I again must apologize for missing a few days of writing. I am uncertain what happened where I was on a steady routine and then fell off of it horribly. Some of it is a lack of communication between my wife and myself and the other part is that the world naturally schedules appointments for the times I prefer to write. Just this morning we had our parent/teacher conference at the boys’ pre-school. Now I did sign us up for the 8:30 time so some of it is on me but I prefer doing things in the morning. This is why I got up at 4:00 AM this morning and played video games instead of being productive.
Now onto the substance of the newsletter. Last week I went to take care of one of my favorite good buddies. As always he was happy to see me and his station was well organized with notes, food, and medicine. It is always easier to take care of a pet when everything is set up and organized neatly. It is easier to do anything. Have you ever cooked with all your meat and vegetables already cut and spices on the counter? It is such a joy. I made a gumbo the other day and did no organizing. While stirring the roux I had to rush hither and tither grabbing this and that and doing all while not letting the roux become a pancake.
There I was in this house of this lovely pet and what should I see before me but tickets to a basketball game. These are not to first tickets I have received. When I lived in Northern Virginia I was given tickets to a Nats v Braves game by a Braves-loving client with a note saying, “Thank you for all you do for us and we hope you don’t enjoy this game.” It was both funny and thoughtful.
Sports tickets are just one of the more interesting tips I have received throughout my time as a pet sitter and dog walker. I think the most interesting is when a mid-day dog walking client happened to be home one day when I went to walk his dog and asked if I liked craft beer when I said yes he proceeded to empty his refrigerator into a garbage bag and handed me that as a tip. I ended up putting that garbage bag where garbage bags typically go but it is the thought that counts.
Among more recent tips there have been baby clothes, gift cards to buy baby supplies, a gift card with a note “Use this for yourself” (parents need these types of notes, and bottles of wine. While a big pile of cash is always appreciated my favorite tips are the ones from clients that take a minute to get to know you. Either they leave something they picked up on a previous trip, a freshly baked German Chocolate cake, or another item they know I’ll enjoy.
Before the tickets this past week it had been a while since I received an interesting tip. Part of that is I am not doing very many visits anymore and another is I don’t leave great visit notes so there is no one for the clients to get to know.
Being rewarded is a sign that you are appreciated which is why it works so well in training dogs as well as people. Trust me on this one. Trust, respect and all that stuff is a two-way street. A good and thoughtful tip is a sign that a client likes, trusts, respects, and appreciates their pet sitter.