Pet Sitting Meet and Greet

AHB Pet & Home Care

Initial Consultation

Initial Consultation = Meet and Greet

Everything you need to know about

Meet and Greets 

AHB Pet & Home Care requires an initial consultation with every client before we begin pet sitting services.

There is no cost for the initial consultation and this meeting does not imply an obligation for us to work together.

This consultation is beneficial for both the clients and the sitters and we believe that is has much to do with providing our clients with the best possible service.

This brief article will provide you with an outline of what you can expect from our initial consultation, which we also call a “Meet and Greet”. Please let us know if you have any additional concerns.

AHB Sitters don't want you to be surprised. Let us answer your questions.

Why do we need a meet and greet?

Due to the nature of pet sitting, this meeting is often the only time that human clients ever see their pet sitters; so we take these meetings very seriously. This meeting gives clients the opportunity to see their pets interact with the new sitters and get to know more about the sitters themselves. This visit also helps all parties to see if AHB Pet & Home Care is the best service for the pet family.  

No matter how easy the pet care instructions are, we like to ask questions. During the visit our sitters will take notes of client instructions, the locations of supplies and other important details. We encourage all potential clients to make notes of questions they may have before the meet and greet. All sitters are capable to go into detail about pricing, policies and company procedures. 

Should a potential client decide to choose AHB Pet & Home Care, the meet and greet is the time when we will get a copy of the house key and possibly, the initial payment.  

When can I schedule a meet and greet?  

After you have an active Time to Pet account, you are ready to schedule the initial consultation. On Time to Pet, potential clients are able to review our policies.

When potential clients complete the online profile before our meeting, our team is able to review all of the basic information before we go to the home; this means that we can spend the majority of our time learning about specific pet care needs and instructions, not filling out paperwork.. This also allows our office to make a best match of sitters to clients.

Our team schedules initial consultations Sunday - Saturday, from 9am to 6pm. Once you have an active Time to Pet account, you can use the portal to schedule your consultation.

Who will come to my house?

AHB sends 2 pet sitters to each initial consultation. The primary benefits to this  method are:

• Client meet both their primary and secondary sitter in person
• Both primary and secondary sitters receive their instructions directly from pet parents

Before the initial consultation, potential clients will receive an “AHB Bio” for each of the sitters in their Time to Pet portal, so that they can know a bit about their new sitters. When the sitters arrive at the meet and greet, they are easy to recognize in their AHB attire.

How long is the meet and greet?

AHB Sitters value your time. Our average consultation is a 30-minute visit, but we will always follow the lead of the client; some clients need less time and some need a little extra.

Where can I get more information?

If you would like to know about us, please feel free to:

• Request current client references from our office
• Visit us our website at www.ahbsitters.com
• Follow us on Facebook @ahbsitters

We are happy to help you with your pet care needs.  We welcome any questions that you may have.

What is the next step?

Request a Time to Pet account and/or a meet and greet. You can do this by phone or online.

We recommend scheduling an initial consultation as early as possible so that you can begin benefitting from our pet sitting services right away. 

You can contact us by phone at (413) 310-3784 or by email at ahbsitters.office@gmail.com.

Contact us today!!! What are you waiting for?! 

Contact AHB Pet & Home Care today for a free consultation

Best pet care option: professional pet sitters

Who can care for the pets?

What is the best pet care option?

Common pet care options:

Friends and family

Kennel or vet’s office

Kid next door or hobby sitter

Professional pet sitter or service

At some point, nearly every pet parent is faced with the task of finding the best pet care option. The most common, comfortable choice is to have a family member or close friend care for your pet. However, there are times when the family/friend option may not be the best pet care choice.

 

One example of this may be when a medical condition makes it difficult or impossible to perform certain vital duties associated with caring for a pet, like cleaning the litter box or walking the dog. A friend or family member may be unable to come to your home every day, and visiting your pet more than once daily may cause a real hardship on your loved ones.

 

Many extended pet families plan their vacations in rotation, so that someone is always at home. For some, this is the only way they can imagine to avoid sending their pets to a kennel. For others, they are nervous about having the kid next door care for their babies and their home. 

Professional pet sitters help save parents time

Here are a few immediate benefits of hiring a professional pet sitting service:

• Teamwork - Professional pet sitting services function as a team and are able to work around client schedules, easily making multiple daily visits to homes.
• Peace of mind - Professional pet sitters reduce the stress and anxiety of pets and their people by caring for pets where they are most comfortable, in their own homes.
• Service with integrity - Professional pet sitters are not only animal lovers, they are trustworthy professionals qualified to look after both your pets and your home.

Regardless of the reason that you need to find pet care, finding someone to care for your precious pets can be a time consuming process and you may feel anxiety about leaving your pets and home in the care of someone else. We understand and we can help.

The top 3 reasons why you should choose AHB Pet & Home Care

#1. We will save you time and make your life so much easier - and what pet parent doesn’t need that? When our professional pet sitters enter into your life, you will probably begin to wonder how you ever managed without us. We can take care of all the things that make having a pet work (i.e. early morning walks, regular visits while you are away from home, yard waste cleanup, trips to and from the groomer and other things like this). Our services allow you to spend more time enjoying your pets.

#2. Your pets deserve professional care - they are an important part of the family, after all.

While there are often advantages to having a friend or family member care for your pets, the disadvantages can often cause real problems. By having a professional pet care service you can have peace of mind knowing that nothing will come before caring for your pet. We are a team and if anything ever comes up with your primary sitter, you can be sure that the secondary sitter is on their way to your home.

#3. We see things differently - your family is unique, and we want to fit your lifestyle. AHB does not take a “one size fits all” approach to pet care. We take our relationship with each human and animal client personally. When you initially contact us and during our initial consultation, we really listen so that we can provide the right care and learn the rules of your home. Our pet sitting software allows you to communicate easily with your pet sitter and get photo updates right to your phone so that you can be as involved in the visits as you would like.  

For more information about AHB Pet & Home Care and the services we offer, please visit us at www.AHBsitters.com , call (413) 310-3784 or Follow us on Facebook

My new dog sleeps all day

Understanding your new dog

Let sleeping dogs lie - and don't worry about them

Bella, photo by Katherine Kraus

Many people contract with our professional pet sitting service after they have added a new furry friend to their home. This new lifestyle change can be as scary as it is exciting. This is some of the information we share with our new clients.

New dog anxiety

Hunter, photo by Leanne Fortini

The good and bad news is that new dog anxiety is a real thing that many new pet parents experience. The good part is that you are totally average should you experience this. The bad part is that you can really become stressed out.

Many people expect to have an immediate close bond with their new dog. Don't take it personal or worry if it takes some time for you and your new best friend to look like you've been together forever. Even if you know of someone that had the immediate BFF experience, that doesn't mean that anything is wrong with you and/or your dog.

One of the biggest worries after an adoption: I think my new dog is depressed.

Two observations that often lead to this worry are:    

• My dog stays in the crate even when the door is open

• All my dog wants to do is sleep           

 If you have either of these concerns, please keep reading.       

The purpose of this article is to help relieve concerns linked to new adoptions and rescue pups and their sleeping habits.

Remo, photo by AHB Pet & Home Care

Dogs who prefer their crates

Despite the whole family being in the living room, your pup may go right into his crate and take a nap. This "disinterest" in the family is not necessarily disinterest at all and it definitely does not confirm depression. Many dogs just really love their crates! Also, depending on the age and background of your new friend, he may not be into play time all of the time. In his crate he can be undisturbed and feel safe.

If you have set up a nice comfy crate that your pup loves, then good job to you. The fact that your pup has a place that he considers his personal space in the home is great.

Bailey, photo by Ashley Obara

K.C., photo by Courtney Kraas

How long should my dog sleep?

The average adult dog sleeps between 12 and 14 hours each day. This can be spaced out over any number of naps. Typically your pet will adjust to your sleep pattern; so if you sleep for 8 hours at night, she will nap for 4 to 6 hours throughout the day.

If you have other dogs, you may be worried because of the differences in their sleeping patterns, but breed, age and background have lots to do with their sleep.

Jasper and Mylie, photo by AHB Pet & Home Care

Puppies - Young dogs need more sleep because they are growing. Also, while they are potty-training, they are often up a number of times during the night.

Seniors - Because of their life expectancies, different breeds are considered senior at different ages (ranging between 6 and 11 years old). However, all senior dogs require more sleep. Don't be alarmed if your senior adoptee sleeps as much as 20 hours every day. This may involve more rest than deep sleep.

Working dogs- Both active working dogs and those bred for service work, such as German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers, often require less sleep during the day, even if they are companion dogs.

Brodie, photo by Margaret Ann Hillesheim Timmons

A new life for your new friend will require adjustments for everyone, but especially for the new dog. Patience and love will work wonders. However, please contact your vet if your pup seems to be experiencing symptoms that may require medical attention.

Toby, photo by Jenn Dunn Zollo

AHB Pet & Home Care would like to give a warm thanks to all of the Western Mass families that let us include photos of their sleeping beauties in this blog. THANK YOU!!!

Learn more about caring for your pet on our Facebook Page

Playing indoor with dogs

Indoor games for dogs

Dogs need exercise, regardless of the weather. Even in the extreme temperature months, it is still important that they get both mental and physical stimulation. These simple, fun ideas will entertain your dog when you’re stuck inside.

• The Three Cup Game - You place a treat under one of 3 cups and have your dog choose the correct one. Once they get the hang of it you can start mixing up the cups so they’re not just relying on visuals.
• Stair Workout - If you have stairs in your home utilize them. Have your dog follow along as you get in some exercise going up and down the stairs.
• Blow Bubbles – Some dogs are fascinated by catching bubbles. There’s even a wide selection of pet bubble making toys on the market. You don’t have to go out and buy special bubbles either – the bubbles that are available for children are nontoxic.
• Kibble Hunt - Instead of serving the food in a bowl, crate your pup while you hide small piles of food in the house then release him to “kibble hunt.” Initially, make the piles very easy to find. As your dog gets better at this game, practice hiding the food in more difficult spots.

• Fetch - Teaching your dog to fetch can lead to lots of fun for both of you. A hallway is usually enough space to play. This is a great way to burn off energy and bond with your pet. The training tools you will need are tasty treats and a toy that your dog is willing to put in his/her mouth; some dogs prefer plush toys and others like balls. If your dog isn’t clumsy you can also try playing fetch on the stairs.

For additional game ideas, Find us on Facebook