My name is Bree, and I have been working with dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, fish, and horses of all breeds/types, ages, and sizes for almost 25 years. My experience with pets is lifelong, and caring for them has become a passion of mine! I have a unique, wide variety of experience that I bring to the Rover table in that I have been actively training, showing, and competing with dogs for over 20 years. My passion has lead me to become a professional trainer, approved judge, Canine Good Citizen/STAR puppy/Farm and Trick dog evaluator, USDA pet transporter, and more! This has allowed me to gain extensive knowledge of the proper care for our beloved pets. I'm also reliable and trustworthy, so you can rest assured that your pets will be in great hands with me, as I will treat them as my own! I am consistently attending seminars -- many across multiple states, and I am constantly enrolled in classes to gain more practical knowledge, as you are never finished learning in this field. I always go above and beyond for pets and their owners. On Rover, I originally offered care to dogs who were undergoing training with me, but it has now graduated to offering that same care and expertise to anyone seeking this for their beloved pets. Besides dogs, I have had birds my entire life, from many parakeets at a time, to finches, to parrots including parrotlets, a mustache parakeet, and currently an African meyers parrot. A far as cats, I grew up with them and had them over half of my life. I've had the privilege of raising kittens, and I've owned your regular house cat to Maine coon and Norwegian forest cats. I have an affection towards reptiles as well, especially lizards, snakes, hermit crabs, turtles, etc as I've handled them since I was in grade school, and I had my own throughout grade school. Lastly, my first love was actually the horse, and I began riding them when I was 5 years old! More about me: I completed two years towards veterinary medicine at Purdue University in West Lafayette and then graduated from Purdue with two bachelor degrees with a minor in Spanish. I currently work with families and children full time in hopes that they feel advocated for. To me, it is uplifting and strengthening our community. This is another passion of mine. It is a role that requires patience, empathy, and reliability - the same qualities I bring to pet care. I currently have German shepherds, and German shepherds have been my life since I was 5 years old. My 12 year old Shepherd is my heart, and he has taught me more about life and dogs than anything else. I have a major fascination for working breeds and what they have done for humans. My goal is that my dogs live a life of fulfillment, and if they could they would tell you that I hope they reach their full potential. I've always trained in some of the most challenging sports you can do with them. This is how I approach training with owners also--I want to help owners build strong, healthy relationships with their dog, and I want their dog to live a fulfilled life. With pets comes their obvious care when things go wrong. Unfortunately, I have had pets with cancer or who have had accidental injuries that require quick thinking, first aid, rehab, medications, and management all while remaining diligent and calm under pressure -- so rest assured that if ever needed, I have had plenty of experience, and your pets livelihood is my first priority. A scary example would be that, at 12 years old, I saved my own dog's life from swallowing a ball that was too small for him. As a trainer and competitor, I have heard many awful stories that dogs have passed away after choking on a ball. So, not only do I possess the certificate and training for pet first aid, but I also started young and know how to be proactive and prevent but also take charge. As a trainer, I have experience with rehabing aggression, reactivity, fear, and anxiety in dogs, and I have had to find ways to build confidence and trust in many, many dogs AND cats. I've also had to think fast in unfortunate scenarios like dog fights or biting incidents. So, if you have a dog that needs an experienced caregiver in that department, please don't hesitate to reach out and tell me about your pet!