Pets: Trimming goat's feet, diapers for dogs: Unusual requests part of a pet sitter's work

In my years in the business - and my experience having my own pets, it's clear that each animal has their quirks. And knowing my peers in the pet sitting industry, we're happy to accommodate each pet as best as possible. After all, we're there to offer hands-on enrichment, interaction and care - not just to stop by quickly a couple of times a day to toss some kibble in the food bowl and open the door to the backyard so that they can get a potty break in.

Is it a trend, this idea that animals need those little extra activities, interactions or rituals to be happy? In the cases of some families, it might be, as the norm today is such that companion animals are included as much as they are in our daily lives. But, in my experience, most people simply recognize that pets have quirks that need addressing. I find this is more the case, but not limited to pets that have been re-homed and have had a particularly difficult life in their previous home.

Typically we pet sitters hear that Fido will only play with specific toys, or that a pet might not eat a lot while the owners are away (not unusual), or that they must absolutely have a special treat or game before "tucking them in" on their last visit of the night.

Diane Altschul, owner of Pet-Agree, LLC in Grand Rapids details a handful of unusual requests from clients. Singing pet clients to sleep, playing ball in the shower and dispensing treats from her mouth - to theirs.

Margaret Doub of Hamsters to Horses Pet Care serves the areas of Chelsea/Stockbridge and offered the following story:

(One) odd request was for me to help the blacksmith trim the feet of the client’s two pygmy goats after he finished trimming the horse’s feet. The goats had never had their feet trimmed before. I ended up in the corner of a stall struggling to hold a goat upside down with its legs sticking out so that the blacksmith could rasp the long edges of its hooves. I later recommended that the client get a pile of rocks for the goats to climb on so that their feet would be naturally worn down.

After thinking back over the years, there have been a few things that I have done for pet clients. I've stood outside waiting for pets to do their business in the rain - while holding an umbrella over them so that they don't get wet. (Dislike of "sky water" is a very common thing.) One dog refused to eat unless I sat on the floor next to her until she finished. Another situation requires me to be sure that a doggy blanket was spread out over the dog's bed flat - only so that said pooch can kick and scrunch it up with its paws the way it likes it and plop down on top. I also have pet clients, past and present, with special needs - and require the use of an assistive device to help them get around, or have been deaf.

There was one request that I was not willing to honor: the owner of two toy breed dogs insisted that their pooches wear tiny diapers 24/7, as they were phobic about the dogs doing their business in the house. I wasn't up for doing diapers for doggies.

As with my peers, I'll pretty much do what I can to keep my clients happy - and that means having a good line of open communication before, during and after service. For us pet sitters, detailed information is essential. But there can be a point when there just too much craziness in the way of rituals and care detail, it detracts from a caregiver being able to monitor things in a professional way and do what they do best.

Lorrie Shaw is owner of Professional Pet Sitting as well as a regular pets contributor on AnnArbor.com. She also blogs frequently on More Than Four Walls, and enjoys researching solutions regarding pet wellness and behavior, as well as social issues related to pets. She can be reached via e-mail.