One thing we can all agree on is our shared love for our pets. Many of us can't imagine life without them, but the reality is that pets don’t always integrate smoothly into every family or lifestyle. I’ve learned from personal experience and working in the pet care industry how important it is to choose a dog that fits your way of life. This all starts with finding the right breed or mixed breed.

In this month’s blog, we’ll be diving into the factors that matter most when choosing a dog that will be a good fit for you and your family. It’s not just about the cute factor, although we can take that into consideration:-)  — you’ll want a dog who aligns with your lifestyle.

Okay y’all, one of my favorite months is coming up—October! That means we’re going to have so many more opportunities for chaos… I mean, training! The decorations, the costumes, the falling leaves and ACORNS, giant trash bags of leaves on the curbs (sometimes with faces), haunted houses, loud noises, costume parades, and so many other spooky distractions appear almost overnight. I absolutely love it all—but my dog, Sage, has historically not loved it. She’s had to overcome a few of these challenges to be where she is now.

Before bringing our new puppy, Mica, home, we prepared carefully. From purchasing the necessary items to setting up a comfortable space for him, we made sure everything was in place to help him settle in smoothly.

There are 3 steps we recommend to prepare your home for your newly adopted dog or puppy to foster a smooth transition you and your dog.

Choosing a pet is a significant decision that can enrich your life in many ways. However, it's crucial to select a pet that fits well with your lifestyle, resources, and expectations.

We envision a certain life when we get a pet, and for many of us, it doesn’t always turn out the way we envisioned. More often than not, we’re faced with unexpected or unfamiliar challenges. This goes for all pets, not just dogs.

As the 4th of July approaches, many of us look forward to celebrating with barbecues, parades, and of course, fireworks. However, our furry friends may not share our enthusiasm for these loud, booming displays. For many dogs, fireworks can be a source of significant stress and anxiety. To ensure a safe and comfortable holiday for your beloved pets, we’ve put together some tips to help keep your dog as calm as possible during the fireworks.

Several years ago, I was caring for a couple of dogs (I won’t share details here for privacy purposes), for several days in a row. The owner did not tell me where they were going, they just booked a few days of visits for their dogs. I was sending regular updates, but never heard back from them, and one day I asked a question in my update, which they never responded to. I followed up, and still nothing.

Recently, I've been asked, "How did you get into pet sitting?"

It's a question that often leaves me searching for words, especially in public settings where time is limited. So, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share my story with you here.

I have always had an interest in training dogs. This began in childhood, raising Border Collie puppies on my family’s cattle farm. I pursued a professional career in dog training when I moved to Asheville and acquired my second cattle dog, Sage. I thought I knew how to raise cattle dogs, but Sage was different from any of my other puppies and I was struggling with her high drive/arousal, prey drive, and assertiveness.

If you are reading this, chances are your dog is having a hard time being home alone and you are wondering if he has separation anxiety. On your dog’s behalf, I thank you for being attentive to what he is experiencing and hope that this blog post will answer some of your questions. 

Providing your cat with new enrichment activities will help reduce stress and redirect unwanted behaviors like scratching on your couch. These are recommendations are approved by the hundreds of cats our team members entertain each year.

Whether you are adopting a new dog, fostering, or watching a dog temporarily in your home, this guide is with you, your current pets, and your new dog’s peace and happiness in mind. This guide is built based on what I’ve learned over the years through pet sitting and dog walking, as well as, from my experiences fostering a dog for the first time.

For anyone going through the non linear stages of grief of a pet/fur child, we’ve put together a Grief Support Kit for you. 

When you bring a pet home for the first time, especially when it’s the first one you are the primary caretaker for, you don’t always realize the full extent of whats to come. The beautiful things, the hard things, the ways they support you, the ways they make life better, the adventures you go on together, the things they inspire you to do, the peace that they bring you, the security they bring, the entertainment :-), the pure joy, and companionship that they bring. You don’t fully realize what it’s going to be like until you live life with them, and experience life with them over time.

What better way to spend quality time with your dog during the fall, than hitting the trail to see the beautiful fall colors? Here are some trails that are not known for their fall colors, and are frequented by locals to soak in their beauty.

Wouldn’t it be great it there was an EASY TRICK to help your elderly dog stay on the go?! At some point in your pet parent life you’re going to experience your dog getting older. We know, it can be overwhelming to thing about your sweet pup aging, but we want to help prepare you and your dog enjoy all stages of life.

I wanted to share a story with you about my experience traveling internationally, while my team cared for my fur kids. What happened while I was away made me feel deeply connected to the pet parents that use our service and the impact that the work we do has on their lives.

For dogs that have anxiety, are bored, becoming needy, or just need something to do!

In this episode of the Pet Sitter Confessional podcast, you will hear Mary Beth tell the story of what led her to owning and operating Auntie M Pet Care. She shares about her previous work experience, as well as working with different types of animals, how she maintains relationships, and what is important to her in running a business and caring for your pets!

Our mission is to advocate for the health and happiness of all pets in our care AND to be a trustworthy and knowledgeable resource to the pet owners in our community. This starts with staying connected to our immediate pet community. It is important to us that we support each other, especially during this uncertain time. Each of the below businesses have confirmed their availability as a resource to our community and have adjusted their behaviors to be considerate of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is our COVID-19 trusted vendor list.