There’s nothing like having a dog in our lives! As an artist and writer, I’m always grateful to my dogs for bringing me back down to earth after a long project! But I think we all know the happiness that we feel when a dog is in our lives and they show us just how happy they are to see us. They’re always so selfless and giving, and that giving spirit has always inspired me to give back to dogs wherever and whenever I can—so being a dog sitter really is a dream come true for me! Not only do I get to learn from the dogs I’m with, but I get to give back to my community by providing peace of mind to owners. I just can’t wait to meet you and your pup! In terms of experience, I’ve had lots and lots of history taking care of animals. I have always had pets of my own, as dogs have been a part of the family my entire life. I am blessed with two dogs currently, a rescued Pitbull mix and a Maltese. I have also volunteered at an animal shelter and have professional experience working at a kennel where we offered dog and cat boarding. The organization also operated a dog rescue, and I received professional training in many aspects of dog care (sitting/boarding) and handling (walks). While working at the kennel I was responsible for every aspect of a dog's stay with us including: cleaning, exercise rounds, playing and socialization, bathing/grooming, administering medication, managing meal time, cooking for special diet requests, and giving pet owners detailed information about their pet's stay. I bring all of those skills to bear on every pup that comes under my care! When taking on a new client, I typically like to schedule a meet-and-greet. It’s a great way to make sure that we’re all a good fit for one another, which is so important to me. Likewise, it gives us the opportunity to chat face-to-face about your pup and your care expectations. No one knows your dog better than you do, so it’s always great to chat with owners in person about what makes their pup tick! Finally, I just love meeting new dogs! I like to get down on their level to show them that I’m a welcome presence here to make friends, and I’m sure we’ll be best buddies in no time at all. I like to live by the Golden (Retriever) Rule: care for every pup as if it were my own. For me, that starts by getting as much information about you and your dog as possible, before the stay even begins. That way, I can start to learn about what your pup’s preferences are and what your care expectations will be for the stay. When they’re under my care, I design all of the aspects of the stay around your pup and their needs! I also like sending lots of updates with any information you need in order to be kept in the loop—from meal prep to exercise times to behaviors. Likewise, I’ll always send lots of pictures so you can see just how much fun your pup and I are having together!