
At Pet and House Sitter, we understand that your four-legged family is as important as your
hooman family. Therefore, we understand how stressful and worrying it can be to decide
what to do with your furry fren’s when you are away. Especially if you have furry fren’s with
behaviour issues such as separation anxiety. Here are tips to ensure your furry fren’s are
hap, safe, and healthy while the pawrents are away:
1. Sitter – Doggy Hotel – Kennel
The first step is to determine if you will book a sitter or take your furry fren to a doggy hotel
or kennel. Let’s briefly look at the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of each
option.
Pet Sitter
A pet sitter only does visits; while a house sitter sleeps in your house and attends to all the
needs of your furry fren. In both cases, your furry fren’s stay in their own environment
which is also the greatest advantage. Their daily routine can be maintained with little to no
changes to it. Remember, with pet sitters your furry fren’s only get little individual
attention (visits vary between 15 to 30 min). Alternatively, house sitting offers much more in
the TLC aspect. Pet and House Sitter do offer dog walking services as an additional service.
Our customers receive frequent updates of their furry fren’s well-being, in the form of
photos, videos, messages, and voice notes.
Boarding Kennel
A boarding kennel is a place where your furry fren’s can be looked after by professionals.
Bear in mind that your furry fren’s most probably will not be able to roam freely all day and
will be confined to small enclosures. This is the biggest disadvantage of a kennel.
Doggy Hotel
A doggy hotel is like a boarding kennel. However, your furry fren’s usually have more space
to roam without having to stay in a cage. A further downside of kennels and doggy hotels is
the possibility of fren fights and sicknesses.
If you decide to opt for a kennel or doggy hotel, it is imperative to research the kennel or
hotel thoroughly. Choose a kennel or hotel that will meet your furry fren’s needs. Visit the
facility beforehand to ensure that the facilities are clean, and that proper care will be given
to your furry fren’s. Make sure there is enough space to ensure that your furry fren’s gets
enough exercise. Look around to ensure the area is properly secured.
Referrals from friends or family members of already tested kennels or hotels is always the
most trustworthy. Pet and House Sitter recently launched their exclusive Labrador and
Golden Retriever Doggy Day Care situated in the east of Pretoria.
It is strongly advised not to leave your furry fren’s home alone with only a self-feeder.
Besides water and food, every furry fren needs tender, love and care.
2. Pack his/ her bags
If you decide on a pet or house sitter, there is no need to pack any belongings for your fren.
However, leaving instructions is critical. If your furry fren is going to a kennel or doggy hotel,
pack everything he or she will need while you are on vacation. To ensure you pack
everything, ask the kennel or hotel for a detailed list of items required for their stay. Things
to consider:
▪ Dog food
▪ Dog bowls
▪ Treats
▪ Favourite toys
▪ Dog bed and blankets
▪ Medication
▪ Leashes
▪ Vet book / vaccination record
3. Detailed Instructions
No matter with whom you leave your furry fren with, you should always write out a detailed
list of instructions about how to care best for your fren. It is important to provide your fren’s
vet book / vaccination record. The instructions and information must include things like:
▪ Food: when and how much
▪ Medication: when, how much, and how to administer the medicine
▪ Exercise: how often and what method of exercising
▪ Important details of your fren’s behaviour
Our Last Bark
You know your furry fren’s best and what works for them. It is imperative to research all
your options and choose the one that will work best for you and your furry fren’s. At Pet and
House Sitter, we have one goal. Our customers must enjoy a stress-free break, whilst having
the peace of mind knowing that their furry fren’s are in good hands.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can you leave your furry fren’s alone for a week?
It is strongly advised not to leave your furry fren’s home alone for more than a few hours. It
is important that there is someone that regularly feed your furry fren’s and ensure he or she
has enough water. As mentioned earlier, furry fren’s need TLC. Lots of it!
Does your fren feel abandoned when you go on vacation?
Your fren will not necessarily think you abandoned him or her. Good pawrents decision
making before going on vacation will ensure a perfectly fine furry fren. However, it is
important to keep in mind that each fren reacts differently. Some furry fren’s may become
distressed or refuse to eat, whilst others will carry on as per normal.
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