Meet & Greets are required before booking with me for the first time. Please make sure (if this is your first contact with me) you are requesting my services with at least seven (7) days' notice before your stay would actually begin. A minimum of one weeks' notice allows us to check schedules to find a day & time that works for us both and to change plans if necessary. Meet & Greets are important for you as a responsible dog owner, and for me as a responsible sitter. It is essential that we meet in my home so your dog can explore the house and yard, and we can get to know each other and talk about your dog's usual routines. This gives us the opportunity to see how comfortable your dog is with us, and how comfortable we all are with each other. Scheduling a Meet & Greet does not guarantee the stay will be booked, but when owner and sitter mutually agree upon booking a stay, Meet & Greets do aid in a pleasant & relaxed drop-off on the first day of the booked stay. I have no breed preferences, but I would definitely want to know the overall disposition of the dog before sitting. Is he/she a jumper? A barker/growler? Laid-back? And, most importantly, does he/she get along with children?

Depending on the weather, we may take a short car ride to find a place for a nice walk. We live 5 minutes from a county park that has a .8 mile loop to walk on, and a Rail Trail access point. If your dog is only used to backyard play, we've got that covered too! Deciding where your dog will sleep at night depends on where your dog is used to sleeping in your home. Most times we welcome the dogs into our bedroom to sleep wherever they are comfortable -on the floor or on our bed. Some dogs prefer to sleep in a crate and we are happy to oblige. Worry not, your dog will be safe and well-cared for. We want them to be comfortable staying with us and have many areas for your dog to call a temporary home. I have a lot of time to spend with your dog since l homeschool my children. We all love playing with the dogs, and during quiet times we have no problems sharing the couch and giving head scratches or belly rubs. We do not currently own a dog, and our children love having a variety of breeds visit us for stays. We treat each dog like our own, so be assured your dog will get a lot of personal attention and TLC! Safety and Protection It is my policy to crate every dog while we are not home; no matter the age, size, breed, temperament or how much I trust him or her. Crating is for your dog's safety and protection, as well as ours. We have a large and an XXL large crate for your convenience, or you may bring your own. We do our best to have someone home at all times to allow your dog free roam of the house and backyard for as much of the day as possible, and to limit the need to crate. Crating times can range from 15 minutes to an hour. The health and safety of your 4-legged family member is a top priority and I appreciate your understanding and acceptance of this policy.