “We’re just popping out for a couple of hours.” “Time for your walk.” “I’ll be right back.” Whether they understand the words or simply respond to the tone, many seem calmer when life feels predictable.

• We don’t rush friendship. Some pets greet us like long-lost relatives. Others conduct a thorough background check before granting access. We’ve found that sitting quietly and letting them make the first move often works better than trying too hard.

• With dogs, we often discover that a five-minute sniffari can be more satisfying than a twenty-minute march. Some dogs come home mentally refreshed after being allowed to investigate every interesting scent along the way.

• We pay close attention to where pets choose to be. The cat who always sits on the windowsill, the dog who follows you from room to room, the one who prefers a little personal space. They tell us a lot without saying a word.

One of our favourite discoveries is that many pets seem reassured by consistency more than perfection. If meals, walks, bedtimes and cuddle-times happen roughly when expected, they usually settle into the new arrangement remarkably quickly.

:paw_prints: :heart:

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Hi @WeRPAWsome,

I can definitely relate to the importance of predictability.

One of the things we’ve noticed while housesitting is that many pets seem to relax when life becomes a little more understandable and consistent for them.

We also recognise the idea that every animal has its own character and its own way of deciding whether you’re trustworthy. Some pets welcome you immediately, while others seem to think, ‘Let’s observe these humans for a while first.’ We’ve learned just as you mentioned, that letting them assess us at their own pace usually works much better than trying to win them over too quickly.

I also smiled at your ‘sniffari’ :nose:t2::slightly_smiling_face:comment. We actually experienced that yesterday evening. We ended up taking the dogs out a bit later than usual and, rather than doing a particularly long walk, they spent a lot of time enthusiastically investigating every scent along the way. It was fascinating to watch how engaged they were. The walk itself wasn’t especially long, but they seemed completely satisfied afterwards. It was a lovely reminder that sometimes the quality of the experience matters far more than the distance covered, but long walks are definitely well appreciated by everyone!

Thanks for sharing your insights. After so many sits, it’s always interesting to hear the shared experiences that keep showing up again and again. :blush:

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When giving medication in tablet form:
Waitrose duck pate spread on an oblong of thin ham, place tablet pieces in a row on one edge then roll up into a cigar shape. Put a blob of pate on the top. They’re irresistible.

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@BonnyinBrighton is this for you or the pets ? :wink:

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Fantastic! They probably almost want to be on medication!