christophe p.
christophe p.
Contact for Boarding
from $80 per night
Highlights
Pet care experience
Your pet has a friend in me.
Growing up in the French countryside of Normandy I learned to connect with and care for animals at a very young age. We were surrounded by farmsers who always had a funny story to tell about their favorite pet cow, chicken or duck. We had cats, dogs, ducks, a couple of swans on the pond behind our house and a number of critters we adopted through the years. My brothers and I would also rescue countless wild animals, often bringing them in the house to care and feed them until their full recovery. Animals have always been part of my life, even during the rare periods when I didn't have any at home, I couldn't wait to visit my parents and hug the family's pets . Personally, I've had up to three cats in an apartment, 4 in a house, watched up to 5 dogs and personally owned two dogs up to 2023 when our old Border Collie mix passed away at the age of 17. So yes, I have senior dog care experience too, I have had senior cat experience for a long time, including giving shots daily. People often tell me I could have been a Veterinarian and that's very nice and flattering but I couldn't stay that long in school. I have been watching dogs for friends and family for about 20 years now, from as small as a Yorkie to as big as my friend's English Pointer mix who is adorable but sometimes scares people with her size and deep voice. When a dog comes here for the first time they often have a bit of separation anxiety, but our sweet dog Korra generally helps puts them at ease as she is used to having 'friends' over and does not compete (she is most famous in our neighborhood for being my helper with other dogs). Most dogs I care for love to go on walks so I've explored local trails and parks, as I also enjoy hiking (I have learned to look for ticks and removes them efficiently both on humans and pets). Korra loves to swim in local streams and pond, she 's the first dog I have owned who loves water so much and it is a treat to see her enjoying it. I've always washed and groomed our dogs and have done so for a dozen other friendly dogs when they needed it. I use the gentlest products. We have a small fenced in area to let dogs out as needed. Our house provides a safe and warm environment and your pet is treated like family here. Also, there are 5 veterinary clinics easily accessible nearby in case of an emergency. As every dog is different, I'd love to hear about your pet companion and how I can help keep them happy, healthy and safe when you're away. Thank you for your trust. Have a great day.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Christophe has taken care of all of my dogs over the last 20 years. He LOVES animals and treats them all as if they are part of his family. My dogs are always happy to spend their vacation with him and with his sweet and playful dog, Kora! They get plenty of attention and lots of belly rubs. They also get lots of exercise - on walks, playing in the fenced backyard, and playing with Kora. My family calls him the dog whisperer - he is just genuinely an animal person and connects with dogs in a way other people don't. I highly recommend Christophe - he will take excellent care of your furry loved ones.
Christophe is a great person who has a special relationship with animals. You can see it as he interacts with them -- especially dogs, but also cats. Before leaving my very hyperactive dog with Christophe, he asked me to bring him over so that my puppy could get a sense of the surroundings and meet Christophe's own dog. Perhaps it's because he talks to them in his French-accented English, or maybe it's because he treats them so very well (especially around mealtimes!), but you can see how quickly dogs focus their attention on Christophe and respond to him -- he just has a natural way with animals. I wound up leaving my dog with Christophe for a three-week period during a trip to Europe. Over that period of time, Christophe regularly sent photos, videos, and other updates via text. He took my dog into his fenced-in pool on his large property (after asking me whether that was okay) and my dog loved it! He took my dog on long daily walks in the beautiful park near his house. He gave my dog so much love, and I felt completely comfortable leaving my dog with him. Knowing that my dog can stay with Christophe -- and be treated in some ways better than he would be at home! -- has given me and my family an added sense of freedom. We have more flexibility to travel, knowing knowing that our puppy is in such good and caring hands while we are away.
Christophe is a true animal lover in every sense of the word. He has always had his own cats and dogs and is very attuned to animals’ needs, behaviors, and personalities. I have known him for many years and he has cared for my dog Bruno and the dogs of other family members of mine and they always are well looked after and have so much fun with Christophe. Daily long walks at the nearby park, games of fetch, specially prepared meals- Bruno comes home tired and maybe even a little disappointed to be home?? I highly recommend Christophe as a fantastic pet caregiver!
I have known Christophe for many years. He has watched my dog countless times and I trust him more than anyone to care for my dog. If you know how dogs behave and how to manage them well you will recognize quite quickly that Christophe is one of these people. My dog was a rescue(English pin there mix so on the larger side). If people don’t know how to work with dogs she can get nervous around other dogs. This can either be neutralized with a knowledgeable person and the dogs can get along or with someone who doesn’t truly understand dogs, her anxiety can quickly escalate. I have watched him integrate my dog with other dogs incredibly well, better than myself honestly, and I am more than impressed with his care. I highly t commend him to anyone who has ants someone who will give their dog the exercise, attention, and love they deserve.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
I currently work part-time from home except on Wednesday afternoons where I travel to Philadelphia for work most weeks and will not be available on Wednesday afternoons.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
Plenty of space and dog beds available at home. We let clean dogs on the couch too if okay with the owner. Usually I go for a walk once a day minimum, local park is walking distance and that's just been great. We go out as needed for pottie breaks and play outside in the fenced in area. Our dog is very friendly and a great companion, our cat usually keeps his distance with new dogs although he's quite curious. He thinks he's the king of the house if I feel he's overwhelmed we'll confine him to the master bedroom for everyone's peace of mind. At your home I will follow your instructions, and feed, walk, brush your pet as pre-agreed with you. I'll also call you if there is a problem and keep you updated as well.
Pets
A typical day
Activities we'll do will depend on your dog's needs, routines and moods, and also the weather. As a general manner I tend to play fetch, catch, etc in our yard and dogs like to play together too, the big daily activity is the walk in the neighborhood where we meet our local dog friends, then to the local park and sometimes I drive to a different park just to discover different places, go swim in a stream or walk in the woods at Marsh Creek... The more social and easygoing your dog is, the more we can do together. This is something to be discussed with dog parents, as I can focus on areas that need improvements and understand your dog(s) better. When I take the dogs out we meet other dogs, people and farm animals we sometimes stop to spend time with, when our dogs do well I reward them with treats (unless you prefer me not too) and it surely motivates them. I have helped socializing a few dogs already and it's part of what I love about the job. I try to keep a calm and quiet environment but I also love to be silly at times and play with our k9 buddies. I usually feed our dogs twice a day but like for everything else I will adapt to your dog's needs.