- 1). Don’t overpack when you dog-sit. You will definitely need to bring some luggage and supplies, but don’t go crazy. Even though the owners of the house are not there, they wouldn't appreciated it if they knew you were bringing an enormous load of stuff and keeping it in their private space. Be sure not to unpack all of your things or integrate your belongings into their living space. That's an invasion of their privacy, and increases the risk that you'll leave some of your things behind in their home.
- 2). Replace most or all of the food you eat. The people you dog-sit for will often give you permission to help yourself to their food. Use discretion: It is entirely unacceptable to eat every last bite of something you find in their fridge or cabinets without replacing it. This rule also applies to supplies: Even if you are given free rein, you should not use them all up without replacing them .
- 3). Exercise the dogs. When you are at the house, you need to keep the animals moving. Sometimes, having their owners gone will make dogs misbehave, or just give them more energy, especially if there are young puppies at the house. To keep the dogs happy and relaxed, take them out for walks at least once a day, if not more. Trying to keep the dogs in good shape is also an advantage. No dog owner wants to return home from vacation to see that his dogs have been allowed to regress into an unhealthy, out-of-shape condition because they were not exercised enough.
- 4). Do not ignore feeding instructions. Many dog owners serve specific types of food to different pets. Some dog-sitters think they know more about the best brands of food, and some even usurp the authority to change the brand of food given to the dog. Not only is this unacceptable--because the animal in question is not yours--but it can cause the dog to develop an upset stomach. Feeding times and other schedules should also be followed closely.
- 5). Maintain respect for the owner. Don't invite lots of people over to a house where you are dog-sitting. (Inviting a close friend over occasionally is not a concern.) Also, some dogs can be upset by seeing many different people, especially when their owners are not home. Keep in mind that these people know and trust you with their house. Conversely, you need to stay with the dogs as much as possible, so limit your forays out of the home.
- 6). Immediately clean up every mess you make. Leave everything neater than it was when you arrived. Chances are, you brought personal items, food and all kinds of things into the home. Everything you brought should be taken out, leaving nothing behind. Also, the house should be vacuumed and swept, leaving none of the dirt you tracked in. Any other simple messes that you made should be cleaned up as well. Nobody wants to return home to a dirty house.
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