From the streets of Mexico to jet-setting around the world: Chia’s rescue story

Did you know you can soak up the joys of pet sitting even if you’ve got four-legged family members of your own? Well our lovely members, Danielle and Brodin, made this dream a reality and it all started when they rescued their adorable pooch, Chia. 

Back in 2018, Danielle and Brodin took Chia off the streets of Mexico. She roamed with no pet parents to look after her, and to say that the pair turned her life around is an understatement. They took her into love and safety that for all they knew, she’d never experienced properly before. Fast-forward to now, Chia is living her best life as she follows her pet parents around the globe, staying in cool homes and meeting new fluffy friends as they bring her along for pet sitting adventures.

So far, the couple have enjoyed a grand total of 25 sits with their adorable rescue dog, met fluffy friends of all shapes and sizes and stayed in some seriously enviable locations. If you’re wondering how a story that beats the movies can be quite this real, we’re going to tell you! Let’s journey through Chia’s amazing rescue story, plus tips from Danielle and Brodin on how you can make your pet sitting dream a reality, too.

But first, let’s talk all things Chia. (And just a quick trigger warning: we’re about to discuss dog mistreatment and illness)

“When we first met Chia, she was malnourished and full of scars from recently being attacked on the streets. [...] She also amazingly survived distemper on her own. [...] Although she survived, distemper left her with bad teeth, a neurological tic and cataracts at a young age. Chia was too scared to walk when we first met her, so we had to carry her often.”

You might be wondering how Danielle and Brodin managed to get Chia to a level of health where she was able to enjoy life as much as she does now…

“Amazingly, despite her early life trauma, she has always been sweet and loving. Over the years that we have spent with her, she has gained a lot of confidence and is a wonderful, happy dog.”

Plus, it turns out that this cutie isn’t fazed by meeting new dogs and travelling with her pet sitter-come-pet parents.

“Chia has the best time travelling with us on our sits. She absolutely loves exploring the new parks and trails and making new canine friends along the way. She will play with puppies for hours or sunbathe and relax alongside the older dogs.”

It’s clear that the pair’s enthusiasm for travel and zest for life has rubbed off on this adorable pooch.

“We love being active and exploring all of the places we travel to. There are always new restaurants to try, new cultures to learn about and new experiences to have.” 

So, how are the couple able to enjoy new places with new fluffy friends? The answer is: they’re animal lovers through and through. Almost everything they do while they’re away with Chia and the four-legged pals they’re sitting will be dog-friendly - providing an unforgettable experience for ALL parties.

“Almost everything we do is dog friendly because Chia is always with us. If the dogs that we are sitting are up for a little adventure, we love to bring them with us as well.  We see our sit as a staycation for the pets! Whether it is hiking, paddleboarding, going to breweries, beaches, lakes, farmer’s markets, festivals or dog events, we love bringing the dogs and having a good time.”

So, who are these mystery pet pals who Chia has befriended on her travels with Danielle and Brodin?

“The biggest dog we have cared for is a 155 lb Newfoundland, the smallest was a 7lb mini-daschund. The oldest was 17 years old and the youngest was just 6 weeks.” 

While new-found friendships are invaluable for Chia, her presence has also benefited them no end, especially those affected by the pandemic.

“We have had sits with puppies and with dogs who were adopted during COVID and therefore had limited socialisation. It was a great experience for these dogs to be able to spend time with Chia in their space and have a positive dog experience!” 

So Chia, Danielle, Brodin, and their new fluffy friends are happy. What about the pet parents whose cool homes they’re all staying in?

“Most owners who have dogs that are friendly with other dogs think that it is great that Chia is coming along too! It gives their dog a friend to play with and some canine company while they are away.  Chia gets along with dogs big and small, old and young.” 

And while Danielle, Brodin and Chia all know they’ll be the best company possible for pet pals across the globe, they equally understand that leaving our fur babies at home with new company can be a little daunting. 

“It is difficult to leave your pet behind and it can be a little stressful to have strangers and their dog staying in your house watching your pet. That is definitely understandable. To ease this stress, we have built a social media presence for us and Chia. [...] We also make sure to have a video call with the owners so we can all get to know each other.”

And the proof is in the pudding - the homes that Danielle, Brodin and Chia have stayed in have left pet parents with peace of mind and wanting more.

“For one of our sits, the wife was a little hesitant to have another dog stay at her house. However, the husband thought it would be a great idea to have another dog to give their high energy dog a friend to play with. After reading our reviews and having a video chat with them, they decided to give it a shot! We have now completed four sits for them and Chia and their dog are best friends!

For another sit, the dog was a bit anxious and had not had much experience with other dogs. The owners thought it would be great for her to get some socialisation while they were away but were understandably a bit nervous. We took it slow and brought the dogs on lots of walks together and within a few days, the shy pup was happily instigating play with Chia.  Also, the owner said the daily pictures and updates really helped her to feel more at ease. We were invited to come back for another sit a few months later.”

Got a fluffy four-legged buddy at home yourself? If you’d love sitters like Danielle and Brodin with a canine cutie to accompany yours during their stay, here’s what the couple have told us they look out for in any prospective listings…

• “Does the listing mention if their dog is friendly with other dogs? The listing may specifically say that their dog is friendly with other dogs. Another good indication is if the listing mentions that their dog goes to dog parks or dog day care.  
• If the listing says that the dog is friendly with other dogs or if the listing doesn't mention anything about other dogs, then we will consider applying. 
• If the listing specifically states that their dog is reactive or not friendly with other dogs, we do not apply. The owner also may specifically state in the listing that they do not want other animals in their house.”

And if you’re considering a pet sitting journey, here’s what Danielle and Brodin suggest asking any pet parents…

• “What is the dog’s personality like? Are they dominant/submissive? Calm? Playful? Protective?
• Is he/she friendly with other dogs? 
• Has your dog had any experience sharing their space with another dog? A dog being friendly with other dogs when meeting on a walk or even at a dog park/dog beach is different than a dog being OK with other dogs being at their home. 
• Is the dog protective of food/treats/toys?
• Are there any behavioural issues we should know about?”

Or have you secured a sit and plan to take your furry friend along with you, too? Here are some handy tips from our two very experienced sitters…

• “It is very important for the dogs to have a positive first meeting. Always meet on neutral ground. We like to have the dogs meet Chia and us outside and then go on a walk together. This helps the situation be a bit more controlled rather than an off leash greeting or a greeting on one dog’s territory. Going on walks together helps the dogs bond with each other. They get to sniff the same things, sniff each other and learn to coexist.
• Treat the dogs the same. If one dog gets a treat, make sure to give the other a treat too. Alternate the order that you give treats.
• For the first day or so, remove high value toys and treats to avoid confrontation.
• Always feed separately.
• Never leave the dogs alone together when you leave the house. Many owners will be OK with you leaving your dog alone with theirs, but we do not just to be extra cautious.
• Know your dog [...].
• Know dog behaviour! We spend a lot of time with dogs and have learned to pick up the signs when they are not happy. Pay attention to what signs a dog might be giving. Are their hackles up? Is their lip furling? Is their tail tucked? Are their ears pinned back? Are they playbowing? Are they wagging? These are all signs the dog is giving about how they are feeling. By knowing what to look for and understanding how a dog is feeling, you can do things to ensure that the dogs in your care are always happy! 
• Don’t force or rush things. Keep in mind that it can be stressful for your dog to move often and adjust to new places, and it can be stressful for the dogs you are sitting to have their owners away and their routines disrupted. 
• Be patient, it can take time for dogs to figure each other out. There can be scuffles as dogs try to figure each other out. Fortunately for us, Chia never causes any issues and the moment another dog gets feisty, Chia runs back to us for protection, which makes it easy to de-escalate the situation. 
• Big tip: Take lots of good quality pictures and videos and send them to the owners every day!

So, thinking about setting up your pet sitting dream with your furry friend by your side, every step of the way? Simply set up your TrustedHousesitters membership to get your journey started.