Trying to leave town when you have four dogs feels almost impossible.
My two older pups are trained—though you wouldn’t always know it by their behavior! Luckily, they get to head to “camp” at A Peaceful Pack, where their amazing trainers and staff wear them out in the best way. They always come home happy, tired, and back on their best behavior.
Then There’s Blu and Dot…
These two are a whole different story. I rescued them as young, malnourished littermates, and for the past year or so, they’ve made traveling nearly impossible. They’re sweet, quirky, and incredibly bonded to me, but they’re also anxious, especially around new people. Dot, in particular, is very slow to trust anyone besides me.
For the few short trips I’ve managed to take in the last year and a half, finding a sitter for “my girls” has been a major challenge.
Trying Something New: Rover
For a quick overnight getaway, I decided to try something new: Rover.
What I loved right away about Rover was how easy it was to use. I could read reviews, see what kinds of dogs each sitter had experience with, and filter by availability and location. After some searching, I found a sitter nearby who seemed like a great fit and reached out.
Now, I know most people just book a sitter, leave a list of instructions, and head out. But for Blu and Dot, that’s not an option. They needed to meet her first.
Getting Comfortable with a New Sitter
Even though they’re lovable goofballs, they’re also two 65-pound pitties who share, as I like to say, one brain cell. They’re sweet, they think they’re lap dogs, and they’re also pretty easily spooked. Patience and familiarity are essential.
The sitter came over to meet them, and we spent about an hour together. I explained everything from feeding routines, treats, likes and dislikes, and gave Dot a chance to adjust to her presence.
Dot was nervous at first, but she gave a few nose bumps and even let the sitter pet her head. That’s huge progress for Dot.
The Best Experience Ever
I decided to move forward with the booking, and I’m so glad I did. The sitter was amazing. She gave the girls plenty of love, followed all their routines, and sent me the sweetest updates.
I got photos of Dot sitting calmly beside her and Blu, true to form, sitting on her. (Blu has no concept of personal space.)
This was hands down the best pet-sitting experience I’ve ever had.
My Recommendations
If you’re in a similar situation, here’s what I’d recommend:
🐾 A Peaceful Pack
A top-tier training and enrichment program. Their staff is skilled and caring, and the environment is perfect for building structure and confidence in your dogs. The biggest key? Keeping up with the training at home. I’m working on it and every time my older dogs come back better, I’m reminded why it’s so worth it.
🐾 Rover
A great option for pups who aren’t as well trained or are more sensitive, like my girls.
What made the difference for me was:
- Seeing sitter reviews and experience
- Filtering by dog size and number of pets
- Meeting the sitter in advance
It helped me find someone I now trust for future trips, and most importantly, someone Blu and Dot feel safe with.
Traveling with dogs is never simple, but with the right tools, the right people, and a bit of planning, it can absolutely be done, even with a couple of lovable weirdos like Blu and Dot.
Plants, Pitties, and Power Foods 
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