Sometimes the most beautiful dog friendships form in one weekend. When Hanneke hosted a guest dog and two "emergency shelter" dogs at the same time, her home became a happy mix of snouts, tails and new connections.
Also curious about what a babysitting weekend looks like? Discover the Petbnb community and find a reliable babysitter in your area.
A sleepover weekend full of new encounters
Last week Noortje, a sweet Springer Spaniel, came to stay with Hanneke. Noortje is happy, affectionate and loves company. On Friday, however, Hanneke received an unexpected call: if she could take care of two extra dogs on Saturday and Sunday - one the size of a Great Dane and a fifteen-year-old Labrador.
Since she knew the dogs well, she agreed. Only: Noortje found Jack, the big Great Dane, rather impressive at first and kept an appropriate distance. Time to get acquainted in a way that always works: walking!
From careful sniffing to running together
On Saturday Noortje still kept Jack at bay, but on Sunday everything changed. That morning Hanneke went out early for a walk of over two hours with her own dog Bikkel, Jack and Noortje. To her delight, Jack and Noortje ran and played all along the route.
"I enjoyed it SO much," says Hanneke. "It is special to see how dogs adapt when they are welcomed in a calm, relaxed atmosphere. As a sitter, all you have to do is provide that space - the dogs do the rest."
A relaxed farewell
After dinner that morning, Noortje and Jack continued to play happily, as if they had known each other for years. Around 2 p.m. Noortje was picked up by her owner - happy, fulfilled, but with one last look towards Jack. A weekend full of fun and trust, exactly what babysitting is all about.
"That's what I do it for," he said. says Hanneke. "For the dog who enjoys, and for the owner who can leave with peace of mind."
Hanneke is a Top babysitter on Petbnb. Want to learn more about her shelter experiences or book a sleepover? Check out her profile on Petbnb.
English 
Nederlands