The Journey to Earn Pet Sitter International (PSI) 2020 Pet Sitter of the Year
In 2012, I made what seemed like a brash decision to start
my own business after aging out of corporate life. Animals have always been
magnets for me. I loved to learn about
them, understand them, train them, and just have fun with them. I saw the need
for a professional pet sitter in my community, and I decided to fulfill that
need by launching Crockett’s Critter Care.
When I embarked on this journey, I had never started a
business or taken a business course. It was scary and exciting to start
something from scratch and watch it grow.
I learned everything I could about entrepreneurship at Craven Community
College (CCC) and added to my knowledge of pet care by joining Pet Sitters
International.
“I hope I can do this…”
At the start, I dreamed of having four pet sits a day. I had no idea that, in time, I would
eventually hire six team members to cover all the requests for my services. From day one, I vowed to do this right. I’m always looking for ways to improve,
learn, and grow. I found the right
people to help me at every stage of my business from the CCC entrepreneurship
course and Small Business Roundtable discussions to networking with the businesswomen
in Coastal Women’s Forum.
My team includes employees, a writer, a photographer and
videographer, an accountant, an HR consultant, a marketing expert, and some
excellent mentors from the pet sitting/dog walking industry. Being an entrepreneur and doing something
that I loved, opened many new experiences for me. And along the way, I discovered my inner
strength and motivation to push beyond barriers and fears that may have impeded
me in the past. Something that evolved from, “I hope I can do this…” to “I
can’t believe I’m doing this…” to “This is the best thing I’ve ever done!” Hope
was replaced with confidence as I eagerly searched for “What’s next?” to
improve my services.
2020 Pet Sitter of the Year
I was encouraged by other professional pet sitters to put my
name in for PSI Pet Sitter of the Year.
In October of 2019, I was informed that I was among the top five
finalists. In November, I was delightfully surprised by a telephone call from
the President (Patti Moran) and the Marketing Director (Beth Stultz) of PSI
congratulating me on being chosen the 2020 Pet Sitter of the Year.
Winning this award is a huge honor and a validation of the choices I made to create and build Crockett’s Critter Care. This award also provides opportunities for me to give back to my pet sitting colleagues, create new connections worldwide, and continue to contribute to my community by choosing the Craven County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit as my pet project of giving this year.
Going Forward
My goals are to educate pet owners of the importance of
hiring the right person to care for their pets, to expand my services, and to
infuse Fear Free methods and principles into every area of my business. The leaders in my industry have rewarded me
with their highest honor, my team is trained to provide superior pet care, and
my clients have supported my business since it launched. I am a very grateful and fortunate woman.
In my efforts to provide the best possible care for my clients’ pets and for my own, I became certified as a Fear Free Pet Professional in 2017. Their mission is to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them. Or, as they say: Take the pet out of petrified. Below are examples of Fear Free techniques in action.
Snippy Sick Pooch
Cassidy was a terrier-type, senior dog that we walked twice
a day. She was doted on by her family
and, by the time we met her, had already lived a long and happy life. As she aged, she was diagnosed with a heart
condition that required medicine twice a day.
However, the first time her owner attempted to pill her; Cassidy showed
her displeasure with a nip.
My colleague who cared for Cassidy called me to relate the
incident and to request instructions for administering the medicine in a safer
manner. I drove right over to Cassidy’s
house for a Fear Free “Teachable Moment.”
Using what Fear Free calls a considerate
approach, I tucked the pill into a small dollop of peanut butter on the end of
a spoon and offered it to Cassidy. She
was delighted with her new treat and took her medicine willingly from that day
forward. This quick win turned a negative
experience into a positive one for both Cassidy and her owners.
Very Skiddish Vizslas
One of my clients is a busy professional whose work schedule
was making it harder and harder to come home for lunch to let her dogs
out. She had a blended pet family of
four dogs – her two little dogs: easy-going, people-friendly Italian Greyhounds
and her friend’s dogs: high-energy Vizslas that were fearful of strangers and
reactive toward me. I knew the little dogs well as I had been pet sitting for
them for a while but needed to get to know the two bigger dogs.
As always, I met the dogs in advance with the owners present
and observed that they were well-trained and attentive. Sit, stay, and go to your place commands were
executed perfectly. However, my first
visit alone with them turned out to be a challenge.
The Vizsla female was not happy with me being there. She advanced toward me growling, barking, and
kept it up for most of the visit. A thirty-minute visit went into overtime with
me trying to put a slip lead on a frightened, reactive dog. I actually hid behind the larger male Vizsla and
while reaching over him slipped a leash
on the little girl. I spoke calmly,
moved slowly, and offered her plenty of treats to win her over. The Fear Free tactics enabled
me to get all the dogs outside to potty and playtime and back inside again
without further ado.
Making a Good Impression
To ensure my next visit would be a pleasant experience, I
knew that I needed to create good associations with these dogs. When I arrived, I carried the Vizslas’ toys
in where they could see me and they enthusiastically followed me out back for a
good game of fetch. After a few more visits, they were comfortable with me and allowed
me to put on their leashes to take them for a walk.
Now these dogs are easy to handle, fun to play with, and
loving toward me. I was able to introduce
another one of my dog walkers to them who they took to readily. She accompanied
me three times and is now able to enjoy walking these dogs on her own.
Davy at 5 months.
Davy and The Doctor
My three-year-old German Shepherd dog is named Davy. Davy and I have been going to dog school with
a top-notch trainer since he was ten weeks old.
He excels in obedience and rally.
But as a puppy, when he went to the veterinarian’s office for a visit,
his boldness faded away, he became distressed, he would often pee on the floor,
and when the vet examined him, he became snappy. I had just started my Fear Free training certification and I was determined to change his dreadful veterinary
experiences into happy visits.
Over the next year, Davy was trained to be relaxed and cooperative during routine veterinary procedures. We practiced skills at home and, with my vet’s permission, repeated our lessons at regular intervals in the vet’s lobby and exam rooms. Davy enjoyed the treats from the vet staff who often participated with us and quickly became accustomed to our simulated exams, pretend blood draws, and x-rays. He calmly accepted a muzzle and the sounds of the clippers. His anxiety about going to the vets was replaced with tail-wagging enthusiasm. He now wants to explore every nook and cranny and attempts to go behind every closed door. Most importantly, Davy has become a vet-friendly dog!
Fear Free for All
I and my staff apply Fear Free methods on
every visit to ensure that each pet we care for has a calm experience with
us. We have cats come out from under the
bed for snuggles, formerly fearful dogs greet us with tail wags, and owners
return home to happy relaxed pets. Proving
that Fear Free techniques are simple and pet tested.
Fireworks Frighten Pets –Tips for Your Pet’s Safety
We humans enjoy the Fourth of July Holiday. The fireworks displays are dazzling and the
booms are amazing – to us. But they
frighten many dogs. In fact, there is a
spike in dogs escaping and running loose.
For many dogs, fireworks can send them into a frenzy. Dogs
don’t see this sparkling display and hear this ear-popping noise from the same
perspective that we humans do. Davy, my German Shepherd, is fine with the
commotion. But, my little Walker Hound,
Ginger, trembles from the first neighborhood firecrackers popping off down the
street to the spectacular crescendo resonating from the community fireworks
displays. Here are some tips to stay
safe, have fun, and take good care of your pet:
Create a safe place for your dog
Keep your dog inside, and don’t leave them alone. Close the windows and blinds. Provide a safe
den-like spot (crates are a good choice).
A ThunderShirt or similar compression wrap or garment may help keep them more relaxed.
Provide distractions
Give them a full meal ahead of time and something fun to do
when the festivities begin such as a frozen treat-filled peanut butter Kong to
chew or other safe chew-toy to gnaw on. Fans, white noise machines, audio books,
music designed for pets, or leaving the TV on may help. Pay attention to your dog to divert his
attention to you – cuddles and assurances are always welcomed.
Pheromones & pharmaceuticals to the rescue!
Adaptil is a pheromone
scientifically proven to help calm dogs. You can spray Adaptil on your pet’s
bedding or on a bandana that you place around your pet’s neck. Or you can buy
an Adaptil diffuser that emits pheromones continuously. Adaptil collars are available too, but they need
to be worn about one week before they are effective and they stay effective for
about one month.
In serious cases, talk to your veterinarian about
medications that may keep your pet comfortable through the celebration. Veterinarians
say that July 3rd is usually the most trafficked day in their offices with
clients coming in to get sedatives for their dogs.
Plan Ahead & Pay Attention
Give your dog plenty of exercise on the day that fireworks
are scheduled to help settle them for later.
Make sure they are wearing ID tags. If you are hosting a party, keep
your pets away from the grill, alcohol, and unsafe foods: chocolate, xylitol, macadamia nuts, grapes,
raisins, onions, avocado and bread dough.
Also be cautious with décor that could be harmful if swallowed: shiny or colorful wrappers, sparklers, and
glow sticks among other tempting items.
You know your dog best and how much to intervene better than
anyone. Remember that their fear is real and can put them in danger. By keeping
your dog in a safe place and providing him with distractions, cuddles, and TLC;
you’ll be able to keep him safer and calmer during the upcoming festivities. And
that means you can have a happy and fear free holiday.
Jeanne Crockett
As the owner of Crockett’s Critter Care, I want you to know that you can reach out to me directly with any question, compliment, or concern you have about the care of your pet.
As the owner of Crockett’s Critter Care, I want you to know that you can reach out to me directly with any question, compliment, or concern you have about the care of your pet.