A “K9 Nanny” is a person who cares for dogs, similar to a traditional Nanny except for dogs. In other words, a K9 Nanny ensures they are fed properly; both quantity and timely, they are following the house rules set by their human owners, i.e. not on the furniture and/or playing with their own toys, and most importantly, the dogs are receiving the proper amount of enrichment to support a healthy mental and physical well-being. A K9 Nanny is a walker, a caregiver, a nurse, a sitter, a trainer, a first aid provider, but most importantly, a K9 Nanny is a surrogate parent. A K9 Nanny ensures that the dogs are receiving as much love and attention that their human owners give them. In addition, a K9 Nanny can also help with behavioral issues such as inappropriate barking, potty training, chewing, and social/separation anxiety. We also work on reinforcing training you, as the human owner, are already working on and we can suggest new methods of training.
The biggest difference is the stress the dog will experience. There is no way to eliminate stress entirely since they will be missing their human parents. Some dogs do very well in social day care environments, and some don’t, that’s reality. It really depends on the dog. Hiring Professional Dog Mom K9 Nannies means your dog doesn’t have to leave his comfort zone, in fact he doesn’t have to stop doing anything he would normally do, or be forced to do anything he’s not comfortable with in a new environment. So for him/her it’s business as usual and that means less stress.
Most importantly, look for somebody you feel comfortable with. If it’s not us, that’s ok! But this means, somebody who you feel is going to take a professional and educational approach to the care of your dog. Consider things like, “How would this person respond in an emergency?” or “Is this person responsible?” Also remember, your opening your home up to this person. Ask yourself, “Is this person a professional or just somebody looking to make a couple extra bucks?” A true professional will be compassionate about animals and have a high level of respect for you, your pet, your home, and your house rules. And they should have some formal dog care education.
First, and most importantly, you should expect your K9 Nanny to respect your personal home and belongings. They will need access to your kitchen, bathroom, laundry, wifi, TV, a bedroom or place to sleep, etc.,. If you have ever hired a house sitter, this concept and experience will be very familiar. If you haven’t, an easy way to conceptualize the experience is to remember, this person will live at your house in your absence. You should expect to return to a home that shows signs that somebody has been there. They will use toilet paper, paper towels, open and close windows, etc. But if they are professional and respectful, they will clean up after themselves and return the house in the same or better state then when you left. (We guarantee this!) Every household/nanny relationship is different so I highly suggest to discuss the details with the dog nanny you decide to hire (if not us) ahead of time to establish expectations, avoid any confusion, and eliminate any disappointments. Professional Dog Mom requires a Consultation prior to providing a quote or confirming any booking. The Consultation fee is $25 and we cover all these bases then.
As of today, there are no current industry standards and very little regulations on the dog care industry. This makes finding a suitable pet professional difficult, considering anyone can claim to be a pet sitter and post a classified ad on craigslist. There are several organizations out there that offer certifications, some are pay-for certifications, others require a completed course and exam. Click HERE to see Professional Dog Mom certifications and qualifications.