Erik O.
Arlington, MA
Animal lover, plant enthusiast
Pet care experience
I have been caring for dogs and cats for over 10 years, but I began doing it on my own when I was 12 for friends and family in and around Acton, MA. My largest client has been a house with 4 dogs, 4 cats, 2 bunnies, and a fish! I have experience in walking, feeding, bathing, and medical care including oral pill ingestion and insulin shot application for diabetic canines. I am comfortable walking dogs both on and off leash, taking into account the safety level of the location and obedience of the dog. I grew up with two cavaliers, but they crossed the rainbow bridge before I graduated college this past spring. I now live in Arlington, placing me in an ideal location to either go into the city or further into the suburbs for pet care.
Reviews
We had a couple of weeks of part travel and part just a crazy schedule and we reached out to Erik for help walking our dog. Erik came over for a meet and greet and asked thoughtful questions and took notes about everything. He showed up for walks on time and was a great communicator. Most importantly, our dog loved him. We will certainly be reaching to Erik again.
Erik is great. Very caring and kind.
Erik has provided care for my cats many times and always showed how much he loved animals with the kind, calm and gentle care he provided them. Erik was always reliable and dependable which was very important to us so that we could relax while on vacation knowing he was providing loving care daily for our cats. Erik has always loved animals and I know he will do a wonderful job as a pet sitter or dog walker for Rover’s clients.
Did my first and greet with Erik, and he was a pleasure. He was very knowledgeable and was very attentive to my needs for my pet. Honcho also seemed to like him a whole bunch, filling him with kisses. Would recommend and am looking forward to working with him as my dog walker.
About Erik O.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
My own two dogs were crate sleepers, but almost all the clients I have had in the past owned dogs that sleep wherever. I absolutely love it when a dog comes into the bed for snuggles, but I also understand that some dogs need their crate for their own sense of security. I know a lot of great conservation land trails in the area between Acton and Boston, and see these as the perfect spots for both long and short walks due to the various trail types available. Recently, I have been taking care of a two-year-old golden lab that does really well off the leash on conservation trails. I am also currently visiting an 8-month-old rescue that lives in more populated areas causing the leash to be on at all times. I am very flexible with a wide variety of skills that encompass all dog types.
Information Erik O. would like to know about your pet
I benefit from knowing if the dog is an on or off-leash walker because it helps me build trust with your pet. I also would benefit from knowing any special words that you have taught your pet, such as alternative words or phrases for no, yes, good boy/girl, or bad boy/girl. More importantly, the body language that you express toward your pet, especially during periods of training/learning, is essential for me to know so that I can carry on with their training even when the owners are not present. I can easily adapt to varying training styles, so knowing your system is always very helpful.
A typical day
I am an early riser, especially when woken up with canine kisses :) and because of this, all pets can get an early morning potty break as well as a walk if needed. I thoroughly enjoy the outdoors! I will seek out conservation land trails, especially for off-leash walkers, but I am new to the Arlington area so I appreciate any recommendations. I also live close to the Minuteman bike trail that runs through Arlington, along with the local dog park near Alewife. I played college soccer, so if your pet needs a good run every day then I can easily give them that as well.
Services
Erik can watch in your home
Availability
I am currently volunteering during the week, and I can easily work around this schedule as it is volunteer-based. On the weekends I am less available but on the rare occasion, I can schedule pet visits. Feel free to contact me with availability questions!
About Erik O.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
My own two dogs were crate sleepers, but almost all the clients I have had in the past owned dogs that sleep wherever. I absolutely love it when a dog comes into the bed for snuggles, but I also understand that some dogs need their crate for their own sense of security. I know a lot of great conservation land trails in the area between Acton and Boston, and see these as the perfect spots for both long and short walks due to the various trail types available. Recently, I have been taking care of a two-year-old golden lab that does really well off the leash on conservation trails. I am also currently visiting an 8-month-old rescue that lives in more populated areas causing the leash to be on at all times. I am very flexible with a wide variety of skills that encompass all dog types.
Information Erik O. would like to know about your pet
I benefit from knowing if the dog is an on or off-leash walker because it helps me build trust with your pet. I also would benefit from knowing any special words that you have taught your pet, such as alternative words or phrases for no, yes, good boy/girl, or bad boy/girl. More importantly, the body language that you express toward your pet, especially during periods of training/learning, is essential for me to know so that I can carry on with their training even when the owners are not present. I can easily adapt to varying training styles, so knowing your system is always very helpful.
A typical day
I am an early riser, especially when woken up with canine kisses :) and because of this, all pets can get an early morning potty break as well as a walk if needed. I thoroughly enjoy the outdoors! I will seek out conservation land trails, especially for off-leash walkers, but I am new to the Arlington area so I appreciate any recommendations. I also live close to the Minuteman bike trail that runs through Arlington, along with the local dog park near Alewife. I played college soccer, so if your pet needs a good run every day then I can easily give them that as well.
Location
Arlington, MA
Erik O.
Arlington, MA