Chris S.
Toronto, ON
Chris S. has Star Sitter status
The Star Sitter program highlights responsive sitters who deliver highly rated care and have a history of listing accurate availability and preferences, making it easier for pet parents to find the best care for their pets.
Emotional Support Human For Your Pets
Pet care experience
I grew up with a German Shepherd, a Boxer, and a Shepsky, all of whom fostered a life-long, deep affection for all animals, especially dogs. I've boarded, walked, and cared for many types of dogs: purebred to supermutts; tiny lap dogs to giant King Shepherds; healthy young pups to arthritic seniors; affectionate/sweet to aloof/reserved; unflappable walkers to highly reactive ones. I tend to vibe best with dogs who are chill indoors and like snuggles, but having any friendly pet around makes me happy :-) I dabble in pawtography and love taking pictures (and occasionally videos) of your pets. And I'm always happy to share them in my daily updates along with other details about our walks and interactions. I am interested in science-based, evidence-backed animal behaviour and humane training techniques and am currently reading and studying on the subject. Since negative reinforcement and punishment has been found to be associated with undesirable behaviour, I engage in positive reinforcement and try to avoid punitive corrections and aversive techniques whenever possible.
Reviews
I didn’t think I would be able to leave my dog with any stranger due to her being reactive and nervous around new people which made me really anxious, but Chris put my nerves to rest almost immediately after dropping her off. He took lots of pictures of her happy on walks and getting lots of belly rubs. I knew I could go away knowing she was in good hands. He did a great job with her.
Thank you, Chris!
Five stars. Always great working with Chris.
Chris was fantastic. Super responsive and very good with the dog. Would absolutely recommend to anyone!
About Chris S.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Your pet's safety is of utmost importance to me. I live in a small studio apartment, so if I'm boarding a pet and we're both home, they're almost never out of sight. I may have to step out occasionally to run errands or walk other dogs but these outings are rarely longer than 1-2 hours. When walking my canine clients I'm careful of other dogs we meet, monitor body language, and proactively communicate with other handlers to establish mutual safety before allowing close interactions. I watch out for reactive triggers and have no problem changing my route to avoid them. I also try to keep a close eye on my walking buddies to prevent them from scavenging scraps from the ground. In case veterinary care is ever needed, my apartment is just a 1-minute walk away from the Wellesley Animal Hospital, and a 5-minute drive away from the 24/7 Veterinary Emergency Clinic. I also do my best to keep your pet happy and content. This includes showering them with attention, affection, encouragement, and positive reinforcement, as well as tiring them out with playing and walking activities so they're well-behaved at home and can get a good night's sleep.
Home
Information Chris S. would like to know about your pet
Please note that I can't board excessively noisy pets (continuous barking, howling, whining) as I live in an old building with extremely poor noise insulation and my neighbours will complain. If this is your first time booking with me, please let me know your availability for a short meet and greet to see how your pet reacts to me, and to ask and answer any questions we may have for each other, such as the ones below. - Is there anything I should be mindful of before our first meeting? - Does your your pet have any food sensitivities, health issues, or any history of aggression? - Does your dog have any reactive triggers (e.g. dogs, strangers, cars, wildlife)? - Has your pet been boarded before? How did they adjust? - Is your pet noisy indoors? Can the noise level be managed or controlled? - Can your pet be left alone for 2 hours or longer?
A typical day
I live near Yonge and Wellesley and love to roam the many nearby parks and alleys with a friendly dog and have them sniff all the greenery, fire hydrants, and various other urban fixtures they may find appealing. I aim for at least two long walks a day, with as many short potty breaks in between as needed. A typical walk will last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the dog, the weather, and other commitments. I also like to play fetch, tug-of-war, and to reinforce existing training or commands. I take a lot of pictures of my canine clients, the best of which will be shared with the pet parents during our daily updates, or via Rover Cards. At random times during the day I like to have short snuggle or petting sessions with the pets I'm sitting to strengthen our bond and get the dopamine flowing on both sides :-)
Services
Chris can host
Chris can watch in your home
Availability
I'm not parenting any pets of my own right now, and have a flexible schedule, which means I have a lot of time, attention, and affection to devote to your pets. I will occasionally have to step out to walk other dogs or run errands outside my home (I'm rarely away for longer than 1-2 hours at a time) so I'm currently not able to host dogs that require constant care and supervision (e.g. dogs with high separation anxiety or serious health problems).
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About Chris S.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Your pet's safety is of utmost importance to me. I live in a small studio apartment, so if I'm boarding a pet and we're both home, they're almost never out of sight. I may have to step out occasionally to run errands or walk other dogs but these outings are rarely longer than 1-2 hours. When walking my canine clients I'm careful of other dogs we meet, monitor body language, and proactively communicate with other handlers to establish mutual safety before allowing close interactions. I watch out for reactive triggers and have no problem changing my route to avoid them. I also try to keep a close eye on my walking buddies to prevent them from scavenging scraps from the ground. In case veterinary care is ever needed, my apartment is just a 1-minute walk away from the Wellesley Animal Hospital, and a 5-minute drive away from the 24/7 Veterinary Emergency Clinic. I also do my best to keep your pet happy and content. This includes showering them with attention, affection, encouragement, and positive reinforcement, as well as tiring them out with playing and walking activities so they're well-behaved at home and can get a good night's sleep.
Home
Information Chris S. would like to know about your pet
Please note that I can't board excessively noisy pets (continuous barking, howling, whining) as I live in an old building with extremely poor noise insulation and my neighbours will complain. If this is your first time booking with me, please let me know your availability for a short meet and greet to see how your pet reacts to me, and to ask and answer any questions we may have for each other, such as the ones below. - Is there anything I should be mindful of before our first meeting? - Does your your pet have any food sensitivities, health issues, or any history of aggression? - Does your dog have any reactive triggers (e.g. dogs, strangers, cars, wildlife)? - Has your pet been boarded before? How did they adjust? - Is your pet noisy indoors? Can the noise level be managed or controlled? - Can your pet be left alone for 2 hours or longer?
A typical day
I live near Yonge and Wellesley and love to roam the many nearby parks and alleys with a friendly dog and have them sniff all the greenery, fire hydrants, and various other urban fixtures they may find appealing. I aim for at least two long walks a day, with as many short potty breaks in between as needed. A typical walk will last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the dog, the weather, and other commitments. I also like to play fetch, tug-of-war, and to reinforce existing training or commands. I take a lot of pictures of my canine clients, the best of which will be shared with the pet parents during our daily updates, or via Rover Cards. At random times during the day I like to have short snuggle or petting sessions with the pets I'm sitting to strengthen our bond and get the dopamine flowing on both sides :-)
Location
Toronto, ON
Chris S.
Toronto, ON