I have lived with and owned dogs all my life and cannot imagine a life without them in it. My own lovable fur-baby, Libby, is a 9 year old black Labrador Retriever (English Lab). Together Libby and I spend the majority of our free time hiking in the mountains, splashing in the surf, and exploring the desert. We have camped, backpacked and road-tripped all over the US & Canada together. Dog is my copilot. As a dog owner, I take pride in making my girl a priority in my life. When I make plans, they revolve around her well-being and care. I continuously ask myself, "If I were a dog, what kind of life and human would I want to have?" And to answer that question, I strive to be that kind of human for my dog. Your best friend will be in the best of care for the duration of your time away. I will also send photo/email updates as you'd like - I know when I leave my girl with anyone I am ADAMANT about receiving updates on how she's doing. Trust me, I am THAT crazy obsessive dog-owner and have the highest of standards of care for my girl. As such, you can rest assured that those same standards will be upheld for your dog as well :) Libby and I live in a house with a small yard that's totally fenced in, and spend lots of time playing outside! Your pup will have lots of love and play time, and another furry companion to keep them happy. ** Additional Animal Experience ** I grew up on horse farms and my family currently has a small farm in Montana. I have years of experience (20+!) working with and caring for horses, cows, chickens, dogs, cats, sheep, birds (house birds such as parrots and lovebirds) and goats. Additionally, my undergraduate studies were in Animal Science, so I have medical experience (pre-veterinary) and knowledge of animal behavior and needs. I am comfortable caring for exotic species as well and have experience taking care of snakes (ball pythons), fish, and turtles. I can also care for tarantulas, lizards, bearded dragons, etc. with detailed directions on their needs.