05/20/2026
STORY TIME
Flashback to November 2024, I was just about to start another pet sitting gig. All normal pre-sit precautions were taken, including a mandatory meet and greet, which includes questions like:
- Is your pet vaccinated ?
- Is your pet (neutered/spayed)?
- Is your pet tic treated?
- Does your pet have any behavioural issues (including biting/ aggression/ anxiety ect.?
So, meet and greet went well and I went to the sit. When I entered the house at nighttime and saw the dog, I could tell he seemed off/ on guard. Some precautions I took were:
- Give the dog its space, not maintaining eye contact
- letting him sniff me/ come to me at his own pace
However, I could still feel that he felt anxious. Later in the night, I headed upstairs to head to bed. Once I tried to turn on the lights, the dog charged at me and bit my hand. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t freaking out. After all of the bleeding, I ended up having to get stitches. That said, here are a few valuable lessons I’ve learned…
- I now conduct and highly recommend multiple supervised meet and greets with dogs who have behavioural issues, or if the owner suspects of any concerns. I want to make sure your pet is the most comfortable they can be.
-I ask clients what their pet’s triggers are, whether that’s on walks or in their home with me. That way, I can find ways to prevent serious accidents that may occur, and can be more mindful to keep them calm and safe.
It’s important to recognize that reactive dogs are NOT “broken”. Just like how humans deal with anxiety that can impact their life/ behaviours, pets do too. Taking preventative measures, and finding a pet caretaker who will take these measures seriously is so important! Hiring someone who is pet first aid trained, and continues to educate themselves on how to better care for your pet is crucial. Fluffy’s Oasis takes all these things into account, ALWAYS. Our main goal is always you and your pets best interest!
