Ben B.
Ben B.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Experienced pet sitter/walker
I have had pets since I was little, a rabbit, a springer spaniel and a boarder terrier. I used to walk neighbours dogs for free. I have had three cats and currently have a golden retriever who is 1 year old at the end of August. Before I discovered Rover.com I have been informally caring for friends, family and acquaintances pets for free or sometimes for a fee by word of mouth. I have worked as an animal keeper in a zoo for a year during a BSc degree in wildlife conservation as a mature student, modules included Animal Behaviour and Anatomy and Physiology. I went to Guatemala post graduation to volunteer with ARCAS in their rescue, rehabilitate and release of wild animals, rescued predominantly from the illegal trade of wild animals. I love all forms of life including human’s favourites, dogs and cats. I limit what I can do so as not to risk the neglect of any animal in my care. Regular and repeat booking prices are negotiable depending on the requirements. The care I provide is considerate of the animal and the client, I can tailor to what you need for you and your animal.
Cat care experience
Ben also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
We are so grateful to Ben for taking such wonderful care of our Bagheera for four days while we were on holiday. Finding someone we could trust was really important to us. Ben was incredibly loving, attentive, and caring, and Bagheera was so happy and comfortable with him. He paid great attention to all our requests and to every little detail. We couldn’t recommend Ben highly enough. Thank you so much for taking such great care of our boy! 🐶🐾
My baby Remus a great Dane cross cane Corso went and stayed with Ben and his dog Noah for a long weekend why we were away. Remus was well cared for and had a great time playing and going on walks with Noah. I received constant videos and pictures of Remus and what he was getting up to as well as tracking of the walks he got taken on how long they were and where and the routes. Ben even done a meet and greet with me and Remus and brought Noah a week or two before his stay to make sure the boys got along and Remus was happy to stay with them. Noah shared all his favorite activities and bed, toys and sofa with Remus. Ben always supervised them when they played together and made sure Remus had everything he needed. A big thank you to both Noah and Ben for sharing their space and favorite activities with Remus.
Cannot thank Ben enough. He made the time to come meet our fur babies, was very calm and patient with them and sent us amazing updates. Really is an animal whisperer!
Ben has looked after our dog Luna for three nights whilst we were away for a short family holiday. To be honest, we were a little nervous at first. Luna hasn’t had much opportunity to socialise with other dogs and can be quite reactive and full-on, so we weren’t sure how she’d settle in with Ben and his dog, Noah. We really didn’t need to worry. Ben has been absolutely amazing with Luna. Not only has he made her feel completely at home, but somehow she’s become the best of friends with Noah whilst we’ve been away. It’s been so lovely to see. Ben has kept us updated every single day with messages, photos, and videos of Luna having the best time. Those updates gave us so much peace of mind and were far more than we ever expected. We honestly couldn’t recommend Ben highly enough. We’re going away again in three weeks, and Luna will be staying with Ben and Noah again. We already know she’ll be so excited to go back - and we have a feeling she’ll miss them in the meantime! Thank you, Ben, for taking such wonderful care of our girl. It’s such a relief to know she’s in such caring and capable hands.
Scout settled very quickly with Ben (and Noah) on his very first visit, so will definitely be returning ☺️
Lovely as always, very grateful to Ben for everything he does for Alfie
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
The day starts with outside time, followed by breakfast at 08:00 and then some playtime. If walking is required then walking would be next, although, I’m flexible depending on the guest, my dog, Noah, likes a snoozy morning and I do chores, read, write and keep my eyes on the animals in my charge. If I have dog walking dates I would do up to 2 or 3 of those depending on needs of the dogs. I may have some drop in visits for cats but if I have boarding/daycare I like to be at home so tend not to overbook myself. I never leave the house for longer than 90 minutes, drop ins and walks usually take 30 - 45 minutes with travel. Lunch is at 1pm. More walking dates or freelance work can happen or if I have a doggy guest that requires post lunch walk then this would be next. I tend to take Noah to the forest for an hour between 2 and 4pm. Dinner is at 6pm. There may be an evening walk if required. I tend not to give treats unless instructed to by owners. Evening is gentle play with a wind down, I sometimes watch a film or settle with a book. Bedtime is 10 - 11pm with sleeping arrangements as stipulated by owners.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
I have a secure fenced garden with lawn. There is a mortise lock gate and security cameras on the garden, driveway, front of the property and inside the house so I can check if I’m out which isn’t often, I pay a subscription to ring.com which stores recordings in the cloud - for everyone’s safety. I never overbook, my care is pet centred. There are no toxic plants or access to drains. There is no exposed wiring or electrical hazards. My house is wheelchair accessible although there is no downstairs toilet. There is potentially flexibility within my pricing depending on your individual needs and circumstances.
Pets
A typical day
I provide plenty of play, fetch and tug of war. I have enrichment in the form of different textured toys. I happy to reinforce any training regime you may have. I live on the edge of Sherwood Forest and once or twice a day I like to walk the dogs around the forest. Happy to provide a shampoo, rinse and dry plus grooming. I’m unable to provide haircuts or claw clipping. In the current heat Noah loves a cold shower in the garden or the mist setting on the hose. I am aware of the impact heat can have on dogs especially certain breeds. I provide plenty of ice and ensure things stay calm when it’s balmy like it has been lately.