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Alexandra H.

Oakland, CA

2 reviews
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Energetic, Experienced Dog Trainer

Pet care experience

Why did I become a pet sitter? Because I LOVE dogs of course! I love dogs because they are the most genuine and sincere creatures on the planet. All they want to do is to give and receive love (and maybe get a butt scratch, a treat, and a game of fetch too!), they have a purity that no human can possess. If you're looking for an experienced, passionate, and energetic pet sitter, you've come to the right place. You and your dog will love how knowledgable I am. I have experience with puppies, small & large, older dogs, pack management (maintaining a safe environment in a multiple dog household), following feeding instructions exactly and preparing special diets,and administering medications correctly. I also have a certification in Pet CPR. I've worked with rescues with trauma, and dogs with fear and anxiety. Basically, I've done it all. I am a former student of the Animal Behavior College, about to begin another dog training program through Penn Foster and I hope to one day get my BA in Canine Behavior through the Bergin University of Canine Studies. My curriculum favors a combination of positive reinforcement (using rewards the dog values such as a treats, toys, belly rubs, etc.) and negative punishment (the use of a no reward marker such as “eh eh” to communicate “wrong, try again” or to turn away from the dog when an unwanted behavior is performed in response to a cue) techniques so if you have me sit for you, you know your furry family member is in loving and humane hands! Though I consider myself to be experienced and knowledgeable about dog behavior, training, body language, etc, I am always working to become better at what I do and love learning as much as possible. I am interested in sitting now because I plan on working with dogs as a lifetime commitment that will benefit the dogs and their human companions whose paths I cross! That said, I am hoping to make myself well-rounded and create a strong foundation for the future and meet some amazing new people and dogs and be of service how I can! My end goal is to eventually start my own rescue for hard to place dogs that have bounced around from families to shelters and back. I pride myself on providing you and your dog with excellent customer service. For me, it all starts with communication. I communicate with my canine clients through positive reinforcement and body language, and I communicate with their human counterparts through lots of updates on how their pet is doing! I know how hard it is to leave your dog behind, and I will do everything I can to earn your trust. Please reach out to me with any questions, I am so excited to meet you and your dog!

Reviews

Mark D.
Mar 06, 2018

Alex did a great job taking care of my dog, Finn, while I was out of town visiting my sister in L.A. last month. Finn is a bit older and has to take Rimadyl for his arthritis and hip dysplasia but he can be a pain about taking his medication. When Alex and I scheduled a meeting and greet, she came during the time I would normally give Finn his Rimadyl so that she could demonstrate her ability to get an older, finnicky dog to take a pill. She had no problem getting him to take the medication so I felt so much more at ease leaving Finn in her care. I asked Alex to stay with Finn in my Piedmont home and was pleased to come home to a tidy house and a happy dog. Alex also was really good about sending photo updated during the three day weekend I was gone for, she even edited them do they looked really nice! I would definitely leave Finn with her again and would recommend her to anyone looking for a sitter! - Mark

Coraline T.
Mar 06, 2018

I was so so so so happy with my experience having Alexandra care for my pit mix Rocko!!! Rocko has A LOT of energy and is really muscular and strong and several walkers I have had in the past have had a difficult time keeping him under their control if he sees another dog, a squirrel, children running, people playing with balls, etc. I have had a really hard time finding someone that doesn't find themselves being towed away by him any time he starts to pull because he sees something interesting! And as much as I love him, he can be a little much for me too sometimes and my husband usually has to hold the leash when we take him out in the evening. Alexandra impressed me right away because from the moment Rocko met her, she immediately established herself as being the "alpha" or whatever (sorry I am not that well-versed in dog training lingo or whatever). We went on a walk together so I could see how she would handle Rocko and she is so patient, I could not believe it! Every time he would start to pull, she would stop and wait for him to be calm and do what she called, "a focus exercise" and make him sit, make eye contact with her, hold it for a few seconds and then she'd give him a treat. If there was another dog or something else that he would normally freak out over, she would "bait" her hand (and she explains everything she's doing in a way where you can understand it easily and you don't feel like she's talking down to you or anything !) with a treat and make sure he knew it was there and then lead him away from the distraction. At the end of the walk, I felt like I had learned a lot from her and Rocko seemed a little calmer than usual. Alexandra has walked Rocko several times since then and on occasion she has let me come along so that I can learn how I can be more in control when I walk him myself. She's made a lot of progress with him too so now when I do walk him, he pulls a lot less. And she introduced us to the front attached harness from Halti and it helps so much! I am so grateful to have met Alexandra and I think I will definitely be making an account with Rover since this is how to book with her now. Seriously, Alexandra is like a dog whisperer, that guy Cesar Milan has got nothing on her.

About Alexandra H.

Communication

1 repeat pet parents
60% response rate
Usually responds in under 12 hours
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Skills

5 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration
First aid/CPR
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Information Alexandra H. would like to know about your pet

Anyone thinking of bring their dog to me should answer the following questions at some point in our initial conversation or at our meet and greet: Does your dog take medication? Is your dog friendly with other dogs of the same gender or opposite gender? Are there any dogs that your dog does not get along with? How do you usually respond if a stranger and their child approach you and ask if they can pet your dog? Does your dog have any favorite toys, snacks, places, or activities? Does your dog have a high prey drive? (do they like to chase small animals, balls, etc?) Do you know of any trauma they may have or any triggers that might make them react fearfully/aggressively? What times do you usually feed your dog and what is the serving size? Do they have any allergies or are they on a special diet? Is it okay for them to have any grain-free treats I might have with me? Is there anything else you think I should know about your dog? I have no breed preferences, I love all dogs; big and small and everything in between.

A typical day

I want to know what your dog's routine is! Are they playful? Then we'll head to the nearest park for a romp. Are they more chill? A leisurely walk will be the best thing for them. I want your dog to enjoy their time with me, so let me know what their favorite games are, their usual exercise regimen and if you want me to work on any training!

Services

House Sitting
in your home
AWAY
Drop-In Visits
visits in your home
AWAY
Dog Walking
in your neighborhood
AWAY

Alexandra can watch in your home

0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs

About Alexandra H.

Communication

1 repeat pet parents
60% response rate
Usually responds in under 12 hours
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards

Skills

5 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration
First aid/CPR
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Information Alexandra H. would like to know about your pet

Anyone thinking of bring their dog to me should answer the following questions at some point in our initial conversation or at our meet and greet: Does your dog take medication? Is your dog friendly with other dogs of the same gender or opposite gender? Are there any dogs that your dog does not get along with? How do you usually respond if a stranger and their child approach you and ask if they can pet your dog? Does your dog have any favorite toys, snacks, places, or activities? Does your dog have a high prey drive? (do they like to chase small animals, balls, etc?) Do you know of any trauma they may have or any triggers that might make them react fearfully/aggressively? What times do you usually feed your dog and what is the serving size? Do they have any allergies or are they on a special diet? Is it okay for them to have any grain-free treats I might have with me? Is there anything else you think I should know about your dog? I have no breed preferences, I love all dogs; big and small and everything in between.

A typical day

I want to know what your dog's routine is! Are they playful? Then we'll head to the nearest park for a romp. Are they more chill? A leisurely walk will be the best thing for them. I want your dog to enjoy their time with me, so let me know what their favorite games are, their usual exercise regimen and if you want me to work on any training!

Location

Oakland, CA

Alexandra H.'s Neighborhood

Pets

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Alexandra H.

Oakland, CA

2 reviews