Ernst & Jennifer F.
Ernst & Jennifer F.
Contact for Boarding
CA$62 total per night
Highlights
Pet care experience
Let’s hit the trails!
A little about me. I’m semi-retired, very active with my two dogs Max and Jake along with foster Lucas. I own my home with a sizeable fenced backyard. No kids and a non-smoking home. I work part-time very close to home which affords me time with my dogs and with yours! After losing my precious Maggie in October of 2020, I took some time before welcoming another dog into my life. I wasn’t quite ready to adopt, so I thought fostering would be a good way to honour my girl as well as helping another dog on its journey to finding a forever home. Not completely altruistic; I missed “the dog routine” and all that it brings. Max arrived as my “foster only” in February of 2021. As these things go; I fell in love with him and he never left. Max has been such a blessing in my life; I decided I would volunteer for the very same rescue that brought him to me. They needed help and I had the time - everything from airport runs, driving dogs to the vet or adoption events, as well as offering support to families welcoming a new rescue dog, whether it be a foster or foster to adopt. In July of 2021 I went on a rescue mission to bring back 8 dogs from overseas, one of which I fostered for 6 weeks. I have been fostering ever since. Jake arrived as my foster in March of 2022 and he announced in no uncertain terms he wasn’t leaving. So then there were two. Lucas is my latest foster. Both my boys are great ambassadors and welcome new fosters with open paws. They really help to make a dog from an unfortunate past feel secure and in many cases show them that we humans aren’t all bad. Lots of patience and love goes a long way towards them settling and feeling safe. A commitment I have made to the families of all of my former fosters or any of the dogs that I’ve been involved with; if they ever need someone to take care of their dog(s), when they go away, they are always welcome here. I have been taken up on this offer many times and I do it gladly. It’s an honour when someone entrusts the care of their dog(s) to you, as such; I take the responsibility very seriously. My dogs are walked exclusively off leash at the Harmony Dog Park in Oshawa. If your dog is fine off leash and has good recall, he/she will enjoy running with my boys. The ability to be off leash is not a prerequisite and I’m happy to walk your dog leashed. Walking in the woods is nicer than walking on leash in the neighbourhood. We typically go morning and late afternoon all depending on weather.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
I highly recommend Ernst for dog sitting. When I arrived, I could immediately see how kind and calming he was with his dogs and mine. My biggest concern was my dog's safety in someone else's care, but Ernst explained his procedures for keeping all the dogs safe, which gave me great peace of mind. He also kept me updated with messages and pictures of my dog enjoying exercise and relaxing at home. Ernst is soft-spoken and easy to talk to, which made the experience even more enjoyable for both my dog and myself. I will definitely reach out to him again when I need boarding in the future. My dog truly enjoyed the stay with Ernst.
We first met Ernst when we were adopting our second dog in 2022 and were so deeply touched by the care and love he showed her, and other dogs. Our dog needed a lot of love and attention when she arrived in Canada and we were so impressed with Ernst’s patience and insights in how to help her adjust. We will only leave our dog with Ernst and Jennifer!
Hi I am writing to you about Ernst Friderichs. I met him when we decided to adopt a dog 3 years ago through Cause 4 Paws. Ernst was fostering our dog Willow at the time. He asked us questions about how we feel about dogs and deemed us good enough to be Willow’s forever parents. We fostered her for 2 weeks before adopting her. Ernst was in touch every day to check in and answer any questions and give good advice. Once we adopted Willow, Ernst told us any time we were going to be away and needed someone to take care of Willow, he would- anytime. And he has, every time we’ve asked, We know that when Willow is with Ernst, she is with someone who loves Willow as much as we do. He has fostered many dogs and his love for dogs is deep. He would make a great Rover and any dog in his care would receive 100% of his care and attention. He is truly a kind, caring, dedicated person and my husband and I think the world of him.
I would highly recommend Ernst for dog sitting. He has a calm and caring approach but also alert to safety and health issues. He is extremely experienced - as he has fostered and babysat many dogs in the rescue world. He understands dogs and has a very common sense, confident and experienced approach. Dogs in his care are part of his family and a very important part of his life. He provides outstanding stimulation, daily exercise, affection/attention and fun! He also provides regular updates and communication. I know my dog is safe, loved and having a great time with Ernst!
Ernst is a dog whisperer. He's a friend to all dogs and they love him. We've been lucky to have had him watch 2 of our dogs for us while on vacation. He always sends pictures and updates and our pups get lots of outdoor/hiking time with his pack, which they love. Ernst and his house have a calming energy and any dog would thoroughly enjoy their time with him.
I've entrusted Ernst with my two dogs many times over the last few years. Including a long term stay when I travelled to the Southern Hemisphere. My dogs adore him, and they love staying at his place. As soon as they arrive, they settle in and are calm. You can expect that your dogs will receive love, comfort, and lots of cuddles from "Uncle Ernie". He is very active, taking our dogs to Harmony Trails for long walks, playing fetch, and socializing with them. Ernst loves dogs, and volunteers his time in dog rescue. He has acquired a lot of experience in dog care as he has been a foster parent to many rescued dogs. I have personally witnessed how quickly the dogs settle and trust him. He will keep your dogs on a routine, and ensure they are safe and cared for. Your dog will be in good, safe, and loving hands!
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
I currently work 16 hours/week. Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:am-2:00pm, Thursday from 12:00pm-4:00pm and Friday from 10:00am-2:00pm. I work 8 minutes from home. A cam is set up in the living room, so I can check in on the dogs. I share my home with my good friend Jen, who also works part-time. She is a great help with the dogs and is often home when I'm at work which gives me peace of mind.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
My dogs typically spend all their time on the main floor, but have full reign of the house. There are no furniture restrictions, so a dog bed or comfy couches/chair are their choice. Max sleeps with me. Jake sleeps on the couch and Lucas on his favourite dog bed. I don’t crate my dogs, but if your dog is more comfortable sleeping in a crate, I’m happy to accommodate. I live on a corner lot with a good size yard that is completely fenced. Jake (4 yrs old) prefers to spend most of his time out there, while Max (6 yrs old) and Lucas (4 yrs old) prefer to lounge inside. All of my dogs are playful, but Lucas and Jake in particular love to roughhouse in the backyard.
Pets
A typical day
A typical day starts with letting the dogs outside to do their business and for a bit of play. They all come back in and settle while the human drinks coffee and watches the news. I work late afternoon on Monday and Tuesday, so we will generally go for one 4-5km run in the woods for 1 to 1 1/2 hours at around 10amish. They eat afterwards. I don’t want the dogs running on a full stomach for safety reasons. They still get lots of playtime in the backyard during the day. Even though I’m at work from 4:30 PM onwards, they get fed by Jen at 6 PM. Wednesday through Friday, I work 10:30am-2:30pm, so we head out for 50 minutes around 6:45am, then breakfast afterwards. While I’m at work for 4 hours they sleep. After work, we’ll head out for a second walk around 4:30pm for about 40 minutes. This gets a little later in the spring and summer as the days become longer. On Saturdays and Sundays, we can be a little bit more leisurely, so head out around 10am for our first walk, then late afternoon for our second walk, which will be shorter. Weather will sometimes throw a wrench into these plans. If it’s pouring with rain, we stay home or if a snowstorm. The goal is always to get at least one good walk in. They eat at 6pm. The evenings are generally spent lounging given all of their activity during the day. All walks are on the trails at the Harmony Valley Dog Park in Oshawa. I let them all out for one last pee before bedtime which is usually around 8:45pm. I have a GPS tracker (Tractive) on all of my dogs. This gives me peace of mind if they ever decide to wander, allowing me to locate them very quickly. The walk feature calculates the distance I walk, however; the dogs travel significantly further due to all their running through the woods.