I've taken care of dogs and cats since I was a young child. I began working with horses and training large dogs at the age of 13. I started a neighborhood pet sitting services when I was 14 - and have taken care of turtles, birds, cats, dogs, and one pig. I have a background in training, working with aggressive and fearful animals, and worked at a veterinary clinic for about 5 years (and am quite experienced in giving medicines and monitoring health conditions). We have a home with a fenced yard and two dogs - one large doggo and one small doggo - and one cat who thinks he is a dog. We do kennel our dogs at night and the cat has free range. We have two children - a daughter who is in elementary school and a son who's still a toddler -so we ask that any animal coming into our home be experienced around young children and cats. Both our children are being raised to be respectful and kind to animals. They both help in different ways with pet care such as feeding, grooming/brushing, and being gentle. We do have a rule in our home that no children are left alone with dogs without an adult actively present - as animals and children can both make poor choices. We utilize baby gates to set up areas that are "kid free" and especially "toddler free" so that each animal that comes into our home has a safe spot to relax. We do ask for boarding dogs that you do not bring many toys - but please bring a crate or a blanket, or something that your dog can have that marks that they have a spot in our home. It also prevents dogs from being anxious as it will smell like you and your home. I am currently working from home and do leave each morning to walk neighborhood doggos but return around 8:45 am each weekday. I do have a middle of the day client and occasionally a drop in client. I am very rarely gone from my home for more than a few hours. If there is a scheduling issue or I do need to be gone for more than 6 hours I will inform you and make sure that we have a plan. I do have private pet care insurance. For the dogs that come into my home they become a part of my pack. A meet and greet AT LEAST 3 DAYS IN ADVANCE is necessary for a dog or dogs to feel safe when they come back to stay with us. The only times we have experienced a dog or dogs that were stressed during their stays were ones that had same day meet and greets or no meet and greets. A meet and greet a few days in advance allows your dogs to get to know me, my home, my pack which includes my husband, my kids, and my dogs. By setting it up ahead of time this gives your dog the best chance at a low key introduction and allow for them to return and feel that my home is a safe place. We do ask for younger dogs, that a kennel is provided (under 2 years old) as most young dogs have a hard time at night - and a kennel with bedding or items from your home that smell safe - keeps them calm, contained, and safe. We do allow dogs to go in their kennels during the day, however we usually keep the kennels shut to all dogs - and the dogs free - as some dogs can get protective of their "spot". We also occasionally do "pack walks" so that the dogs can feel a sense of community and bond as they "work" together. We utilize this especially for our visiting friends that have some nervous energy or are sad about being separate from their home/pack/family. We also always feed dogs separately. For dogs that are "grazers" we have developed a good plan and process to make sure your dog consumes enough food and doesn't get hungry. We have found that separate feeding spaces and times prevents guarding aggression or feeling possessive over a certain spot. This is a hard rule in our home for the safety of all out animals and our children. Safety is paramount! We also only take one family's dogs at a time - as that ensures we all know how they get along prior to drop off. This is currently a hard rule but may change in the future - I will update each client and should there be more than one family's dogs in our home all sets of pet parents will be asked permission.