Christopher Francis T.
Franklin, NC
Barking-A dogercise for your dogs!
Pet care experience
I am a life-long animal caregiver and rescuer of dogs who enjoys being outdoors, hiking in the woodlands and exploring the natural beauty of this area our with four-legged friends. We live in a very active household with two adopted adult dogs and miles of forest roads and trails to walk and run just outside our door. Our own activity routine includes hiking 3-4 miles a day with our own dogs. Very comfortable with all breeds, sizes, and ages. My limited professional experience with dogs includes being a professional walker and managing a doggy daycare, which has exposed me to a broad variety of dog personalities and temperaments. I would enjoy providing sustained structured exercise for your dogs, as well as myself, to help keep them healthy, active, and happy. I currently have a very flexible schedule and plenty of time to play with your pups. You can schedule a walk, run, or hike with me and your dog. I can accommodate short walks or runs of 20-30 minutes or plan to spend a day hiking up to several miles. Our own dogs get at least 2 walks daily through the secluded mountain roads outside our front door, ranging from 2-3 miles each. We usually follow up our walks with a nice sit on the porch to watch the sunset or a couple of neighbors passing by to say hello. If, for any reason, I need to be away, my wife of over 20 years and 7 dogs together will be happy to keep an eye on all the dogs as well. I live in a relatively secluded wooded area where we provide leashed, structured walks for our own dogs a few miles a day. During and afterwards, our pups are given plenty of water and shade to rehydrate and rest up for the next activity. I will provide the same care and secure environment for your dogs' safety during any activity we engage in. We have tethers to sit around on the porch, crates for some comfort and security if needed, and a very dog-friendly home that has hosted a half-dozen family pets at times.
Reviews
Cooper had a great time today. Very tired. Pictures?
Christopher gave excellent and loving care to my girl, Kobi. If in the area in the future? Christopher for sure! Thank you, Christopher for being extra sweet to Kobi on her birthday.
Christopher was great! He watched our two mini golden doodles 3x. He was able to fit us in last minute in one of the days and saved the day!!
Coopers a good size K9. He really enjoys his time at Chris’s. He is returning in two weeks for a overnight. I’m sure he thinks it’s a play date. He really gets excited when we pull in Chris’s driveway. A+.
About Christopher Francis T.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
While we don't crate our own dogs, we do have 2 large crates that we can use if we need to. We have a very pet-friendly house with high top tables and counters we purchased specifically to mitigate the counter surfing. We recently installed a 4' fenced in run for the dogs to do their business, but always supervise them when outside.
Home
Information Christopher Francis T. would like to know about your pet
I enjoy active dogs who love to run all day, but I also know that not all dogs have the same needs or energy level. A more leisurely stroll, swim in a lake, or drive through the mountains may be more appropriate for some pups...me too sometimes. - I'd love to know if your dog prefers to sleep in a crate or at least is familiar with one in the case we need it. - Feeding schedules vary between dogs and owners, so understanding if there are any special needs there is important. - We limit snacks, treats, and food other than their 2 meals a day, but will provide frosty snacks and bones occasionally. I'm happy to provide anything your dog is accustomed to receiving. - I'd like to know if there are any trigger items to be aware of such as toy possessiveness, resource guarding, or special feeding time awareness issues. - We don't have a dog door, so all relief walks are leashed and supervised. If there are any related special needs or concerns, please let me know. - I definitely need to know your primary Veterinarian's contact information and any special medical concerns. That said, I do have all the local Vet contacts ready at hand and know how to get to them if/when needed.
A typical day
Each morning, my wife and I take a sunrise hike up to the top of the roads here that bump up against National Forest land. During these hikes, we rarely pass anyone or any other dogs, and is a wonderful way to start the day. We give them time to cool down before feeding and then get ready for the day. I love to explore this area with all its hidden waterfalls, secluded trails, and vistas. Sharing these journeys with our own dogs is quite enjoyable and one of the main reasons we chose to live in this area. In the evening, we take another hike with Willow and Luke and then spend some time watching twilight set in from our porch. We have plenty of dogs beds and blankets for them to rest on and don't mind them getting on the couch with us to wind down to watch a show before bedtime.
Services
Christopher Francis can host
Christopher Francis can watch in your home
Availability
I currently work from home and have a flexible schedule, so I am fortunate to get to hang out with our dogs a lot. We typically take a 1-2 mile hike in the morning and another in the evening. A few days a week, I need to step out for dog walks and other errands, but someone is usually at home.
About Christopher Francis T.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
While we don't crate our own dogs, we do have 2 large crates that we can use if we need to. We have a very pet-friendly house with high top tables and counters we purchased specifically to mitigate the counter surfing. We recently installed a 4' fenced in run for the dogs to do their business, but always supervise them when outside.
Home
Information Christopher Francis T. would like to know about your pet
I enjoy active dogs who love to run all day, but I also know that not all dogs have the same needs or energy level. A more leisurely stroll, swim in a lake, or drive through the mountains may be more appropriate for some pups...me too sometimes. - I'd love to know if your dog prefers to sleep in a crate or at least is familiar with one in the case we need it. - Feeding schedules vary between dogs and owners, so understanding if there are any special needs there is important. - We limit snacks, treats, and food other than their 2 meals a day, but will provide frosty snacks and bones occasionally. I'm happy to provide anything your dog is accustomed to receiving. - I'd like to know if there are any trigger items to be aware of such as toy possessiveness, resource guarding, or special feeding time awareness issues. - We don't have a dog door, so all relief walks are leashed and supervised. If there are any related special needs or concerns, please let me know. - I definitely need to know your primary Veterinarian's contact information and any special medical concerns. That said, I do have all the local Vet contacts ready at hand and know how to get to them if/when needed.
A typical day
Each morning, my wife and I take a sunrise hike up to the top of the roads here that bump up against National Forest land. During these hikes, we rarely pass anyone or any other dogs, and is a wonderful way to start the day. We give them time to cool down before feeding and then get ready for the day. I love to explore this area with all its hidden waterfalls, secluded trails, and vistas. Sharing these journeys with our own dogs is quite enjoyable and one of the main reasons we chose to live in this area. In the evening, we take another hike with Willow and Luke and then spend some time watching twilight set in from our porch. We have plenty of dogs beds and blankets for them to rest on and don't mind them getting on the couch with us to wind down to watch a show before bedtime.
Location
Franklin, NC
Pets
Christopher Francis T.
Franklin, NC