Stub (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} just_stub) wrote,@ 2008-09-03 15:00:00 |
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the business
I just woke up from a nap, the duration of which I have no idea. But wow did I need it! Keeping boarders seems to be harder than I think, even with an easy dog like Duke. (Who is adorable, I LOVE Duke!) It seems more stressful than I ever imagined, trying to make sure Toby does not feel neglected while still giving attention to the boarder while still going off to work. I have to get up earlier and go to bed later and my day is much longer than just working alone.
Plus, Toby is being very very strange these days. He has snapped at me(!) several times in the past week and even sat in the car growling at me for a long time after one episode. Last night he got up in the middle of the night and paced the house (and yard when I let him out) for half an hour for no obvious reason before going back to sleep. I'm not sure if he is just expressing displeasure at all the strange dogs in his house or if he is getting some doggy dementia. It would just figure that after all the stress of caring for dad with Alzheimer's that Toby would also lose his mind in his old age. But of course it doesn't matter, I am going to care for him and love him no matter how bitey he gets or how confused his little doggy brain is. He's been my faithful companion for over one third of my life!
But, I have decided no new boarders until after his death. (also, though I don't WANT to wait, no puppies) I will allow the ones I have already had to return (maybe not Zane, heh) and just not accept any new ones. Lilly's owner was upset that his dog caused Toby stress by her barking and he pretty much promised me she would be trained out of it ("she's only been barking in odd moments the last nine months or so!" Uh, yeah) before she returns, to be sure she IS allowed to return. He was very happy to see her running around tail wagging and playing fetch when he picked her up last week. He said the difference between that and her attitude in coming home from a kennel was amazing.
All my customers are very happy with me and some weeks business is good - like the last two. But school is back in session, holidays and vacations are limited, and I think winter is going to be hard. Slow. I know it takes time to build up clientele and actually I am doing pretty well for having just started out a few months ago. It's just.... I am not sure I can stand to live off my line of credit during slow months and try to recoup the money in summer. In fact I already had to take 200$ out of my meager savings last month because I got behind. (stupid school taxes) I may end up going back to working for someone else. Maybe I can get a holiday job in the middle of the night somewhere to help out this winter.
I don't think I have ever seen a dog as happy as Duke. If he is standing up his tail is wagging his whole body. Every time I stand up, even at 2 am, he jumps up, tail wagging, and heads for the door so I can throw the tennis ball for him. He is FIXATED on tennis balls. His owner brought two sleeves plus two extra when she dropped him off last week and I was surprised. How could he possibly need all these tennis balls?? But besides chasing them he chews at them until they get punctured and then tears them up like Toby used to do to pop bottles. We are down to three balls left and he doesn't go home until next Wednesday. I'm not sure they will last!
It is too hot. Come on fall!!
I just woke up from a nap, the duration of which I have no idea. But wow did I need it! Keeping boarders seems to be harder than I think, even with an easy dog like Duke. (Who is adorable, I LOVE Duke!) It seems more stressful than I ever imagined, trying to make sure Toby does not feel neglected while still giving attention to the boarder while still going off to work. I have to get up earlier and go to bed later and my day is much longer than just working alone.
Plus, Toby is being very very strange these days. He has snapped at me(!) several times in the past week and even sat in the car growling at me for a long time after one episode. Last night he got up in the middle of the night and paced the house (and yard when I let him out) for half an hour for no obvious reason before going back to sleep. I'm not sure if he is just expressing displeasure at all the strange dogs in his house or if he is getting some doggy dementia. It would just figure that after all the stress of caring for dad with Alzheimer's that Toby would also lose his mind in his old age. But of course it doesn't matter, I am going to care for him and love him no matter how bitey he gets or how confused his little doggy brain is. He's been my faithful companion for over one third of my life!
But, I have decided no new boarders until after his death. (also, though I don't WANT to wait, no puppies) I will allow the ones I have already had to return (maybe not Zane, heh) and just not accept any new ones. Lilly's owner was upset that his dog caused Toby stress by her barking and he pretty much promised me she would be trained out of it ("she's only been barking in odd moments the last nine months or so!" Uh, yeah) before she returns, to be sure she IS allowed to return. He was very happy to see her running around tail wagging and playing fetch when he picked her up last week. He said the difference between that and her attitude in coming home from a kennel was amazing.
All my customers are very happy with me and some weeks business is good - like the last two. But school is back in session, holidays and vacations are limited, and I think winter is going to be hard. Slow. I know it takes time to build up clientele and actually I am doing pretty well for having just started out a few months ago. It's just.... I am not sure I can stand to live off my line of credit during slow months and try to recoup the money in summer. In fact I already had to take 200$ out of my meager savings last month because I got behind. (stupid school taxes) I may end up going back to working for someone else. Maybe I can get a holiday job in the middle of the night somewhere to help out this winter.
I don't think I have ever seen a dog as happy as Duke. If he is standing up his tail is wagging his whole body. Every time I stand up, even at 2 am, he jumps up, tail wagging, and heads for the door so I can throw the tennis ball for him. He is FIXATED on tennis balls. His owner brought two sleeves plus two extra when she dropped him off last week and I was surprised. How could he possibly need all these tennis balls?? But besides chasing them he chews at them until they get punctured and then tears them up like Toby used to do to pop bottles. We are down to three balls left and he doesn't go home until next Wednesday. I'm not sure they will last!
It is too hot. Come on fall!!
