The Reality of Professional Pet Sitting

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Summary: An interesting glimpse at the obstacles of pet sitting
Review: Before I started boarding small dogs, I had briefly considered pet sitting. However, after having just read about Suzanne Roth's experiences in this book, I am now convinced that boarding was the better path.

This is a thin book and rather pricy for its size, but if you're considering the pet sitting business, it will give you a good sense of the obstacles facing the pet sitter. Roth describes her adventures with short stories ranging from the friendly dog who isn't so friendly... to the suspiciously-still lizard... to the alarm systems that don't accept the codes provided by the owners.

The one downfall of the book is that it is short on instruction. There is some useful information in the 'Some Advice' section, but it is not a 'how to' primer on pet sitting. The stories will not give you insight into how to work around your own pet sitting dilemmas. And as another reviewer suggested... having to frequently call your husband to bail you out of difficult situations is not a 'professional' solution. Still, the stories will give you a feeling for the difficulties of the business and by the end of the book, you will have a sense as to whether this is the right business for you.

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Summary: I am the author.
Review: First of all, thanks to all who have taken the time to read my book, and to those who have taken the time to write a review. When I wrote the book it was my intention to inform potential sitters of the pros and cons of pet sitting - many people think that it is, well, 'a walk in the park'. Well, many times it is - and sometimes it isn't. It was definitely not my intention to stop anyone's dream from becoming a reality...but I do believe it is better to know if something is right for you or not before your whole HEART is put into it. I am glad to read the words "humor", "wit", "laughter", "amusing" and "smile" in the reviews. I wrote the book in a candid way for SITTERS as well as ALL PET OWNERS....even though our furry & feathery friends lift our spirits each and every day, putting more LAUGHTER in our lives doesn't hurt. After reading the 'reality' of pet sitting, should you decide to continue your pursuit of pet sitting - or decide to perhaps choose working with animals in a different profession - I am glad I could help steer you in the right direction, and wish you all the best! To all pet lovers who purchase my book in the future, thank you in advance.

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Summary: THE REALITY OF PROFESSIONAL PET SITTING BY SUZANNE ROTH
Review: GREETINGS TO ALL WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING THIS BOOK, do not hesitate! I got this book and took the time to lay back, have a cup of coffee and relax, the laughter, the wit, the humor that SUZANNE ROTH has in this book lifted my spirits and had me "chuckling" as I was seeing this with her descriptive words! This is one of the best informative book on PET SITTING, that I have ever read, also SUZANNE ROTH should be a story taler, for her experiences are so true to some of the things that have happened to me and my own brood of dogs - and her ability to deal with each situation, and she has many, shows you, the reader, that just anyone cannot be qualified for a PET SITTER - she describes in detail useful information for those that might be "thinking" of going into the business - for PET SITTING is not easy, and it is amazing to me how she manages all of this with the greatest of ease, of course, she is a worrier, that is what makes for a good PET SITTER and a good person....This is definitely a book that any time I need to have a laugh, that I will "pick" up and read over and over again - I thank SUZANNE ROTH for putting this book together for me and others like me that will appreciate her humor, wit, work and life! Thank you SUZANNE ROTH, even though I have never met you, I feel as if I know you, GOOD LUCK and may God Bless you and that precious husband of yours that makes your job even easier! Annie Blanche Rice-Szott, Poet/Artist, Weaverville, North Carolina

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Summary: Tells it like it is
Review: I had big dreams of becoming a pet sitter, that is until I read this book. I thought pet sitting would be an easy job or great business to start. Well, Suzanne really lets you in on some of the horrible things that can happen, and that pet sitting is not that easy at all. I no longer desire to start a pet sitting business. It sounds kind of sad, but the book woke me up and gave me a reality check. This book is a must read to anyone planning or even thinking about pet sitting.

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Summary: Cute and helpful
Review: I must agree with Reviewer Gina Sanchez - if purchasing my book, I would purchase the PAPERBACK edition....I wouldn't pay $30 FOR ANY book! :o) Thank you!

Rating:
Summary: Tells it like it is
Review: I purchased a paperback copy of this book. My advice is to read this book on a rainy or otherwise dreary day - it will put a smile on your face. Ms. Roth has an entertaining way of writing. Great reading for pet lovers of any age, whether you are a dog walker or not. It seems that Pet sittrs do endure much more than one would expect sometimes. If you are considering the book, would advise buying the paperback -it was worth every penny....but I wouldn't buy the hardback - wouldn't pay that price for ANY book!

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Summary: Doggie stories stranger than fiction!
Review: I read this book in 2 sittings, absolutely impressed by this woman's dedication to pets, when I would have probably given up. If you're considering pet sitting, you certainly need to read this book first. It's a hands-on manual for the job.

Not only does the author give obscure tips (make sure owners didn't lock screen door and exit through the garage) that you'd never think of, she gives personality advice on who will make it and who won't.

In my opinion, one would find it more lucrative to just do cats and not do dogs (which are HIGH maintenance for sure). But the author is a better person than I am in terms of doggie devotion. I'd be in the middle of the street screaming at some of the things that happened to her.

The only thing I disagreed with was her estimation of the income potential, which was low. I think cats and birds would put it much higher than office work. The dogs pull it down. Read it and see for yourself.

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Summary: Excellent Book!! Highly recommended for Pet sitters!!
Review: This book is truly excellent. Ms Roth not only finds a funny way to look at the job a pet sitter faces everyday but she gives a lot of sound advice!! A very TRUTHFUL view of the job. Although this book doesn't tell you how to start a pet sitting business, it does go a lot deeper! It gives you food for thought on if this is really the right career or industry for you. The advice focuses on you as an individual, not on how to get the business going. Do you have what it takes to do this job? She helps you figure it out. It is a *MUST* for all pet sitters to read .as well as those considering the job. Even if you have a pet sitting business this is a *MUST* have book because it can help train new employees if you are planing on hiring. I very highly recommend this book and am very grateful to have a copy of it. TOP OF THE LINE BOOK!!!!!

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Summary: Cute and helpful
Review: This book was easy to read and full of cute stories, but some of them were lacking in content or the way in which it was written. They are short one-page accounts of incidences that have happened to her, and while most are entertaining and insightful, a few are anti-climatic and I felt myself waiting for something, when it just ended and the whole point was already told. It also fell short in the editing department, with a handful of typos and unofficial technicals in writing. This is something I or anyone could've easily written. As a published book, it needed work in editing and style before publishing. But as a guide and insight to what you can expect while pet sitting, it certainly does the job. She gives you all kinds of incidences that can, and probably will, happen to any pet sitter. She also wakes you up to the hard parts of the job and, exactly as the title describes, the realities of pet sitting. It's definitely good to read if you are considering going into pet sitting, and I would agree with most of her advice. She definitely shows her degree of experience.

Rating:
Summary: The reality of professional pet sitting
Review: This is a cute, informative book if you are trying to decide if you want to look into the business of pet sitting as an occupation. However, this is not a helpful guide if you are looking for advice on how to start one. It is a comical fast read and I am afraid to say I felt it was not worth the amount of money I paid for it. The book is the size of one of my children's easy read books and does not contain enough information to warrent the price when comparing it to other books on this subject.