Erika G.
Erika G.
Contact for Boarding
from $55 per night
Highlights
Pet care experience
Responsible, Mindful, Loving Care
Hello there! My name is Erika. I’ve been interacting with dogs since I was an infant, and now I’m a proud dog owner of an Australian Shepherd named Mysti. For the majority of my life, my family has had Labrador Retrievers, and I have experience with most common breeds through friends, family, and Rover. I also have experience with lesser-known breeds, difficult breeds, and breeds that need specialized attention. My experience also includes working with dogs who require medical attention, such as dogs with diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, and most common diseases and disorders such as anxiety, depression, minor/moderate behavioral issues, and teeth/gum issues. I’m very capable of changing out gauze on medical sites, cleaning stitches, administering medicine, and cleaning up after a pet if they have an accident. Caring for pets isn’t always “pretty”, or “perfect”, and I’m okay with that. My approach is straight-forward, no nonsense, and compassionate, and I will always do right by you and your pet.
Cat care experience
Erika also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Erika is so knowledgeable about dogs, behavior, and how to adapt to each dogs personality and breed. She was amazing and felt very trusting in her ability and understanding of dogs. Can’t wait to have her come by again. Thanks Erika! Hard to find good people you can trust and we appreciate you.
Erik is absolutely amazing! She’s great at communicating, she’s trustworthy, she’s reliable. Seeing all the attention and care she gives my puppy helps me feel a little better knowing Ginger is in good hands.
Erika does a great job caring for my dogs, communicating, and sending pics. They have a few medical issues and she handles their needs very well! Thank you Ericka!!
Our pups love Erika !
Erika is wonderful! She always takes such great care of our dog and sends me all the details of her time with him so I always know he’s in great hands. Thank you Erika!!
Erika is simply the best. Has come through for us so many times when we needed her the most.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
Currently, my full-time job is working with pets and completing my degree. I do have some regulars around lunchtime, but other than that my schedule is generally open. In my spare time I garden, paint, draw, cook, walk my dog, and run another small business online. ———————————————————— How I run my schedule: there are certain pillars of importance that I focus on when I’m caring for your animal. Most importantly, first, we have your pet’s basic needs. This varies by each pet but I take these needs into consideration every time I’m with them. I do what I can to accommodate the physical, emotional, and mental needs of your animals without being invasive. My goal is for your pet to get everything they need, and to know that I am there for them. The second pillar that I focus on is trust. An animal respects when I actually *see* and respect them, not when I expect them to be happy regardless. Pets will wonder where you are. My job is not to replace you, but to build a unique and gradual relationship with your pet so they feel safe on all levels. The third and final pillar that I focus on is safety, but this is really at the forefront of my mind at all times. I will go to great lengths to protect your home, your pets, and your possessions. I have a pet and home of my own, so I understand how scary it can be to leave your pets and home in my care. These are the pillars that I stand by and are what make my business method virtually bullet-proof. I’m extremely meticulous when it comes to locking up homes, crating pets if needed, and securing an environment for curious pets. At the end of the day, these pillars of care can impact my schedule relative to the animals I am caring for. Please be understanding and know your animal is getting this treatment when I am with them :) ———————————————————— Important regarding house-sittings: there are some times when I am more in demand than others. This is a gig-based business, and I take what comes to me. Unfortunately, my jobs are not exact distances apart and some dogs/cats may take more time to care for than others due to high energy needs or medical problems. Please understand that my schedule varies and the likelihood of me being able to accommodate everything you need at the exact time you expect is extremely slim. I make exceptions and carve out time for dogs and cats with medical issues, but otherwise I expect your pet to be okay for a bit if I have to run out and take care of other families’ pets. I have many clients who rely on me for last-minute trips such as for work, funerals, and other personal matters. I cannot guarantee a completely open schedule for you and your pet, even though I wish this business could work that way. I am also a homeowner, engaged, and have a dog of my own, so my schedule is not for yours to do anything with. We must negotiate and see what works for us both. If you aren’t okay with that, I am not the sitter for you. I expect reasonable clients who understand this is a business, not a charity. I’m good at my job and expect people to respect my time, my professional expertise, and my judgement.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
Trust: Having a stranger come into your home to watch your pets is a big deal. I’m the person who comes to the house for a living and even I find it a bit strange. So, what I can say about trusting me is that I understand if you don’t. What I can tell you about me is that I’m someone who likes things straight-forward and blunt (this makes it easier for us both to trust each other), I prefer transparency (who are we all trying to fool anyways?), and I will always be honest with you about what is going on with me and your pet. I back this up by being completely okay with being watched by home cameras, as long as they aren’t in private areas, and that I am informed. ———————————————————— Environment: Cleanliness, order, and structure are important to me when caring for pets, whether they be a dog who needs a walk, a cat who needs medicine, or a puppy who just needs to play. I am very mindful about the environment I am in, whether that be your home, your yard, or walking outside in the neighborhood. I typically centralize what I need in the workspace that I am assigned (kitchen, living room, bedroom), and will complete all essential tasks as described and then clean up after myself completely. I take pride in leaving an environment clean and leaving your personal belongings untouched, and making sure that your pet can’t get into anything dangerous, can’t get out, and is safe when they are with me and when they are alone in the house. I’m careful of poisonous substances, such as coffee grounds, items containing xylitol, and other poisonous items such as chemical cleaning agents. In regard to your home, I am incredibly diligent about keeping windows and doors locked when I am around and when I am out. Nothing scares me more than the thought of a loose pet or someone getting into a home while I am gone and will go to great lengths to make sure neither of those things happen on my watch. ———————————————————— Safety: I would like to think I’m pretty fun and cool, but I’m actually quite a stickler when it comes to safety. When walking especially, I will avoid people and dogs without a second thought because I don’t want your dog to either react negatively and get into a bad situation or end up getting attacked by a reactive/aggressive dog. I’m a quick walker, carry treats on me for emergencies, and am physically capable of picking up dogs up to about 80-100 pounds. Extra large dogs I am able to control by making them do a sit and holding their collar until they’re calm or non-resistant. If they do not sit, I will block them until they listen and relax. I use obedience basics to ensure a safe and trusting relationship with the pets I watch, whether or not we are on a walk. My method when a dog is acting naughty is to ignore them, take treats away, and if necessary I can crate them.
Pets
A typical day
Every pet is different and every day is different. For me, every time I visit a pet, or they come to see me, I get the basics and most important things done first. Those things are potty, water, food, and if applicable, medicine. Then, once we have the basics covered, we can focus on exercise, play, cuddles, snack time, and perhaps some training and obedience work if we have time. If your dog is friendly with other dogs, my pup, Mysti, can come in and tire them out as well. She can walk with them, play with them, and run around in the yard with them.