There is a version of play that exhausts your dog. And there is a version of play that fulfills them.

They are not the same.

At Auntie M Dog Training here in Asheville, we see this distinction matter every single day. Play is not just about getting energy out. It is not chaos. It is not frantic ball throwing until your dog collapses. It is not waving the toy in their face until they grab it.

For many families, daily dog walking and recurring pet care are the foundation of a calmer home, a healthier dog, and peace of mind when life gets busy.

Finding care for you pets that truly checks all the boxes can feel overwhelming. You might worry about reliability, follow through, availability, handling behavioral challenges, or whether someonewill really understand your pet’s needs they way you do.

As the year winds down, a lot of us feel that familiar end of year intensity. Busy schedules, holiday plans, extra stimulation, and less downtime. When life speeds up, our dogs often feel it too.

If you’ve been thinking, “There is no way my dog can chill out right now,” we get it. Truly. Many of the dog training clients we work with come to us feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and unsure how to create calm at home.

As we move into a new year, we’ve been reflecting on all the moments big and small that shaped our community in 2025. When we look back, what stands out most isn’t the total number of walks, sits, hikes, or training sessions we completed. It’s what those moments meant for the pets and people who trusted us with their lives and routines.

This year asked a lot of our community. Many of you navigated busy seasons at work, big family trips, unexpected life shifts, and the lingering effects of Helene. Through it all, you showed up for your pets and we were honored to show up for you.

That shared need for connection, reliability, and peace of mind is at the heart of our team-based approach at Auntie M Pet Care. Through many years of serving families across Asheville and surrounding Western North Carolina communities, one thing has been made incredibly clear: 

Reliable pet care isn’t something one person provides, it’s created by a whole team working together with shared standards and shared care for pets.

That’s why our approach brings so much value to Asheville pet owners.

At Auntie M Pet Care, our mission has always been to advocate for the health and happiness of the pets in our care while being a trustworthy, knowledgeable resource for their humans.

Now, we’re proud to share that our commitment officially aligns with the Global Standards for Professional Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Businesses from Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s leading organization for professional pet care providers.

We’re thrilled that PSI created these new standards for professional pet care providers. In an industry that has been largely unregulated, there’s now a clear framework to guide ethical, responsible, and professional practices, and to help businesses like ours continue improving year after year.

As the 4th of July approaches, many of us look forward to celebrating with barbecues, parades, and of course, fireworks. However, our furry friends may not share our enthusiasm for these loud, booming displays. For many dogs, fireworks can be a source of significant stress and anxiety. To ensure a safe and comfortable holiday for your beloved pets, we’ve put together some tips to help keep your dog as calm as possible during the fireworks.

Several years ago, I was caring for a couple of dogs (I won’t share details here for privacy purposes), for several days in a row. The owner did not tell me where they were going, they just booked a few days of visits for their dogs. I was sending regular updates, but never heard back from them, and one day I asked a question in my update, which they never responded to. I followed up, and still nothing.