Great Woods Pet Sitting

06/12/2025

"What a fun job." "I want to be you when I retire." "I'm going to quit my job and become a dog walker." "I'm 15 years old and love dogs, I'll walk your dog for $10."

While we agree that dog walking is the best job in the world, it's not a hobby, it's not easy, it's not just playing with puppies.

We walk miles every day. We are out in all kinds of weather - heat, cold, snow, ice, pouring rain. We get jumped on and risk getting bitten or pulled down.

Our prices may seem high, but they include travel time, wear and tear on our vehicle, insurance, bonding, professional memberships, supplies like treats and p**p bags, certifications, website, and software.

We deal with scheduling, invoicing, tracking income and expenses. We pay quarterly estimated taxes and have to get our own health insurance and workman's comp.

Pet Sitting is a real job. It's not a hobby, it's not something we just do for fun.

🛑 “No, what do you really do?”

That’s what a judge said to a professional pet sitter during her divorce proceeding nearly a decade ago—and it’s a question that some in our industry still receive today.

Let’s be clear:

Pet sitting is not just a “side gig” or something “high schoolers do.” Pet sitting is a REAL CAREER—and for thousands of pet-care pros, it’s a thriving one.

In our latest blog post, PSI shares:

✅ Why pet sitting is a real career
✅ Industry stats that highlight the career’s revenue potential
✅ Inspiring stories of successful PSI members who turned their passion into full-time businesses

👉 If you’ve ever been asked, “What do you really do?”—this one’s for you.

We invite you to read and share:

📖 https://www.petsit.com/is-pet-sitting-a-real-career

06/08/2025

Thinking of hiring a student or booking a sitter on Rover?
Here’s why your pets deserve a professional 🐾

✔️ Fully Insured & bonded
✔️ Trained in Pet First Aid & CPR
✔️ Almost 20 years of experience
✔️ Pet Sitters International member
✔️ Certified Professional Pet Sitter by PSI
✔️ Fear Free Certified Professional
✔️ Certified in Dog Training Knowledge from Catch
✔️ Always shows up—on time, every time

Don’t gamble with your pets’ care. Hire a pro.

We cover Norton and Mansfield, MA, up to 5 miles from Great Woods Plaza.

https://greatwoodspetsitting.com/2025/06/08/why-hire-a-professional-pet-sitter-instead-of-a-student-or-hobby-sitter/

When it comes to your pets, nothing but the best will do—and that includes who you trust to care for them while you’re away. It might seem convenient or cost-effective to hire a local college…

05/26/2025

We recently completed Catch Canine Trainers Academy online workshop, "From Sit to Spectacular!" We shared videos and received feedback on our training skills like sit, stay, recall, and go to mat. We also got to watch and provide feedback on other trainer's videos, watched Zoom discussions, and participated in training discussions. We came away with stronger training skills and tips for strengthening behaviors.

05/20/2025

We get to take care of Bowie, a six month old labradoodle, this week. He is such a cutie, and he can howl!

05/18/2025

Training Kizmet to "go to bed. " We gradually add distance, duration, and distractions.

05/01/2025

Some of the dogs, we walk get soooo excited to say hi to another dog. We generally love to say hi and meet other dogs and their owners. Our most important job is to keep everyone safe. We are also practicing calm greetings. We don't want the dog to just run up to every dog they see. This can lead to leash frustration and reactivity. If we walk by you and don't say hi, it is because we need to focus on the dog we are walking.

Pet lovers, we get it—you see a cute dog out for a walk and your first thought is to come over and say hello. Or maybe you recognize it as your neighbor’s dog and want to come over to give a quick belly rub.

🛑But, please, do not approach.

It’s best practice for pet sitters and dog walkers to avoid interactions with others while walking clients’ dogs.

Anything could happen, and pet-care professionals do not want anyone—you, the dog or themselves—to get injured.

So if a dog walker asks you to stop from approaching, please don’t think they are being rude. They are just prioritizing safety!

04/25/2025

Clover did an amazing job of automatically checking in while walking by the turkeys! 🦃He loves to watch and chase the turkeys. We have been practicing automatic check-ins, and working at a distance.

04/23/2025

We recently took part in Catch Canine Trainers Academy's three day workshop, Loose Leash Walking - Pulling is a Drag, Teach your Dog to Walk this Way. We shared videos of us practicing LLW with client's dogs, and got to view and comment on other student's videos.
We came away with new tips like starting without a leash and working on focus, using pattern games for focus, practicing turns and figure eights, and using a hot zone where we use very high value treats for getting through difficult situations.
If your dog needs help with LLW, reach out! We'd love to help!

Greatwoodspetsitting.com

04/17/2025

Rocket, the whoodle, and Parker, the shih tzu /bichon /poodle, enjoying the nice weather on our walk today.

Greatwoodspetsitting.com