I have no breed preferences; I love 'em all! For the past two years I have worked full-time as a professional pet sitter and dog walker, and am a Certified Professional Pet Sitter by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). During this time, I have also been volunteering at the East Bay SPCA in their behavior and training (B&T) department: I work directly with the B&T staff to execute individual training plans for dogs with behavioral issues in order to make them better adoption candidates. I am there Wed/Thurs of each week from 4-6pm - if this is an issue, let me know I am more than happy to figure out a solution with you. I prefer to have a new client meeting before starting regular walks in order to get a better feel for what you are looking for, and for us to determine if I am a good fit for your dog's needs. During this visit, I like to get a good feel for your dog's behavior before providing care. Some information to know before starting care: Does the dog have any history of aggression or reactivity towards other dogs or people? Has he/she ever bitten any person/dog, or gotten into a fight or scuffle with another dog? Is he/she reactive towards other dogs while on leash? is he/she particularly afraid of anything (i.e. of men, sunglasses/hats, children, moving cars, etc)? Does he/she have any known allergies? Does he/she have any ongoing health issues or take any medications? Does he/she guard his/her food? What commands do you use with your dog? ...And anything else that might be useful during your dog's time in my care!

Depending on your dog's needs, we can do just about anything or go anywhere! I am available for walks, and am also available for daycare outside the home (i.e. long field trips). I am very familiar with trails in Berkeley, Oakland, and Lafayette/Orinda and enjoy hikes with dogs of all kinds. I have reliable transportation and (depending on the dog) have no problem driving to walking locations. Neighborhood walks are also great! If you have a backyard, backyard play (fetch, chase, tug, etc...) is another great option, and field trips to the dog park or the beach are also possible. I have plenty of experience providing enrichment such as games/puzzles with dogs as well. I have experience training as a volunteer at the SPCA and I will begin working toward certification this fall, so if your dog has a behavioral issue that you are looking to work on I am more than happy to provide training in addition to exercise. I only practice positive reinforcement techniques - i.e. non-aversive methods - as I find this is the most effective way to understand a dog's needs and to foster compassion for animals overall. Some examples of the issues I have commonly worked on are pulling on leash, jumping up inappropriately, mild resource guarding, fear/shyness, "leave it" (if something on the ground looks delicious!), and basic commands. I have found that a lack of exercise is the culprit for many behavioral issues - overall, a tired dog is a happy dog - so I look forward to helping your dog reach his/her full "dog-ness"!