Zen Dog, LLC

Serves Duluth, GA

35244

Hired 32 times

5 employees

14 years in business

$21/walk

4.9

This pro accepts payments via Cash and Credit card.

Next Service

Credentials

Background Check

Stephanie Sorensen
Completed on 3/19/2021

Introduction

First and foremost, I am insured for both animal massage and pet sitting, bonded, and pet first-aid trained. I am one of the only pet sitters who is also a canine/feline massage therapist. I am also very interested in animal behavior and have studied it extensively, so I truly understand animals, sometimes better than their owners do! I take pride in the relationships I build with clients' pets. I recently saw a news story about pet sitters promising things to clients and not delivering (leaving early, not spending any time with the pets). That is appalling to me! The most fun part about being a pet sitter is getting to know the pets and watching their personalities come out as they start to feel comfortable with you. I also make sure the house looks nicer than it did when I started, with respect to the animals in the house. Litter boxes are scooped daily and the area around them swept, areas where the pet hair rolls across the floor like tumbleweeds in West Texas are also cleaned up. Any pet accidents are immediately cleaned up as well. If towels are used, they are typically washed, dried and folded. The best part about this job is getting to know the pets! I have certain massage clients that wouldn't let me touch them for more than 5 minutes at a time during the first couple of massages. I recently massaged one of those clients for an hour and a half! That makes me feel really good that this dog has warmed up to me that much. I have many, many dog and cat clients (and some birds and reptiles!) that treat me like part of the family. I love getting to see them on a regular basis. It is like having a whole lot of animals without needing the space to keep them!

Q&A

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

My pricing system is not complicated. I charge $22 per 30-minute visit for daily dog walks (midday walks that occur while the owners are at work), and vacation visits while owners are out of town. Massages are $45 for 30 minutes, or $80 an hour.

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

During our phone conversation, I find out a little about your pets and their typical behaviors and routine. Then we discuss a time to meet for a free consultation, and I get information from you, such as your email address (to email you paperwork) and your street address. Then I come over to meet you and the pets, collect completed paperwork and house keys from you, see where things are located for the pets, discuss your needs and dates for services, and generally find out if we are a good fit for each other. I collect credit card information as a requirement to book services, and then I go home and set you up in our system, schedule your visits, and we are good to go!

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I am constantly reading and learning more. I have two levels of massage certification and plan on getting the 3rd level some time within the next couple of years. I also plan on adding certifications in canine nutrition, dog behavior, and dog training. Pet sitting certification is also something I am considering. I belong to the Georgia Network of Professional Petsitters (GNPP) and attend conferences and seminars related to pets throughout the year.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

I started my company because I did not see myself as an environmental consultant for a corporation for the rest of my working life. I knew I wanted to do something with animals, but I wasn't sure what at first. I seemed to have a gift with using my hands to calm dogs. I would go to friends' houses and end up always making friends with the dog. They always ended up in my lap or at my feet, with me absentmindedly stroking them, not even realizing I was doing it. I was looking up professions with animals one day and realized canine massage therapy was actually a real job. I was immediately excited! "That's it. That's what I want to do!" I started my company as a massage only company in 2011. I had been working for another pet sitting company since 2009, and I enjoyed that work as well, so I decided to add pet sitting services to my company in the spring of 2013. I haven't looked back - I love this line of work! It is very rewarding to be able to provide love and care to these animals when their owners cannot be there to care for them. It is also very rewarding to be able to provide relaxation and help the healing of my massage clients.

What types of customers have you worked with?

My most common jobs are massages for relaxation or minor injuries, dog walks, and vacation visits.

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

That would be the standard Manchester terrier massage client of mine. He was one of the two dogs living in the same house that did not have the patience for more than 5 minutes of massage at a time. His owner recently took a picture of me with him asleep in my lap after an hour massage. His favorite blanket was still in the dryer when I came over, so I lovingly offered him my cashmere cardigan. When the massage was over, he reached his head up and kissed and nibbled my chin. He is very adept at communicating, and he sent me a very clear message that night: "Thanks, Ms. Stephanie. I LOVED that!" He just melts my heart. :-)

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

Just make sure the sitter is insured and bonded. That is the main difference between a professional and the kid down the street. Just because you invite a sitter over for a meet-and-greet, does not mean you have to hire him/her! Make sure it is a good fit - ask the questions that are important to you. If you want your dog walked or jogged every day, find someone willing to do that. Do you have special needs pets? Find someone who specializes in pets with special needs. Do you feed raw to your pets? Find someone who is not squeamish and has no problem doing that. I wish customers knew that this isn't a cheesy job. It is not just, "Go in, pet the dog, feed the dog, and leave." We have to clean up messes the animals make, walk dogs in bad weather (even if they don't want to), and deal with animals that may not exactly appreciate what we are doing for them. Knowing animal behavior can go along way in this business; not knowing a thing about animal behavior can get us injured. We also can't just decide we don't want to go to work one day. Our pet clients depend on us to be there for them, so whether we feel like doing it or not, we have to be there for them.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

Just know what you are looking for in a pet sitter. If your animals have particular quirks, or a bite history, it is very important to disclose that information to a potential sitter. Tell them about favorite toys and/or treats, or if there is anywhere on their pets' body they do not like to be touched (we have a client that tries to bite anyone that touches a paw). Make sure your yard is secure if you have pets that need to be let out. If you are scheduling visits for when you are out of town, when trying to decide on the number of visits, consider their normal routine. How long can they hold it before they need to go outside to eliminate? Some people think twice a day visits for dogs is adequate, until they are reminded that it will be roughly 12 hour stretches without bathroom breaks. Can you hold it that long?? Just think about their normal routine and maintaining the same level of contentment and happiness while you are not home. The goal of pet sitting and dog walking is pet satisfaction first and foremost, followed by human client satisfaction at seeing their pets so satisfied! :-)