When we met Pickles for the first time we weren’t quite sure what to expect. He was kind of shy and timid, and our short walk around the Common didn’t tell us much else about his personality. So when he came to stay with us for a long weekend we wanted to make sure he felt safe and comfortable and wasn’t too anxious. When people think dog boarding in Sturbridge they typically think kennels, pallet beds, and a big pack of dogs running around mostly unsupervised. When we at Lindsay Loves Pets host pets it’s a little bit different. Pickles got his own bed by the fireplace, but the lounge in the living room by the window was his too. And he was welcome on our couch, and he slept in our bed with us. While Pickles did run into a few other dogs while we walked around town, he was always on a leash and protected. As soon as he got to our place we put out his dish and gave him a little bit of food so he’d know that he gets fed here. We took him out for a walk so he could get a sense of his territory and mark it. Over the next few days we went on many walks and hikes and field trips. And Pickles turned out to be an absolute cuddlebug and wouldn’t leave anyone’s side if they’re willing to pet or scratch him. Especially on his hips. But our favorite time was after the evening walk, after Pickles did his business, and he would come home and want to play. He would grab his favorite toy (naturally, a pickle) and bring it to us to throw for him. He would fetch it, play with it, and bring it back for another round. Once he got excited enough at catching the pickle, he would bounce from one couch to another in a fit of zoomies. Then he would settle down, nose to tail, on the couch and snooze away. So sure, technically what we do is dog boarding, but we call it hosting, and I think you can tell why.
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