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Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter
This is the story of how Laura found her vocation in life, albeit rather late. At the age of 50 she was pushed out of the office leaving her at a crossroads in her life not knowing which path to take. After a short unsuccessful stint working as a volunteer in a charity shop she decided to follow her heart and set up a pet sitting business. For 5 years she lived amongst dogs, with her own trusty Golden Retriever 'Brece' at her side the whole time. Brece earned her keep by keeping the dogs in order whilst Laura dealt with the owners. She makes her observations of her furry friends and especially in relation to the pack mentality. Trials and Tribulations of a petsitter describes the hilarious antics that she encountered and also the many highs and the lows whilst trying to keep her customers pets safe. The lowest point being committing the cardinal sin by losing a customers beloved dog on more than one occasion!
316 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2020
3 people want to read
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November 29, 2020
Laura Marchant, in her fifties, found herself downsized out of the insurance company, thankfully with a good redundancy payout. It wasn't enough to retire on, but it was enough for her to take some time to figure out what she's going to do next. Ultimately, she decides she's going to start a pet sitting/dog walking business. But first, she tells us about her experience as a dog owner, and Brece, the Golden retriever who became the first dog she acquired as an adult.
And this is where I started to get annoyed.
She proceeds to describe a number of unwise decisions, starting with determining whether the breeder she was getting her puppy from was aa puppy farm (British for puppy mill) by asking her, and ignoring the evidence of the mother dog and her puppies being in the barn, and the area being dotted with lots of poop that wasn't cleaned up--even knowing there was someone coming to see the puppies.
But she loved that dog, and she did learn some things along the way. It does make sense that she decided she wanted to become a pet sitter, when she had to make a career change.
Marchant gives us a lively account of her experiences, and it's very entertaining. She loves the dogs she cares for, even the really difficult ones. Along the way, she meets both interesting and maddening people, and finds ways to cope.
I find the idea of a professional dog walker (this is the more profitable part of the business, she explains) having clients' dogs off leash in an unfenced area really alarming, but the UK is different, and it's accepted there. Certainly being able to run off leash lets the dogs get better exercise! However, it also leads to some alarming incidents, such as when some horse riders on the same beach she was exercising the dogs on, decided to run their horses right through her pack of client dogs. The dogs of course scattered, but most of them regrouped around her pretty quickly. Two, though, became separated. One responded to the temptation of a man with a ball launcher, and she quickly retrieved him. The other, though, simply bolted and she searched extensively for that dog. Her efforts included checking to see if the dog was waiting at the car, but she wasn't. Returning to the dog's home, she didn't find the dog waiting on her doorstep, and was pretty much in despair at that point--and then realized the dog was hiding in the shadows, not far away.
There's a lot here for a dog lover to find sweet, entertaining, heartwarming, or heart-stopping.
I also found some things irritating, such as her complete and confident belief in dog ESP. Every incident she cited to "prove" it was more easily explained by a dog's hearing (yes, your dog can hear your car coming, your specific car, before anyone else hears it at all), and body language. Dogs do understand more of what we say than we're encouraged to believe--but more than anything else, they read our body language. Your dog cares less about what you're saying, than about what your body language conveys, and body language never lies. So if, for instance, you always end a call with one of your kids by saying, "See you soon," whether you expect your child home in five minutes or five days, your dog can tell from you body language whether you're really expecting them to arrive in a few minutes, or not. What's funny is that in her appendices, she cites Cesar Milan's books a couple of times. Had she been reading more attentively, she could have learned a great deal about the importance of our body language to dogs!
Anyway, it's an entertaining book, with stories dog loves will appreciate, and if you're considering using a pet sitter or dog walker, you'll perhaps learn some of the questions you want to ask.
Enjoy!
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
And this is where I started to get annoyed.
She proceeds to describe a number of unwise decisions, starting with determining whether the breeder she was getting her puppy from was aa puppy farm (British for puppy mill) by asking her, and ignoring the evidence of the mother dog and her puppies being in the barn, and the area being dotted with lots of poop that wasn't cleaned up--even knowing there was someone coming to see the puppies.
But she loved that dog, and she did learn some things along the way. It does make sense that she decided she wanted to become a pet sitter, when she had to make a career change.
Marchant gives us a lively account of her experiences, and it's very entertaining. She loves the dogs she cares for, even the really difficult ones. Along the way, she meets both interesting and maddening people, and finds ways to cope.
I find the idea of a professional dog walker (this is the more profitable part of the business, she explains) having clients' dogs off leash in an unfenced area really alarming, but the UK is different, and it's accepted there. Certainly being able to run off leash lets the dogs get better exercise! However, it also leads to some alarming incidents, such as when some horse riders on the same beach she was exercising the dogs on, decided to run their horses right through her pack of client dogs. The dogs of course scattered, but most of them regrouped around her pretty quickly. Two, though, became separated. One responded to the temptation of a man with a ball launcher, and she quickly retrieved him. The other, though, simply bolted and she searched extensively for that dog. Her efforts included checking to see if the dog was waiting at the car, but she wasn't. Returning to the dog's home, she didn't find the dog waiting on her doorstep, and was pretty much in despair at that point--and then realized the dog was hiding in the shadows, not far away.
There's a lot here for a dog lover to find sweet, entertaining, heartwarming, or heart-stopping.
I also found some things irritating, such as her complete and confident belief in dog ESP. Every incident she cited to "prove" it was more easily explained by a dog's hearing (yes, your dog can hear your car coming, your specific car, before anyone else hears it at all), and body language. Dogs do understand more of what we say than we're encouraged to believe--but more than anything else, they read our body language. Your dog cares less about what you're saying, than about what your body language conveys, and body language never lies. So if, for instance, you always end a call with one of your kids by saying, "See you soon," whether you expect your child home in five minutes or five days, your dog can tell from you body language whether you're really expecting them to arrive in a few minutes, or not. What's funny is that in her appendices, she cites Cesar Milan's books a couple of times. Had she been reading more attentively, she could have learned a great deal about the importance of our body language to dogs!
Anyway, it's an entertaining book, with stories dog loves will appreciate, and if you're considering using a pet sitter or dog walker, you'll perhaps learn some of the questions you want to ask.
Enjoy!
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
November 16, 2020
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
This book is a true memoir of Laura Marchant’s experiences of owning her own dog and of leaving her career in insurance to start a business as an independent dog walker and pet sitter/boarder.
Laura’s love of dogs shines through every word of the book – she clearly far prefers animals to most people and, as a fellow animal lover, I fully understand her sentiments! Each of her canine charges is remembered fondly and described with love, from the most angelic (Toby) to the more… rambunctious, Rocky (the most beloved of Laura’s self-styled ‘ASBO’ dogs). Some dogs need a little more care due to health issues or emotional issues, while some are happy just to stretch their legs and play with the friends. Laura opens her heart and home to them all, and shares the sad, funny and touching anecdotes that ensue with her readers.
She doesn’t hold back when it comes to the downsides of her dream job either, detailing difficult dogs, difficult owners, rotten weather, Council strictures and her own occasional bouts of forgetfulness resulting in lost keys and even lost dogs. It is clear though that the love of her furry friends makes it all worthwhile.
In addition to the personal experience in the memoirs, there is a wealth of information about dog psychology, physiology, care needs and wellbeing tips, and the author has included some appendices with sources for information on everything from why dogs are more aggressive around frightened children, to how many words the average dog understands.
Dog lovers will love this insight into what their dogs get up to with their carer while they are away, and the lovable antics of Brece, Wasabi, Hendrix, Rocky, Haribo, Doug the Pug and co. will captivate their readers as easily as they did Laura’s heart!
My new pet sitter role was turning out to be far more enjoyable than I had ever imagined. Every Monday morning with a heart full of joy I set off on my rounds to pick up my cuddly mates. Walking up the garden paths, my grin stretches across my face at the thought of the unbridled affection that is about to come my way. Home alone, once the dogs realise freedom is on the horizon, they positively burst with excitement.
The feeling is mutual, although I manage to contain myself in comparison.
Laura Marchant, Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
This book is a true memoir of Laura Marchant’s experiences of owning her own dog and of leaving her career in insurance to start a business as an independent dog walker and pet sitter/boarder.
Laura’s love of dogs shines through every word of the book – she clearly far prefers animals to most people and, as a fellow animal lover, I fully understand her sentiments! Each of her canine charges is remembered fondly and described with love, from the most angelic (Toby) to the more… rambunctious, Rocky (the most beloved of Laura’s self-styled ‘ASBO’ dogs). Some dogs need a little more care due to health issues or emotional issues, while some are happy just to stretch their legs and play with the friends. Laura opens her heart and home to them all, and shares the sad, funny and touching anecdotes that ensue with her readers.
She doesn’t hold back when it comes to the downsides of her dream job either, detailing difficult dogs, difficult owners, rotten weather, Council strictures and her own occasional bouts of forgetfulness resulting in lost keys and even lost dogs. It is clear though that the love of her furry friends makes it all worthwhile.
In addition to the personal experience in the memoirs, there is a wealth of information about dog psychology, physiology, care needs and wellbeing tips, and the author has included some appendices with sources for information on everything from why dogs are more aggressive around frightened children, to how many words the average dog understands.
Dog lovers will love this insight into what their dogs get up to with their carer while they are away, and the lovable antics of Brece, Wasabi, Hendrix, Rocky, Haribo, Doug the Pug and co. will captivate their readers as easily as they did Laura’s heart!
My new pet sitter role was turning out to be far more enjoyable than I had ever imagined. Every Monday morning with a heart full of joy I set off on my rounds to pick up my cuddly mates. Walking up the garden paths, my grin stretches across my face at the thought of the unbridled affection that is about to come my way. Home alone, once the dogs realise freedom is on the horizon, they positively burst with excitement.
The feeling is mutual, although I manage to contain myself in comparison.
Laura Marchant, Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
November 29, 2020
Although I read predominantly fiction, I do like to occasionally dip into non-fiction when it catches my eye and being a dog lover this cover certainly caught my eye! Look at all those cute little faces peering out from the cover, they all look so adorable, I just want to cuddle them all, awwww . . . . . oh sorry, I'm getting a bit carried away now, I'm supposed to be telling you about what's on the inside!
Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter is the tail (sorry, it was just too good an opportunity to miss! 😊) of Laura Marchant and her journey of setting up her pet sitting business. Laura had spent many years sitting at her desk in an office when she was unexpectedly made redundant. Corporate life was all she had ever really known but it gave her the perfect oppawtunity (again, I'm sorry! 😉) to follow her dream of setting up her own business, walking and looking after people's beloved fur babies.
I'd always imagined that this would be a fun, rewarding and somewhat relaxing job but I soon discovered that this was a profession with so many potential pitfalls that I'd never even considered and Laura definitely discovered some of them the hard way! From difficult dogs - and owners - inclement weather, car trouble and, what I imagine to be the worst case scenario, lost dogs, Laura has struggled with them all.
Reading this wonderful book was almost like sitting chatting to a friend while enjoying a coffee. I was completely drawn into Laura's world and felt like I knew all of her little furry friends, including her own precious fur baby, Brece, who I think was secretly running the show but letting Laura think that she was in charge!
There is a diverse and colourful group of dogs to get to know, and in my case fall in love with, including Wasabi, Doug the pug and the remarkable Rocky, who absolutely stole my already melted heart, to name but a few.
Not only is this book entertaining and heart-warming, it's also very informative, thanks to the additional notes on dog behaviours and care that can be found at the end. A great resource for all dog owners to help them understand their furry family members.
Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter is a delightful, feel good read and one that I would highly recommend to all dog lovers, regardless of if you have a four legged friend or not.
Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter is the tail (sorry, it was just too good an opportunity to miss! 😊) of Laura Marchant and her journey of setting up her pet sitting business. Laura had spent many years sitting at her desk in an office when she was unexpectedly made redundant. Corporate life was all she had ever really known but it gave her the perfect oppawtunity (again, I'm sorry! 😉) to follow her dream of setting up her own business, walking and looking after people's beloved fur babies.
I'd always imagined that this would be a fun, rewarding and somewhat relaxing job but I soon discovered that this was a profession with so many potential pitfalls that I'd never even considered and Laura definitely discovered some of them the hard way! From difficult dogs - and owners - inclement weather, car trouble and, what I imagine to be the worst case scenario, lost dogs, Laura has struggled with them all.
Reading this wonderful book was almost like sitting chatting to a friend while enjoying a coffee. I was completely drawn into Laura's world and felt like I knew all of her little furry friends, including her own precious fur baby, Brece, who I think was secretly running the show but letting Laura think that she was in charge!
There is a diverse and colourful group of dogs to get to know, and in my case fall in love with, including Wasabi, Doug the pug and the remarkable Rocky, who absolutely stole my already melted heart, to name but a few.
Not only is this book entertaining and heart-warming, it's also very informative, thanks to the additional notes on dog behaviours and care that can be found at the end. A great resource for all dog owners to help them understand their furry family members.
Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter is a delightful, feel good read and one that I would highly recommend to all dog lovers, regardless of if you have a four legged friend or not.
December 6, 2020
This book is a celebration of dogs in all their variety, personalities and challenges. The author is devoted to her dog, Brece, and this book records her first meeting with him, their earliest devoted relationship, and how her care needs inspired Marchant to consider a change to her office job. This book recalls how she set out to make a living from boarding then walking dogs for owners, many of whom have their own issues. It is the story of various dogs with all their traits and the problems that they cause Marchant, as well as their attractive and winning ways. The book is described as “Based on true stories”, but it flows far more than a series of anecdotes; she has arranged her observations and stories into deliberate sections. She also writes of the problems of being a dog walker in terms of finding places to walk her charges, the difficulties of managing vehicles, the challenges of coping with owners’ houses. This is an honest and well written account of the real relationships she develops through her love of dogs, and her real affection for even the most difficult canine. I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this unusual book which has the love of dogs at heart.
The book begins with a fond series of reminiscences of a childhood pet and her acknowledged skill at crossing a busy road. A distinctive personality, Frisco left Marchant with an excellent sense of dogs as creatures that made her happy. She acquired a partner, Mike, and then a golden retriever, Brece, the last puppy left from a brood. A distinctive and strong personality, Brece soon became possessive and dominant in the house. Marchant admits that she was lax about training her, and regarded her as others may think of their child. Following changes in her life which included her opting out of office work, she reveals how she thought of looking after other people’s dogs before others had perhaps realised that there was a market for those who did not trust their dogs to kennels. She began to board dogs in her home, though insisted on checking each animal with Brece in her house to check they were an acceptable fit. I had not realised how much there is to challenge a dog host in terms of personality and temperament as well as questions of its training and so forth. As she goes on to walk dogs for those who work, she has new struggles and joys that make her life interesting and challenging.
Not being a dog owner, I felt I learnt a lot about dogs from this book. I now know that it is sometimes difficult to assess a dog correctly, and that its breed, personality and circumstances have much to contribute to their behaviour. I found the mechanics of self employment fascinating, especially given the variables of dogs and their demands and abilities. Anything that involves dealing with people in their homes and with their precious pets will have drawbacks, especially when entrusting access to homes is involved. This is a book that is cheering overall, giving the essence of a life spent doing what they love, even when that is challenging. This book deserves to be popular for its honesty, humour and perception, but mainly for its genuine love of dogs which inspires and motivates a life.
The book begins with a fond series of reminiscences of a childhood pet and her acknowledged skill at crossing a busy road. A distinctive personality, Frisco left Marchant with an excellent sense of dogs as creatures that made her happy. She acquired a partner, Mike, and then a golden retriever, Brece, the last puppy left from a brood. A distinctive and strong personality, Brece soon became possessive and dominant in the house. Marchant admits that she was lax about training her, and regarded her as others may think of their child. Following changes in her life which included her opting out of office work, she reveals how she thought of looking after other people’s dogs before others had perhaps realised that there was a market for those who did not trust their dogs to kennels. She began to board dogs in her home, though insisted on checking each animal with Brece in her house to check they were an acceptable fit. I had not realised how much there is to challenge a dog host in terms of personality and temperament as well as questions of its training and so forth. As she goes on to walk dogs for those who work, she has new struggles and joys that make her life interesting and challenging.
Not being a dog owner, I felt I learnt a lot about dogs from this book. I now know that it is sometimes difficult to assess a dog correctly, and that its breed, personality and circumstances have much to contribute to their behaviour. I found the mechanics of self employment fascinating, especially given the variables of dogs and their demands and abilities. Anything that involves dealing with people in their homes and with their precious pets will have drawbacks, especially when entrusting access to homes is involved. This is a book that is cheering overall, giving the essence of a life spent doing what they love, even when that is challenging. This book deserves to be popular for its honesty, humour and perception, but mainly for its genuine love of dogs which inspires and motivates a life.
November 17, 2020
I usually read fiction but every once in a while, I like to read a non-fiction book. I read the synopsis for ‘Trials & Tribulations Of A Pet Sitter’ and it certainly sounded like just my kind of read. I couldn’t wait to dive into the book and so without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea and grabbed my Kindle and settled down for a darn good read. I was spot on too. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Trials & Tribulations Of A Pet Sitter’ but more about that in a bit.
I have a little confession to make. I am so very jealous of Laura Marchant because she has the sort of job I would absolutely love. I have a dream of setting up my own little pet hotel, pet sitting business. I have to say that I soon became addicted to reading this book. I felt like an addict in need of her next fix. If I didn’t have the book in my hand, I was thinking about the book. If I had to put the book down then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. This book was just the tonic I needed. I haven’t smiled or chuckled as much as I did whilst reading this book in a long, long time. I loved reading about the antics of the animals and I found myself nodding along in agreement with certain passages, as I compared the animals in the book and what they got up to to my own two very loopy but lovely Labradors. I couldn’t turn the pages of the book quick enough. All too quickly I reached the end of the book.
‘Trials & Tribulations Of A Pet Sitter’ is well written. I found that Laura has a very warm and welcoming writing style, which reads more like a chat between friends than reading a book. Laura grabbed my attention from the start and drew me in as it were. I loved the fact that Laura has injected a large dose of humour into the book. Well let’s face it- you cannot look after pets or own pets if you haven’t got a sense of humour. Life is never dull when you have a pet.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Trials & Tribulations Of A Pet Sitter’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Laura’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I have a little confession to make. I am so very jealous of Laura Marchant because she has the sort of job I would absolutely love. I have a dream of setting up my own little pet hotel, pet sitting business. I have to say that I soon became addicted to reading this book. I felt like an addict in need of her next fix. If I didn’t have the book in my hand, I was thinking about the book. If I had to put the book down then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. This book was just the tonic I needed. I haven’t smiled or chuckled as much as I did whilst reading this book in a long, long time. I loved reading about the antics of the animals and I found myself nodding along in agreement with certain passages, as I compared the animals in the book and what they got up to to my own two very loopy but lovely Labradors. I couldn’t turn the pages of the book quick enough. All too quickly I reached the end of the book.
‘Trials & Tribulations Of A Pet Sitter’ is well written. I found that Laura has a very warm and welcoming writing style, which reads more like a chat between friends than reading a book. Laura grabbed my attention from the start and drew me in as it were. I loved the fact that Laura has injected a large dose of humour into the book. Well let’s face it- you cannot look after pets or own pets if you haven’t got a sense of humour. Life is never dull when you have a pet.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Trials & Tribulations Of A Pet Sitter’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Laura’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
November 29, 2020
Thank you to Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for sending me a free copy of Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter, in return for an honest review.
In 2010, Laura was made redundant from her job of 30 years, and decided to try something different. She set up her own business as a pet sitter, based from her home in Lytham St Annes in Lancashire. Along with Brece, her beloved Golden Retriever, Laura looks after a mix of both social dogs and ASBOs! In this memoir, Laura tells all about her experiences, both good and bad.
Being a pet sitter sounds like my dream job, so I was very excited to read this! Laura tells her experiences with refreshing honesty and frankness, as well as a good dose of humour too.
My favourite parts of the book were, of course, the stories about the dogs that Laura cares for. Trials and Tribulations starts with Laura bringing her dog Brece home (pronounced 'Bressay'). She feels an instant bond with her new Golden Retriever puppy, and details the struggles of training her. My favourite stories were about some of the more rambunctious dogs she has to care for. Rocky, a Pointer who was impossible to control at times, and Hendrix and Wasabi — who learned to hide on top of the sand dunes to avoid having to go back home after their walk!
I was glad that she covers both the highs and lows of pet sitting. Laura talks about a lot of things that I had never considered. For example, if you are expected to care for other people's pets, you can't go out in the evening! Fortunately, Laura enjoys spending quiet evenings on the sofa watching TV, but I can imagine it's not a lifestyle for everyone. She also confesses to occasionally losing people's pets (or their house keys!), something that can't be hard to admit to!
I really enjoyed reading Trials and Tribulations! It really feels like Laura is speaking directly to you with her conversational, relaxed writing style. It's the perfect read for dog lovers. It's also essential reading for anyone considering becoming a dog walker or pet sitter as a career!
In 2010, Laura was made redundant from her job of 30 years, and decided to try something different. She set up her own business as a pet sitter, based from her home in Lytham St Annes in Lancashire. Along with Brece, her beloved Golden Retriever, Laura looks after a mix of both social dogs and ASBOs! In this memoir, Laura tells all about her experiences, both good and bad.
Being a pet sitter sounds like my dream job, so I was very excited to read this! Laura tells her experiences with refreshing honesty and frankness, as well as a good dose of humour too.
My favourite parts of the book were, of course, the stories about the dogs that Laura cares for. Trials and Tribulations starts with Laura bringing her dog Brece home (pronounced 'Bressay'). She feels an instant bond with her new Golden Retriever puppy, and details the struggles of training her. My favourite stories were about some of the more rambunctious dogs she has to care for. Rocky, a Pointer who was impossible to control at times, and Hendrix and Wasabi — who learned to hide on top of the sand dunes to avoid having to go back home after their walk!
I was glad that she covers both the highs and lows of pet sitting. Laura talks about a lot of things that I had never considered. For example, if you are expected to care for other people's pets, you can't go out in the evening! Fortunately, Laura enjoys spending quiet evenings on the sofa watching TV, but I can imagine it's not a lifestyle for everyone. She also confesses to occasionally losing people's pets (or their house keys!), something that can't be hard to admit to!
I really enjoyed reading Trials and Tribulations! It really feels like Laura is speaking directly to you with her conversational, relaxed writing style. It's the perfect read for dog lovers. It's also essential reading for anyone considering becoming a dog walker or pet sitter as a career!
November 29, 2020
Animals have always been part of my childhood. We always had dogs, cats, chickens, pigs, ducks... And I used to help out with their car. So, let's just say that I always loved animals and knowing facts about them.
When I saw this book I was interesting. I don't know much about Pet Sitters and I was curious to learn. Let's just say that it was quite an adventure. This book is the memoir of Laura Marchant’s experiences during her journey and it was very relatable because of how it was written.
Although I'm more of a cat person - I have to say that or Nala (my cat) won't let me sleep at night - I had dogs while growing up. My mom had a month old puppy when I was born. His name was Rocky. I grow up with him, and later I got my own puppy, Like. They were my best friends when I was small child. Rocky was very protective and Like was just a sweetheart. They are both gone. But I like to think that they are happy and at peace in pet heaven. That been said, I could tell the love that the author has just from reading her story. And that's one of the things that grabbed my attention.
It was a real story. Not only was it inspiring and funny, but it also revealed the obstacles. Because that's life. There are always some difficulties along the way, and I respect the author for letting us in on all the ups and downs of her journey.
It really is a book about the tribulations of a Pet Sitter, but it's also a book that gives us information about dogs that could help anyone that has a dog and those that would like to give a home to one.
Overall, I enjoyed it immensely and I may go back to it in the future. I do recommend the book.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Laura Marchant for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
When I saw this book I was interesting. I don't know much about Pet Sitters and I was curious to learn. Let's just say that it was quite an adventure. This book is the memoir of Laura Marchant’s experiences during her journey and it was very relatable because of how it was written.
Although I'm more of a cat person - I have to say that or Nala (my cat) won't let me sleep at night - I had dogs while growing up. My mom had a month old puppy when I was born. His name was Rocky. I grow up with him, and later I got my own puppy, Like. They were my best friends when I was small child. Rocky was very protective and Like was just a sweetheart. They are both gone. But I like to think that they are happy and at peace in pet heaven. That been said, I could tell the love that the author has just from reading her story. And that's one of the things that grabbed my attention.
It was a real story. Not only was it inspiring and funny, but it also revealed the obstacles. Because that's life. There are always some difficulties along the way, and I respect the author for letting us in on all the ups and downs of her journey.
It really is a book about the tribulations of a Pet Sitter, but it's also a book that gives us information about dogs that could help anyone that has a dog and those that would like to give a home to one.
Overall, I enjoyed it immensely and I may go back to it in the future. I do recommend the book.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Laura Marchant for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
September 30, 2020
Being a huge dog lover (read that in both senses) this was a book I couldn't refuse. Who can’t resist a wet nose, unrequited love and so much more for some of us. About one in four households have at least one dog and for many sadly they are not walked (which is a whole other book). Dog walkers and pet sitters provide a valuable service for many dogs who otherwise would be left home alone for hours on end. Laura tells of her adventures dog walking, dog sitting (overnight/holidays) and comfort breaks( short visits). You can't help but smile at some of the antics and think “awwww” at the dogs involved. As the owner of a (well trained, well exercised) Pointer I totally understood the poor dog who wasn't either of those things. Too many people (in my view) get pets without doing any background research- for example a large active dog such as a Pointer- or even a Labrador (the UK’s most popular dog) need a great deal of exercise and training (as do all dogs)- if not there will be issues- sorry back to that other book- owners seem to think that somehow magically their dog will be the well behaved one. I always think of a child- if you didn't spend any time talking/playing/educating it how would it behave? Of dogs running on beaches (how wonderful) to projectile diarrhoea. An entertaining, interesting read for any dog lover.
October 27, 2020
I wish Author Laura Marchant would pet sit my doggies. She is a loving, caring, patient and determined woman who gives her dog clients her all. Her book is a day by day look at what it's like to be a pet sitter.
You will feel like you are walking with the author on the beach with her dog clients. As you can see from the cover, they come in all shapes and sizes. And my goodness, do they have personalities. Brece is the author's dog and very much a professional petsitter herself. Brece is a Golden Retriever and helps keep tack of the pack: Wasabi, Hendrix, Doug the Pug, Tilly, Molly and Max, Moses, Snoop, Casper, Haribo and the incredible Rocky.
Brece is also there to comfort her mistress during the crazy and the challenging times: blind dogs, burglaries, ruined weddings, exploding cars, lost house keys and very occasionally- lost dogs. One of the funniest stories was about the author pulling up to a client's house with a carful of dogs. She jumped out to get her dog client and left all the dogs in the car. She forgot to use the handbrake and imagine the commotion as she spend her car slowing drift down the road on its own!
Story after story unfolds that will make you smile and may even convince you to get a dog or become a petsitter. The author provides good lessons in dog care and good advice to petsitters, as well. Plenty to love and chuckle about! Woof woof! Enjoy!
You will feel like you are walking with the author on the beach with her dog clients. As you can see from the cover, they come in all shapes and sizes. And my goodness, do they have personalities. Brece is the author's dog and very much a professional petsitter herself. Brece is a Golden Retriever and helps keep tack of the pack: Wasabi, Hendrix, Doug the Pug, Tilly, Molly and Max, Moses, Snoop, Casper, Haribo and the incredible Rocky.
Brece is also there to comfort her mistress during the crazy and the challenging times: blind dogs, burglaries, ruined weddings, exploding cars, lost house keys and very occasionally- lost dogs. One of the funniest stories was about the author pulling up to a client's house with a carful of dogs. She jumped out to get her dog client and left all the dogs in the car. She forgot to use the handbrake and imagine the commotion as she spend her car slowing drift down the road on its own!
Story after story unfolds that will make you smile and may even convince you to get a dog or become a petsitter. The author provides good lessons in dog care and good advice to petsitters, as well. Plenty to love and chuckle about! Woof woof! Enjoy!
October 21, 2020
I don’t own a dog myself but I bought this book because I always wondered what being a pet sitter entailed. We have all come across that person who is being pulled along the beach or park by a gaggle of eager dogs. I am sure I am not the only one who thought, what a lovely way to make a living. After reading this book, my rosy views of this profession were brought back to earth with a bang and it is obvious that a professional dog walker’s life is far from easy. From the first chapter of this book it is abundantly clear that Laura knows her stuff when it comes to dogs. Her love and passion for our canine friends oozes out of every page and her knowledge of their behaviours and characteristics is amazing. There were many parts of this book that I laughed out loud at the antics of the dogs in her care. By the end of the book, I felt I knew each dog intimately. If you own a dog there is an informative section at the back of the book covering topics such as why some dogs are afraid of men and how many words can dogs understand. This would be a lovely book to read if you wanted to lift your spirits after a bad day at work or whilst you are relaxing on holiday. A must read.
November 16, 2020
A tour for a book about dogs? Yes, please!!
I thought I would be in for a fun read, but it was not only that. There were heart breaking parts as well as heart warming ones, sad passages and happy passages, events the author learned from the hard way and some things seemed to go without any difficulties.
I am happy that her system works out for the author, but I have to admit that I am a bit sceptic. A dog still is a dog and that means that even if he is well behaved and reacts to every command, I would not dream of doing certain things especially with dogs that are not mine.
That’s personal, of course and I did enjoy the book. It’s fluently written, has funny parts and gives tips that are useful.
I am a die hard dog lover and I adore mine even though they can be very naughty too. In fact, dogs are often like children but without the furry coat. 😉
One vet told me once that my dog was the king of the house and he did not say it in a very positive way. But whatever ;) 😊 Every kingdom has borders and my king knows exactly how far he can go…
4 paws, I mean stars. 😊
Thank you, Laura Marchant and Rachel's Random Resources
I thought I would be in for a fun read, but it was not only that. There were heart breaking parts as well as heart warming ones, sad passages and happy passages, events the author learned from the hard way and some things seemed to go without any difficulties.
I am happy that her system works out for the author, but I have to admit that I am a bit sceptic. A dog still is a dog and that means that even if he is well behaved and reacts to every command, I would not dream of doing certain things especially with dogs that are not mine.
That’s personal, of course and I did enjoy the book. It’s fluently written, has funny parts and gives tips that are useful.
I am a die hard dog lover and I adore mine even though they can be very naughty too. In fact, dogs are often like children but without the furry coat. 😉
One vet told me once that my dog was the king of the house and he did not say it in a very positive way. But whatever ;) 😊 Every kingdom has borders and my king knows exactly how far he can go…
4 paws, I mean stars. 😊
Thank you, Laura Marchant and Rachel's Random Resources
November 30, 2020
Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter
Laura Marchant
As a huge dog lover I was so excite to be invited on the tour for this book. The author does a wonderful job showing us lol sides of her new life as a dog walker and pet sitter/boarder after years in the insurance industry. And what a life it is! All of the dogs have their own very unique personalities and she does a wonderful job showing us the good, the bad, and the hilarious and does not hold back on any of it. I cant blame her feelings of loving dogs over people, especially with events of this past year. Ms. Marchant also includes loads of information including appendices and sources for information that could be extremely beneficial to dog owners. All in all this is a wonderful book and one that any dog lover should read.
thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Laura Marchant for the review copy of this book and including me on this tour. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
Laura Marchant
As a huge dog lover I was so excite to be invited on the tour for this book. The author does a wonderful job showing us lol sides of her new life as a dog walker and pet sitter/boarder after years in the insurance industry. And what a life it is! All of the dogs have their own very unique personalities and she does a wonderful job showing us the good, the bad, and the hilarious and does not hold back on any of it. I cant blame her feelings of loving dogs over people, especially with events of this past year. Ms. Marchant also includes loads of information including appendices and sources for information that could be extremely beneficial to dog owners. All in all this is a wonderful book and one that any dog lover should read.
thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Laura Marchant for the review copy of this book and including me on this tour. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
November 24, 2020
As a dog lover and dog owner I was naturally drawn to the cover and title of this book. Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter is an interesting memoir of the authors experiences of being made redundant and starting up a Pet Sitting Business.
In an open and honest account Laura shares her feelings of shock at losing her long time corporate job. On realising her redundancy money would quickly dwindle she needed a Plan B to pay her bills.
Laura writes from the heart, sharing her excitement and her fears as she plans to take on her first furry customers.
As suggested on the book cover this is indeed a Bridget Jones style read. Honest, astonishing, at times funny and heart-warming.
If you are a dog walker or dog owner you will enjoy this book.
In an open and honest account Laura shares her feelings of shock at losing her long time corporate job. On realising her redundancy money would quickly dwindle she needed a Plan B to pay her bills.
Laura writes from the heart, sharing her excitement and her fears as she plans to take on her first furry customers.
As suggested on the book cover this is indeed a Bridget Jones style read. Honest, astonishing, at times funny and heart-warming.
If you are a dog walker or dog owner you will enjoy this book.
November 12, 2020
As a massive dog lover, I devoured every single page of this book. I loved hearing all the stories, the highs and lows. It was delightful and uplifting, from start to finish.
I particularly enjoyed all the descriptions of the dogs, their names and characteristics. I could really see them all! Especially Brece!
The whole book is so easy to read and follow and it was also very amusing in places!
There are large parts of this book that resonated with me hugely and it just makes me want a dog even more!
I would recommend, especially to other dog lovers!
I particularly enjoyed all the descriptions of the dogs, their names and characteristics. I could really see them all! Especially Brece!
The whole book is so easy to read and follow and it was also very amusing in places!
There are large parts of this book that resonated with me hugely and it just makes me want a dog even more!
I would recommend, especially to other dog lovers!
November 29, 2020
I am a big fan of animals, dogs included there is just something heartwarming about a dog, I don't even own a dog but when I was younger I always wanted to be a pet sitter or a dog walker. It never happened but after reading this book I realise it is a lot more harder work than I could ever have thought. It really gives a true insight into being a professional dog walker and all the good and bad things that go into it. I like how Laura has written this story, it is written well with funny and heartwarming moments.
November 16, 2020
This was a great insight in to Laura’s life as a pet sitter. Having two dogs myself I could relate to a lot of the stories and found myself laughing along. I loved reading about some of the dogs she looked after, they seemed like such little characters! It also shows the difficult side of pet sitting which you don’t often think about and also the horror of losing someone else’s pet. Would recommend this to any dog lover, guaranteed to put a smile on your face with the antics described!
May 11, 2020
I loved this book. Of particular appeal to all dog lovers. It was informative and entertaining. A definite must read for anybody intending to take up professional dog walking. It certainly makes you realise it’s no walk in the park!
December 14, 2020
Laura writes in a heart-warming and engaging manner about her experience as a pet sitter and dog walker. I loved the personalities of the dogs, from Rocky the English Pointer to Moses a Miniature Schnauzer, and really felt as though I was meeting them for myself. There are plenty of “oh no” moments and she doesn’t present herself as the most organised of walkers out there, but Laura’s love for her charges shines through her words and chapters, each one dedicated to a particular dog or escapade. She is always ready and willing to take on almost any dog, and the words “trials and tribulations” certainly seem fitting for her experience! I loved the idea of Brece, her own beautiful Golden Retriever whose photo features on the back cover, giving the new arrivals the once over too.
From romps along the beaches around Lytham St Annes, to hidey holes in closets at home, this book had me chuckling at the antics of each of the dogs. I would recommend it as a great light read for any dog lovers out there, whether you have your own four legged friend or not.
From romps along the beaches around Lytham St Annes, to hidey holes in closets at home, this book had me chuckling at the antics of each of the dogs. I would recommend it as a great light read for any dog lovers out there, whether you have your own four legged friend or not.
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