Dogs teach us so many lessons! They make us laugh until we cry, remind us to enjoy the little things, and forgive us more fully than we sometimes forgive ourselves. As a dog-sitter, I feel as if I’ve found the magic ingredient for living each day to its absolute fullest. The pets in my care bring joy and excitement to my life--and I have so much love to share with them, too. Like the rest of us, dogs have their own personalities and preferences. I approach dogs the same way that I approach human-to-human relationships. I take time to get to know them, building trust by through patient, compassionate interactions. I want them to be completely at ease with me, so I pay close attention to their body language and cues whenever we’re together. Creating a strong foundation and building from there has helped me throughout my twenty-year career working with dogs. In addition to being a dog owner myself for much of my life, I’ve volunteered regularly in shelters and gained ample experience as a pet-sitter across the years. Walks, playtime, grooming, medical care, and belly scratches are all in my repertoire, but I don’t approach any of these activities on autopilot; I focus my full attention on the dogs in my care and treat them with the loving respect that they deserve. I’m authentic, curious, and compassionate--qualities that dogs always appreciate, and also tend to possess. I do have a 7 year old husky that is about 50 lbs. Your dog must get along with my dog for a successful experience for your pet! We also have a fully-fenced, very secure yard where your dog can run, play, and bask in the sunshine as long as they’d like as well as the comfortable living space we have inside!