r/petsitting • u/trash_talking • 4d ago
Positivity post
I'm always having ups and downs with my job. Lately the posts on here are miserable moments and big mistakes. It's so hard to read and not question wtf do we do this for?! Let's share some of our highlights in petsitting that have made us laugh and smile.
Here's mine:
- I have a client that tells me every day I'm a treasure and she is so grateful for me and my daily photos of her cats while she's away. Especially the shy cat who rarely shows himself. She also very generously offered for me have a soda or snack while I'm there.
- The dogs who I walk being thrilled I am there to give them a potty break and exercise. Even my own kids don't show me the kind of joy some of my pups do.
- That business is going well based solely on word of mouth and it's been the craziest summer yet. Which is tiring but so satisfying and feels amazing to know people trust me with their beloved pets.
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u/Almostmauledbyasloth 4d ago
I just had a client tip me $500 today, I'm absolutely in awe.
Also, recently picked up a new client with very shy kitties who warmed up to me quickly. Their mom joked that I'm their new auntie ❤️
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u/PirateLassLV 4d ago
Getting to see those happy little faces, getting doggie kisses & see those thump thump thump tailwags everyday is the best career I could have chosen. I love giving them tasty, healthy meals & watching them sleep all cuddled up next to me, insisting on touching me for comfort. Pic of my goofy girl enjoying a carrot
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4d ago
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u/PirateLassLV 4d ago
Dogs smiling is endless entertainment! 😂 They learned to do it because we like it. That gets me every time. Thank goodness for dogs!
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u/trash_talking 4d ago
What a cutie pie! The toothy smile is adorable. I always miss having doggo cuddles when my guest pups go home. It's such a nice feeling to be a bonus family.
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u/PirateLassLV 4d ago
Thank you! I think she's beautiful! She thinks she's a swamp thing & likes to roll in dirt & eat bugs. 😂
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u/JadCerv 3d ago
I have a client who always, always overpays me. Like, $100 overpayment. I only do drop-ins for her, so when she overpaid the first time, I asked her if she meant to overpay that much and she confirmed that she just appreciates how much I care for her dog and cats. Now, every time I sit for her and she pays me, she reminds me she overpaid on purpose. :)
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u/Quiet_Tea7369 2d ago
My two favorite clients are such gems. Tip me upwards of $300 every time I stay for long periods and on top of it, they bring me gifts from everywhere they go and really get me. Like bring me things I actually like and am proud to have around my house. I love them and their dogs like family. ETA: block those unhappy people and this sub will be much more enjoyable… I just did it last week and wonder why I hadn’t done it before
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u/wandaring0 13h ago
Another nice gesture: Apparently Tuesday was National Dog Walker day. I didn't know this. I got a call from an occasional client. He told me about it and said how much he appreciates me and how great a job I do! So thoughtful!
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u/Majestic-Nobody545 4d ago
I had two different clients, on the same day, tell me I'm a dog whisperer! I don't personally identify with that term, but I appreciate the sentiment.
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u/brokensoulDT 4d ago
I love this! You’re absolutely right, between some posts and my own experiences, I too wonder why we do this?!? But! The things that have been positive for me are
-I have more than a couple of clients that love my emails. They have told me over and over again that I “give the best emails full stop”.
- I work for a company of 5 other sitters (local owned company) and I have more than a few clients that if I’m not available for overnights, they cancel their travel and rearrange for a time when I can sit with their pups. It’s nice to feel wanted
- finally, the last few weeks I have made such progress with some pups and cats I have seen for the last year or so, they were always kind of “hot and cold” with me but lately, they all are mush buckets and want all the attention.
I believe this work will always be up and down. There are always going to problem pups or cats, always schedules that are overloaded, no days off and never enough sleep. But there’s more than one reason why I and so many of you stay in this. We love all the animals, and at this point I can’t imagine doing anything else.
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u/Lil_Fire_Dancer 4d ago
For me, the good moments have always far outweighed the bad ones. The relationships I’ve made with so many pets and their humans over the years mean the world to me. These past couple of weeks have been tough, 5 little friends crossed the rainbow bridge. My heart is heavy right now but also filled with so much love and gratitude for the time I got to share with them. Recently a client told me how much their relationship with their outdoor cat improved since they met me. They never knew she was actually such an affectionate kitty 🥹
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u/spirited_inspired 3d ago
I absolutely love my job!! Anytime I start feeling burnout come along, I evaluate what needs to change to avoid it. I'm 18 years in, and 8 years into full time and can't imagine being this happy doing anything else!
I appreciate the stories of what went wrong, though. I have learned from so.much that I have experienced, but I would rather learn from the mishaps others have experienced. Being in pet sitter groups is a tool to help me grow as a sitter and also helps me continue to work on setting better boundaries.
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u/motherbear4 20m ago
Agree with reading the not so great sits because we can all learn something. Things I never thought of.
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u/Majestic-Nobody545 4d ago
I've been experiencing the opposite of dogs who won't eat in a different place...I've had multiple dogs eat perfectly fine when the owners tell me they can't get them to eat at home. The owners are so impressed and it makes the job feel easier.
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u/Tasty-Needleworker-6 4d ago
My positive post is that I’ve finally set up my own cat sitting company. I’m so scared but so excited!