Would you look after a dog for a friend, neighbor or family member?  I would!  I love dogs, I have dog-sat for neighbors and friends before.  I love really getting to know a new dog.  I enjoy taking a dog on long walks and challenging them in our familiar environment.  What do they like doing? What is their fitness level?  Will the dog bond with me?

I often find myself asking if the dog “likes” me.  But dog’s are easy to please.  Show them some love, have fun with them and they will enjoy your company in return.

New research studies have now shown that dogs are more open to meeting new people when they are in familiar environments and have their owners near by.  Research also shows that young dogs enjoy high-pitched speech about dog related content from their owners, similar to how one might talk to a baby.  A dog can sense if the dramatic tone is dog-related or not!  Amazing! Try telling your dog about your long, boring day at work and the dog will be less interested and make less eye contact with you than if you talk about how wonderful your dog is using the same high-pitched, excitable tone.  Dog’s are also the only animal that follows are ability  to communicate with body language.  Want to test this experiment?!  I have, works every time!

Get two identical paper or plastic cups, same size and color (even though dogs don’t vividly notice color).  Put a yummy treat under one of the cups.  Have each cup side-by-side upside down.  Point to the cup you want your dog to look under (likely the one with the treat reward), and see if he or she flips over the cup you pointed too?  Dog’s are the only animal that can tract and understand our pointing out objects as meaningful communications.  Chimpanzees and even wolfs raised domestically can not interpret or follow this integral sign.

Share your dog-siting story here!