Derik T.
Derik T.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Active Dog Lover: Walks & Real Care
Hi, I’m Derik. I’m a former professional, full-time dog walker (2011–2016) with extensive experience caring for dogs of all sizes, ages, and temperaments. I’ve handled multi-dog packs (up to 6 at a time), so I’m very comfortable managing energy, behavior, and group dynamics safely. Today, I offer a more personalized, structured experience—whether that’s walks, drop-ins, or small-group boarding. Your dog won’t just be “watched”—they’ll be engaged, exercised, and cared for with intention. I live an active lifestyle and prioritize: • Daily walks and outdoor time • Structured routines and calm environments • Safe, attentive supervision at all times For boarding, I keep things limited (2 dogs max plus my dog) and controlled to ensure every dog gets proper attention and an stress-free experience. This isn’t a free-for-all environment—it’s thoughtful, balanced care. I’m confident with: • High-energy dogs • Larger breeds • Dogs that need structure and guidance ⸻ 🐶 What You Can Expect: • Consistent communication and updates • A clean, safe, and calm environment • Dogs treated like part of the pack (with structure, not chaos) ⸻ ⚖️ Good Fit: I do best with dogs that are: • Social or neutral with other dogs • Comfortable in a home environment • Used to walks and basic structure ⸻ 🚫 Not the Best Fit: • Dogs with severe aggression • Dogs with extreme separation anxiety requiring constant 24/7 attention ⸻ If you’re looking for reliable, experienced, and structured care, I’d love to connect.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
I have to assume the other house sitting reviews are fake or just don't have security cameras outside their homes. Derik is a nice enough guy, but ultimately failed over and over to follow our basic instructions for the house sitting job. We asked that our dogs were fed twice a day at 8am and 5pm, walked before 11am (it's summer, so it was already near 100 degrees by then) for 20+ min, stay at the house overnight and hang out with our dogs most of the day. We have ring camera's around the outside of the house, so would get notifications for for things like the front door and odd times of night. Literally the first night, Derik leaves at 1:30am and doesn't come back until 8:30am, telling me he got hungry and went home for leftovers. He didn't walk the dogs and proceeds to only be at the house for a total of 2.5 hours until 10pm. He then takes them on a ~10 min walk the next morning and leaves for 5 hours immediately after. I ask what's up and if everything is ok and he says he felt bad about the previous day, but had to deal with a flat tire... and then had to go into the office the current morning to print something out... that apparently took 4+ hours. He then proceeded to miss feedings by hours, take the dogs on long walks/outings well into the afternoon while it was 100 degrees out and having explicitly told him to come back at 11am. Again, I don't think any of this was intentionally malicious, but trust was lost within the first few days and we chose to cut what was originally a two week stay down to just 4 days and sent our dogs to our typical boarder.
Derik kept me updated on food, supplements, bowel movements and walks while also sending me pictures- which made my heart smile. This was her first time with Derik and not at her usual boarder. There were additional dogs being watched which I wasn’t expecting. Thankfully my girl is easy and gets along well with others. I would rebook with Derik in the future.
Derik was great with radar! I booked last minute and Derik actually got my mal to take a nap! Amazing! Thank you Derik!!
Derik took wonderful care of Mae! He was very communicative and took the time to make sure all of her needs were fully met.
Derik was a great caretaker of Churro while I was traveling! Churro went on many walks and did some exploring. I appreciate the frequent updates and photos as well. Churro will definitely be staying with Derik again!
Derik was amazing with our dogs! It was our first time using a pet sitter and we couldn't be happier! He sent a daily updates with pictures and tons of details about their days. He made us feel so comfortable and we would definitely use him again. Abu and Coco had a great time there!
Calendar and availability
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Schedule
Pet care fits naturally into my daily routine, and I’m home the majority of the day, allowing for consistent supervision and attention. I structure my day around morning, mid-day, and evening walks, along with regular outdoor time and balanced downtime. Because I’m home often, dogs in my care are rarely left alone and receive consistent interaction throughout the day. For high-energy dogs, I can also incorporate light runs or extended walks when appropriate. For boarding, I accept no more than 2 guest dogs at a time (including my own) to maintain a calm, controlled environment and ensure each dog gets proper attention and space. I’m also happy to schedule a meet & greet beforehand to make sure it’s a great fit.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
Safety and structure are my top priorities in both my home and my client’s home. With my background as a former professional dog walker, I’m very aware of how quickly situations can change—so I stay proactive, not reactive. In my home: • Dogs are always supervised and introduced slowly and intentionally • I maintain a calm, structured environment—no overcrowding or chaotic play • I only accept a limited number of dogs to ensure safety and individual attention • Separate spaces are available if a dog needs time to decompress During walks and drop-ins: • Dogs are always kept on secure leashes (unless in a safely enclosed area) • I stay aware of surroundings, other dogs, and potential triggers • I adjust pace, distance, and activity based on each dog’s needs and temperament I take the time to understand each dog’s routine, personality, and any specific instructions provided by the owner. Clear communication and consistency are key to keeping dogs comfortable and stress-free.
Pets
- 0 to 15 lbs16 to 40 lbs41 to 100 lbsover 101 lbsNo females in heatDerik can host up to 2 pets per night