Barbara U.
Portsmouth, VA
Never met a dog I didn't like.
Pet care experience
My experience starts with my own pets growing up, dogs and cats. Once I was older and had kids of my own, we had cats, dogs, rats, lizards and a few frogs. I started my career as a volunteer at a county shelter, after 2 years of volunteering in the vet clinic I was hired as a kennel attendant. I worked for 3 years as a kennel attendant and had the good fortune to meet some dog trainers that help me greatly in understanding the mind of a dog. I moved up to being an animal control officer, but quickly realized that helping dogs become more adoptable was my passion. I left working for the county and came back as a private contractor to be an enrichment trainer at the shelter. I walked a lot of dogs there and then moved into the private sector, working with owned dogs and dogs in rescues. I have been walking and training dogs on my own for 4 years. I have worked with and walked a lot of challenging dogs, small and large. I am new to the Portsmouth area and would love to share my experience with dog owners in the area. As I am new to the area, my schedule is fairly flexible. I am just getting established here and I am not currently working a 9 to 5 job. I am willing to work weekends and holidays. My owns pets, 2 dogs, Kicheko and Kringle, 2 cats, Zeus and Miyako are very much part of the family. They are allowed on the furniture and have a large yard to explore. We go for walks every day, in our neighborhood or in one of the amazing parks we have found since moving here I am currently very flexible with my personal routine, which helps me be available when it is convenient for your schedule. I am new to the area and reestablishing my dog training business. Having worked with shelter and rescue dogs for years, safety for your dog is my first priority. I always make sure collars and harness are secure before walking. I make sure I know your dog's comfort levels with noise, movement, seeing people or other animals.
Reviews
Working long shifts is stressful enough without having to worry about your pup at home alone. Ms. Barbara relieved me of that worry - she is a phenomenal dog walker, Hardy is always cool calm and collected when I return home from work so I can tell their walks are good exercise for him. Ms. Barbara goes above and beyond, keeps me in the loop and shows Hardy the affection he craves! I will absolutely be a return customer week after week!
Excellent service and my dog is super happy and very well taken care of.
Barbara truly has a love and understanding of dogs. Before she moved away from our area, we had been working with her on several issues (reactivity to other dogs, excessive barking in the house) with our two rescue pups. Through her positive reinforcement training, not only have my boys become much more calm out in public, but I am much more confident and relaxed as well. I just can’t say enough great things about her. Barbara is an absolute gem and we sure do miss her!
I reached out to Barbara after adopting a dog from the local shelter. At first, he was barking excessively & would choose to do his own thing. It was a lot for me to handle & I was new to adopting… she was able to take my pup for a sleepover one night with the Krew & he behaved great with her. Barbara was also able to come to the home & teach me how to train my pet. I appreciate that she doesn’t only train the animals, but gives advice & tips for the owner on how to keep the training going even when she is not there. She was quick to respond by phone with any questions that I have. I would definitely recommend her training services!
About Barbara U.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Your dog's safety and comfort are my first priorities. I will always ask about safety concerns such as door dashing, fearfulness, reactivity or if they have a tendency to try to slip their harness or collar.
Information Barbara U. would like to know about your pet
It is important to know what your dog's comfort level is. Does your dog have any physical limitations? Is your dog a good walker or a puller on the lead? Is your dog fearful or reactive to a particular stimulus? Are there special activities that your dog enjoys?
A typical day
Depending on the needs of your dog or dogs I am walking, I like to mix up neighborhood walks with walks in nearby parks. This allows some variety to keep your dog enjoying and engaged on a walk.
Services
Barbara can watch in your home
Availability
I work from home, so have lots of flexibility to accommodate your dog's walking needs. If you don't see an availability on my calendar, message me and we'll figure out a solution.
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About Barbara U.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Your dog's safety and comfort are my first priorities. I will always ask about safety concerns such as door dashing, fearfulness, reactivity or if they have a tendency to try to slip their harness or collar.
Information Barbara U. would like to know about your pet
It is important to know what your dog's comfort level is. Does your dog have any physical limitations? Is your dog a good walker or a puller on the lead? Is your dog fearful or reactive to a particular stimulus? Are there special activities that your dog enjoys?
A typical day
Depending on the needs of your dog or dogs I am walking, I like to mix up neighborhood walks with walks in nearby parks. This allows some variety to keep your dog enjoying and engaged on a walk.
Location
Portsmouth, VA
Pets
Barbara U.
Portsmouth, VA