Hello! I’m Erika and I have been caring for pets professionally for more than 13 years. I have experience training and caring for all breeds and types as a pack leader and trainer at a local dog daycare. I have been pet-sitting professionally for over 10 years. I have handled reactive dogs and special needs dogs of all ages. I like to work on manners and basic commands as well as invent new games to keep their minds and bodies stimulated. I keep updated with the latest research, techniques, and methods in dog behavior training to ensure that your pup is getting the best care available. My philosophy and dog behavior techniques are influenced by renowned Veterinarian and dog behaviorist, Dr. Ian Dunbar, who emphasizes positive reinforcement and communication as the best means of living harmoniously with our pets. While dogs are the majority of my clientele, I am qualified to care for all types of pets. Your cats, fish, lizards, birds or turantulas will be well cared for while you are away as well! While I love animals as much as the next pet sitter, I believe there is a higher standard required of someone you potentially hire to do the job. Experience, ongoing education, and professionalism mean a better understanding and connection with your pet, which leads to better interactions and more fun! With me, you know your pet will be in good hands in the event of an emergency just as well as if everything goes smoothly. Your dog’s stay includes home cooked meals! We love to feed our guests fresh food like our own dogs and the evidence of healthy benefits of feeding fresh food convinced us it isn’t just Gourmet, it’s a way to a longer life and more time with our pups. Please let us know if your pups has known food allergies. When you book with me, you are giving back to your community as well. I donate 10% from all of my bookings to the Dane County Humane Society, Shelter from the Storm, and other local pet charities and adoption centers to help homeless pets find their forever family. You are also being environmentally responsible, as we use all natural enzymatic cleaners (for those inevitable messes), biodegradable waste bags, all natural toys, and locally sourced chews and treats. I work full time for the State of Wisconsin from home (at the moment) so I have a great deal of flexibility to care for pets. We believe that a trained dog is a safe dog. That’s why your pup receives reinforcement of commands they already know plus these basic necessities: *Stay/Wait (to keep from bolting out doors, gulping down food/water, to de-escalate dog-dog greetings, etc) *No (to communicate a need for correction to behavior) *Off (to correct unsolicited jumping, furniture use, etc. *Leave it (to protect from ingestion of hazardous foreign objects, prevent quarrel over toys, etc. *Okay (to release from prior command) *[Name] (to get dogs attention) * Yes (to reinforce and reward current behavior) Add-ons: bath/brush $15, nail trim/dremel $15, fresh made dog food $4-$10/day depending on size. We believe in holistic care for pets. Regular grooming is a major component of pet health and happiness so that’s why we offer these services while your pup is “vacationing” with us! We also offer fresh-made cooked pet food. Since our oldest dog, Shaula, was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, we took a much closer look at all aspects of her life in order to improve where we could. We found the biggest area lacking delivery behind the promises to be the pet food industry. Since switching our pets to fresh, cooked food, we have noticed improved cognition, energy, focus, coat shine, and muscle tone. Our cats don’t have upset tummies at all anymore! While more official research is needed, our own anecdotal experience convinced us that our pets are feeling better (and we are not the only ones)! If you’re curious about fresh food diet for your pet, or even if you just want to offer them a special treat while away, you can add-on fresh meals to their stay for as little as $4/day.