Christopher M.
Jackson Heights, NY
Christopher M. 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.
Flexible, Gentle, Trustworthy
Pet care experience
Hi folks! Been on Rover for a couple years now, but I've worked with dogs informally since I was a young boy and discovered I had a knack with even the most irascible or anxious pups. In my time in Arizona I was responsible for a dogwalking program linking adults with mental disabilities with the local animal shelters. Since moving to a co-op in NYC the work morphed into caring for the dogs of any number of my friends, then friends of friends, in my home, which then moved into housesitting in client’s homes and all the other varied gigs I do here on Rover. In terms of technique, I lead through positive reinforcement and calm assertiveness, though of course I’m willing to work with your clicker or button system. I don’t engage in traditional dominance, or alpha dog training, because I don’t find it effective. I am able to work with large and aggressive dogs, as well as senior dogs and dogs with special needs. I am also equipped to care for any pet allowed by NY state, so feel free to ask!
Reviews
Christopher was genuinely excellent with Krunk. He warmed up to him right away. They got along incredible. Christopher is very thorough. He sees all of Krunk's needs because he does have medical conditions and needs specific medications and things. He was very attentive to him and very caring!! He is so professional and picked up on Krunks mannerisms right away. My mind was put to ease and that’s the most important thing. I would recommend him to anybody. He truly is a blessing.🐶🐾🐶🐾
We have worked with Christopher a few times now and he has been wonderful! Incredibly communicative and punctual, patient with our elderly dog who has special needs, and wonderfully caring. I really can’t recommend him enough.
Omg Christopher got a tail wag from Monsieur! That is huge! He really loves you and we trust you completely with him which is really saying a lot. So lucky to have found you.
Christopher was so wonderful! He was extremely communicative throughout our pups stay and easy to work with. Also very patient with an order dog that needs some TLC. Thanks Christopher!
About Christopher M.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Much of my dog care has involved staying overnight in the client's apartment; often for a week or more, so I have grown quite accustomed to caring for other people's spaces and belongings as though they were my own. I'm an excellent chef, and if you provide me your dietary restrictions along with the rest of the rules of the house/remote control guide, I'll even be willing to leave the house with something delicious in a tupperware or bubbling in your slow cooker. At this time, as I live in a restrictive co-op, I am not able to board in my own apartment. When this changes, I will update my profile. Thank you for understanding.
Home
Information Christopher M. would like to know about your pet
Let me know what kind of special needs your dog has ahead of time, so I can accomodate them. I assure you, I've worked with aggressive and anxious dogs in the past, so you won't scare me off, but I would like to know particularly about any fear aggression behaviors around eating, any distraction/redirection techniques you already have in place for when your dog loses focus/gets overly excited, and any triggers you've noticed that cause your dog to lunge: perhaps a neighborhood dog-nemesis? ;)
A typical day
So a book I love is called "Walking Queens," by Adrienne Onofri, and there are a whole series of fantastic neighborhood walks, often highlighting pet-friendly nature trails, parks, and the like. Depending on your location and your pet's stamina/special needs, we'll likely begin our morning with one of the walks from that book, or a modified version thereof, to get lots of mental and social stimulation to start the day. After meal and napping is done, I like to do a bit of indoor enrichment with toys before we go outside to do our business... if the night won't be cold, I'll sometimes keep the midday stroll a bit briefer and focus on indoor play so that I can really help your pet fall into an exhausted slumber by day's end.
Services
Christopher can host
Christopher can watch in your home
Availability
I'm an actor, so while my schedule was flexible in the best of times, these years with production slowed and outright stopped has meant I can be incredibly flexible. Weekdays are preferred, as I try to save the weekends for adventures with the spouse, but I am amenable to the occasional odd request here and there.
About Christopher M.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Much of my dog care has involved staying overnight in the client's apartment; often for a week or more, so I have grown quite accustomed to caring for other people's spaces and belongings as though they were my own. I'm an excellent chef, and if you provide me your dietary restrictions along with the rest of the rules of the house/remote control guide, I'll even be willing to leave the house with something delicious in a tupperware or bubbling in your slow cooker. At this time, as I live in a restrictive co-op, I am not able to board in my own apartment. When this changes, I will update my profile. Thank you for understanding.
Home
Information Christopher M. would like to know about your pet
Let me know what kind of special needs your dog has ahead of time, so I can accomodate them. I assure you, I've worked with aggressive and anxious dogs in the past, so you won't scare me off, but I would like to know particularly about any fear aggression behaviors around eating, any distraction/redirection techniques you already have in place for when your dog loses focus/gets overly excited, and any triggers you've noticed that cause your dog to lunge: perhaps a neighborhood dog-nemesis? ;)
A typical day
So a book I love is called "Walking Queens," by Adrienne Onofri, and there are a whole series of fantastic neighborhood walks, often highlighting pet-friendly nature trails, parks, and the like. Depending on your location and your pet's stamina/special needs, we'll likely begin our morning with one of the walks from that book, or a modified version thereof, to get lots of mental and social stimulation to start the day. After meal and napping is done, I like to do a bit of indoor enrichment with toys before we go outside to do our business... if the night won't be cold, I'll sometimes keep the midday stroll a bit briefer and focus on indoor play so that I can really help your pet fall into an exhausted slumber by day's end.
Location
Jackson Heights, NY
Christopher M.
Jackson Heights, NY