At Stable Hands Pet Care and Services, we talk a lot about meeting pets where they are. Sometimes that looks like high-energy playtime or enrichment puzzles, and sometimes it looks like stepping back and respecting a pet’s personal space. Buck the bulldog was one of those pets who reminded us exactly why individualized care matters.
Buck was a big, blocky, territorial guy with a whole lot of opinions and an even bigger attachment to his room and his couch. Fair enough, who among us doesn’t feel a certain way about our favorite spot?
After a couple other companies and a couple of our staff members had challenging introductions with him, I stepped in personally to see what Buck needed that he wasn’t quite getting yet. It didn’t take long to see that Buck wasn’t “bad,” “aggressive,” or “difficult.” He was a dog with very clear boundaries. Boundaries we needed to understand if we were going to take good care of him.
So we created what the team affectionately called “The Buck Rules.”
Rule #1: Don’t touch Buck.
Simple. Non-negotiable. Buck didn’t want pets, scratches, belly rubs, or any of the usual dog-sitter affection. His love language was space.
Rule #2: Don’t sit on Buck’s couch.
This was sacred ground. We respected that. Everybody has a favorite seat in the house.
Rule #3: If necessary, stay out of Buck’s room.
His room was his kingdom. We gave him that.
Once we understood these boundaries, caring for him became not only easier, but joyful. The routine that worked best was straightforward:
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Head to the back door.
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Call Buck out.
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Let him outside to stretch, sniff, and reset.
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While he was out, quietly put down his food.
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Then spend the rest of the visit with him, but never crowding him.
What surprised us most was how well Buck responded when we finally honored the structure he needed. He didn’t need us to win him over or “fix” anything. He just needed us to listen.
And that’s really the heart of what we do at Stable Hands. Not every pet wants cuddles. Not every pet wants playtime. Not every pet wants you anywhere near their couch. Our job is to make sure each animal, from the snuggliest kitten to the most selective bulldog, feels safe, respected, and understood.
Buck reminded us that great pet care isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s thoughtful. It’s adaptive. And sometimes it’s as simple as saying:
“Hey buddy, we’ll give you all the space you need.”