Claudia H.
Seward Park, WA
Relaxing Retreat for Your Dog
Pet care experience
Hello! I've been taking care of dogs since I was eight years old - feeding, walking, grooming, and cleaning up the yard. As an adult, I've volunteered with two animal shelters, one in Seattle, and one in Paintsville, KY to foster dogs of all breeds and sizes. I've also done short and long term dog sitting. The two long term experiences were for a Blue Heeler puppy in Alaska and two young Pitbull pups in Puerto Rico. For short term, my husband and I dog sit for our friend's Bouvier and a neighbor's Lab mix. Professionally, I worked at boarding facility called Ruffin' It Resort in Madison, WI for three months following college and was responsible for walking, feeding, bathing, playing with, and cleaning up after dozens of dogs. I also got to work the overnight shift which was surprisingly fun!
Reviews
Our German Shepherd loved staying with Claudia. She's got a big fenced yard perfect for playing and a comfy space for pups with great windows looking out. She took her on walks to the lake and took great care of her. We look forward to having Claudia look after our pup in the future.
Claudia was amazing with my dog who has health issues. She was calm and professional. Her house is set up for a dog in heaven. My dog had a blast. Would definitely recommend booking again.
Claudia was wonderful with Chutney. She kept me updated on her daily routine with great pictures. Aside from the awesome fenced backyard that Chutney loved, she got morning and sunset walks. I was so happy to leave Chutney in a safe and caring environment, she was in great hands with Claudia and Mike. Highly recommend Claudia and will definitely use her again. :)
This was the second time I left my dog with Claudia, though significantly longer than the first overnighter. My dog Piper spent ten days with Claudia. I got regular updates/photos on her throughout the stay and I felt very comfortable about her service. When I got back Piper was very mellow to see me, and now eats her food as soon as it is set down! Wow!
About Claudia H.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Safety and comfort are our top concerns. It can be stressful and scary (for both dogs and their humans) to be in a new place. Especially if the dog has its quirks (who doesn't?) or likes to go adventuring. That's why we are hyper vigilant with things like securely closing gates and making sure leashes are attached to the sturdy ring and not that flimsy ring that affixes the tag to the larger ring. From experience, we've learned that the best fit for our space and family are dogs who have moderate or lower energy levels. While we love active pups, we are a better fit for dogs who are happy chilling out, roaming the yard, and going for walks or hikes if they are good on the leash. If they need hours of intense play each day, it is not a good fit. The way our house and yard are set up, it makes it very easy for your dog(s) to have a large comfortable space to relax in. They are either welcome to be upstairs with us humans lounging on the couch, or down stairs in the "pup playroom" with multiple doggy beds, a gas fire in winter, and easy access to the yard. Note: We have a doggy cam installed in the Pup Playroom so, even if they are out of sight in that room, we are still keeping tabs on them to make sure they are comfortable and at ease. We do have one dog of our own (Pearl), but because of our segmented house and yard, your dog(s) can easily have a solo experience free from (except for smells) of other dogs. That said, if your dog WANTS a dog friend, we'd be happy to introduce them to our 4 year old dog Pearl (low to medium energy) or our neighbor's lab mix Luna (HIGH energy). All depends on your dog's needs and the dynamics.
Home
Information Claudia H. would like to know about your pet
It is important to know what your dog's routines are, any health concerns, and what puts them at ease or can cause them stress. For example, do they live to play with other dogs? Or do they prefer to do their own thing? Do they love to be near humans and get all the pats? Or are they happy to be on their own? For their health, are they taking any medications or supplements? Are there any conditions or behaviors we should watch out for like paw gnawing? For the routines: What do they eat and when? Any quirks with food or water like drinking too much all at once? Where do they like to sleep? Are they crate trained? How are they on a leash? Would you like us to walk them, or do you prefer us to stay with them in the yard? Any special training or commands that we can use/reinforce with them? Our goal is to give your dog as comfortable, safe, and positive experience as possible.
A typical day
A typical day starts with a morning potty break and yard romp, some cuddles + breakfast (if your dog usually has an AM meal). Then, if it's a week day, it'll be time for some chillaxin with toys or a kong for an hour or so until the next potty and play break around 10am. At midday we can go on a walk around the quiet neighborhood, head to Genesee dog park or just play hard in the yard with fetch and tug-o-war. In the evening, we have more opportunities for walks at local Seward Park. On the weekend, we can do more dog park adventures or even real hike adventures if that is an appropriate fit for your dog's activity level and leash training.
Services
Claudia can host
Availability
I work from home (as does my spouse most days), so at least one of us is always on hand to give your pup a play or potty break. We don't have kids or a ton of hobbies, so we are most often at home and excited to romp, walk, hike, or snuggle with your pups! Depending on your preference, we can either just play and exercise them in the yard, or take walks in the neighborhood. Or, if you're comfortable with it, we also live 2 blocks from a dog park and would be happy to take your dog for an outing. That said, I know dog park settings are not a good fit for all dogs and we only go there with the owner's request and additional information.
About Claudia H.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Safety and comfort are our top concerns. It can be stressful and scary (for both dogs and their humans) to be in a new place. Especially if the dog has its quirks (who doesn't?) or likes to go adventuring. That's why we are hyper vigilant with things like securely closing gates and making sure leashes are attached to the sturdy ring and not that flimsy ring that affixes the tag to the larger ring. From experience, we've learned that the best fit for our space and family are dogs who have moderate or lower energy levels. While we love active pups, we are a better fit for dogs who are happy chilling out, roaming the yard, and going for walks or hikes if they are good on the leash. If they need hours of intense play each day, it is not a good fit. The way our house and yard are set up, it makes it very easy for your dog(s) to have a large comfortable space to relax in. They are either welcome to be upstairs with us humans lounging on the couch, or down stairs in the "pup playroom" with multiple doggy beds, a gas fire in winter, and easy access to the yard. Note: We have a doggy cam installed in the Pup Playroom so, even if they are out of sight in that room, we are still keeping tabs on them to make sure they are comfortable and at ease. We do have one dog of our own (Pearl), but because of our segmented house and yard, your dog(s) can easily have a solo experience free from (except for smells) of other dogs. That said, if your dog WANTS a dog friend, we'd be happy to introduce them to our 4 year old dog Pearl (low to medium energy) or our neighbor's lab mix Luna (HIGH energy). All depends on your dog's needs and the dynamics.
Home
Information Claudia H. would like to know about your pet
It is important to know what your dog's routines are, any health concerns, and what puts them at ease or can cause them stress. For example, do they live to play with other dogs? Or do they prefer to do their own thing? Do they love to be near humans and get all the pats? Or are they happy to be on their own? For their health, are they taking any medications or supplements? Are there any conditions or behaviors we should watch out for like paw gnawing? For the routines: What do they eat and when? Any quirks with food or water like drinking too much all at once? Where do they like to sleep? Are they crate trained? How are they on a leash? Would you like us to walk them, or do you prefer us to stay with them in the yard? Any special training or commands that we can use/reinforce with them? Our goal is to give your dog as comfortable, safe, and positive experience as possible.
A typical day
A typical day starts with a morning potty break and yard romp, some cuddles + breakfast (if your dog usually has an AM meal). Then, if it's a week day, it'll be time for some chillaxin with toys or a kong for an hour or so until the next potty and play break around 10am. At midday we can go on a walk around the quiet neighborhood, head to Genesee dog park or just play hard in the yard with fetch and tug-o-war. In the evening, we have more opportunities for walks at local Seward Park. On the weekend, we can do more dog park adventures or even real hike adventures if that is an appropriate fit for your dog's activity level and leash training.
Location
Seattle, WA
Pets
Claudia H.
Seward Park, WA