Emma W.
Belgrade, MT
Gallatin Valley Pup Retreat
Pet care experience
NOTE: To help with any confusion, our older reviews are from prior to our move west :) Hello! We are a family of hikers, skiiers, climbers, campers, and paddlers. We love Montana because we love to be outside. For us, our girl comes everywhere she can, and we love when that extends to the pups in our care. We live in a great area for exploring, running, and sniffing. We love taking our dogs (any dog in our life!) for hikes and adventures, or working on training sessions. I practice positive reinforcement training, and love connecting with a happy pup and building confidence through games and creative training. Our home has a fenced-in yard for quick and safe potty breaks, and we're close to multiple trailheads and off-leash dog parks (which we visit daily!). I have experience with elderly dogs as well as pups, and can easily adjust care and play for their needs or limitations. I am comfortable administering meds, as well as giving the occasional "butt bath" if necessary (isn't dog parenting fun?). There are no other animals in our home, and plenty of belly rubs to go around. If you have any questions or specific concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Reviews
Emma and Dennis kept our 2 greyhounds for us so we could spend the day at Yellowstone. They were wonderful and took excellent care of them! We would definitely book with them again. Thanks again!
I was thrilled to receive pictures and updates of my pup. Emma did such a wonderful job taking care of Forest, I could tell he felt at home during his stay. I will definitely be booking with her again.
Emma was awesome! She sent me pictures and gave my high energy pup lots of exercise and attention. If I ever need a dog sitter again she is at the top of my list. :)
Emma was great. She made us feel at ease leaving our puppy with her while we were away. She sent pictures and video and he clearly was in good hands.
About Emma W.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
We have a small, tall, securely fenced yard for quick potty breaks. We also do not live on a major road with big or scary sounds, for parents of anxious pups. We allow pets on any furniture they wish, but are also happy to enforce your family's training while they are in our home. There are no children or other animals in the home.
Home
Information Emma W. would like to know about your pet
I'd like to know any known/specific fears (cars, vacuums, stairs, etc.), as well as any injuries or sensitive areas (hurt paw, tender ears, rash on a belly etc.). Also, any favorite games, tricks, or toys! It's easier to engage pups with things that they're already familiar with, so that's helpful information for me to ensure they're comfortable and happy. Additionally, due to whoopsies in the past, it's very good to know if a pup is prone to a certain type of destruction (stealing food/jumping onto counters, stealing socks, chewing furniture etc.), marking, or accidents. We understand that animals have quirks and hey, nobody's perfect, but being able to nix an issue ahead of time is huge!
A typical day
We live in an outdoor activity heaven, and are close to several off-leash (but fenced) dog parks. We love Snowfill for the views and open space for running, and Gallatin Valley Regional Dog Park in Bozeman for the agility course and ponds. When our play window is bigger, we love to hike into the foothills of the Bridger mountains, or up in Hyalite. Please let us know (for longer stays) if your pup is off-leash trained!
Services
Emma can host
Emma can watch in your home
Availability
I primarily work from home and have a flexible schedule, so breaking to take advantage of a sunny clear afternoon, or a game of tug or fetch in the yard, is never a big issue. Being a shepherd, Zoey thrives on both exercise AND engagement, so frequent interaction and play breaks are normal in our home.
About Emma W.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
We have a small, tall, securely fenced yard for quick potty breaks. We also do not live on a major road with big or scary sounds, for parents of anxious pups. We allow pets on any furniture they wish, but are also happy to enforce your family's training while they are in our home. There are no children or other animals in the home.
Home
Information Emma W. would like to know about your pet
I'd like to know any known/specific fears (cars, vacuums, stairs, etc.), as well as any injuries or sensitive areas (hurt paw, tender ears, rash on a belly etc.). Also, any favorite games, tricks, or toys! It's easier to engage pups with things that they're already familiar with, so that's helpful information for me to ensure they're comfortable and happy. Additionally, due to whoopsies in the past, it's very good to know if a pup is prone to a certain type of destruction (stealing food/jumping onto counters, stealing socks, chewing furniture etc.), marking, or accidents. We understand that animals have quirks and hey, nobody's perfect, but being able to nix an issue ahead of time is huge!
A typical day
We live in an outdoor activity heaven, and are close to several off-leash (but fenced) dog parks. We love Snowfill for the views and open space for running, and Gallatin Valley Regional Dog Park in Bozeman for the agility course and ponds. When our play window is bigger, we love to hike into the foothills of the Bridger mountains, or up in Hyalite. Please let us know (for longer stays) if your pup is off-leash trained!
Location
Belgrade, MT
Pets
Emma W.
Belgrade, MT