Weekend House Sitting with a Velcro Dog

Shogi Pet Sitting in Los Angeles

Dog Sitting in Palos Verdes Estates

For the last two weekends we’ve been dog-sitting in Palos Verdes Estates (PV) for a one-year old Vizsla called Shogi. This breed of Hungarian dog was bred as a pointer and retriever, but all Shogi really wants to do – is play catch, cuddle and be your best friend!

Shogi was super affectionate, after she got over her initial shyness. And was like looking after an excitable 3 year old toddler.

Shogi Pet Sitting in Los Angeles
“Who are you? … actually as long as you love me, I don’t care who you are!”

PV is a unique area of Los Angeles, on a promontory in the South Bay just below Redondo Beach. It’s been a couple of years since we dog sat in this neighbourhood, but I was excited to be staying in the area, albeit for two short weekends.

It’s easy to get lost in this neighbourhood. It’s a slightly rural area and the road seems to loop endlessly amid the hills, and if you miss your turning you can’t do a U-turn for miles.

Windy roads and hills in Los Angeles from Palos Verdes
Windy roads and hills in Palos Verdes

I’m without a car at the moment so I had to venture there in an Uber, and even with their access to navigation apps, two of my Uber drivers missed the turning.

It’s a great neighbourhood for dogs, and there was a trail right at the end of the street. Shogi had lots of energy so needed a couple of long walks each day. She loved playing catch with a stick and a ball, but like any toddler she got distracted easily.

View of Downtown Los Angeles from Palos Verdes
View of Downtown Los Angeles from Palos Verdes

I got a little distracted too .. the views from up here are a reminder of how big and sprawling Los Angeles is.

It’s always a little nerve-racking when you dog sit for a new pet. You don’t know how responsive they’re going to be to your command, especially where there’s squirrels in the vicinity, but Shogi was a model pupil and there was no bother getting her back on her lead when we left the trail to head back to the house.

Shogi Pet Sitting in Los Angeles

Shogi was a real bundle of energy, and just wanted to cuddle. No matter where Red sat, Shogi wasn’t too far away … stuck like velcro.

Shogi Pet Sitting in Los Angeles

Luckily we were instructed to give her two really, really long walks to tire her out by the end of the day, so that we could relax in the evening.

Shogi Pet Sitting in Los Angeles
Shogi contemplating her day

And when it was time to watch a movie … Red and Shogi got comfortable on the couch and settled in for the evening.

Shogi Pet Sitting in Los Angeles
Shogi and her bone watching TV

Red slept through the movie … so Shogi and I watched it together.

Author: Roving Jay

Jay is a project manager who swapped corporate life for a nomadic existence as a travel writer. She works with authors and entrepreneurs to help them achieve their self-publishing goals and reach their target audience through content marketing. Jay has published a series of travel guides, a travel memoir, and nonfiction books about travel writing. She housesits and volunteers around the globe with her husband, a Hollywood set painter, and she’s never more that 10 paces away from a wi-fi connection.

5 thoughts on “Weekend House Sitting with a Velcro Dog

  1. Shogi facial expressions are akin to that of an innocent little kid, though she is big and beautiful. These are the perks of house sitting if you love dogs. You get to spend quality time with so many different breeds of dogs and you get to live in beautiful homes and places.
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