Gil H.
Gil H.
Contact for Boarding
from $40 per night
Highlights
Pet care experience
Dog walker, dogsitter 20001
I grew up raising large dogs (German Shepherd, Malamute, Labs) so I am accustomed to playing tug-of-war or going on light jogs. Mainly, I understand that dogs require a lot of stimulation and attention so they don't get bored or destructive. I have been dogsitting for university faculty for the past 8 years in DC, while they are on long-term scholarly travel (e.g. 2-4 weeks). Update: we’ve adopted a Labrador retriever mix named Louis. He’s 1.5 years and a sweet dog who gets along with others. We’ve had to be sensitive to Louis’s anxiety, so he would not get along well with dogs that are highly reactive or resource guard. I can help with scheduled walks and will honor any dietary restrictions. I can also assist with training. Note: I will be the primary personal responsible for any dog care. My partner does not work from home and will occasionally be available as a secondary caregiver. I will update this profile should that need change. Lastly, we prefer to board dogs who have active/verifiable insurance policies. This is to protect our dog and ourselves, as well as ensure your pet is covered in any accidents. We will ask for any recent history of exposure to contagions or medications/treatments.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Gil was great!! He sent lots of photos and was kindly flexible with logistics. He also took especially good care of our nervous pup during the Fourth of July fireworks. We're very grateful for his excellent care!
Gil was very flexible with pickup and drop off for our stay, and provided semi-regular updates during a busy holiday weekend. The only issue we had was there were more dogs staying during our booking than previously discussed. Originally was only supposed to be our dog, Gil’s lab, and a golden for one of the days we were booked, but we received pictures over our booking with at least 2 additional dogs.
Gil was super communicative and caring to our pups. Highly recommend him!
Gil was extremely patient with our high spirited Betsy! She went on many adventures and made friends while in their care and my kids, especially, loved the videos and photos while we were on our trip. Also flexible with drop off and pick up times, which changed because of the weather/evolving trip plans. On Tuesday morning, Betsy is still sleeping after the weekend . . .
Maggie had a blast - Gil is her favorite!
Gil was awesome! Very responsive, made pickup and drop off easy. Sends great pictures frequently and definitely cares for your pup. Louis is also a great pal for your dog.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
About me: I work remotely, so I have flexibility to take time out of my day for walks int he mornings, mid-days, afternoons, and evenings. I also live with my boyfriend in a dog-friendly building. We are looking to board dogs to get him acclimated to dog-ownership in the near future. But I honestly just like having dogs around. It would be some welcome company and a great reason to get outside.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
Safety & trust: I always ask a lot of questions when it comes to picking up a dog from their home or staying overnight with them. For example, what scares them or makes them timid? Where are you on helping them cope with reactivity to other dogs or people? Where are they in their training and how are they best motivated (e.g. food v. praise)? At home, I tend to keep them in the room with me where I can keep an eye on them. Since I work from home, talking to them to keep them reassured and distracted is key. But also being present with them if they seem to be whining or barking at something. (Note: at home, I live in a corner unit with no neighbors, so I don't have to worry about noise complaints!). I am also familiar with signs of distress, signs of stomach illness, or even signs of choking. I've worked CPR on dogs and am not afraid to reach down their mouths to grab something they pickup while outside (e.g. sticks, rocks, bugs). Very little grosses me out, which I think can be important when dealing with much larger dogs who get into things. We are an "animals are allowed on the furniture" household, but we would respect whatever boundaries you wanted to maintain with your dogs (i.e. not helping them to indulge in bad habits that wouldn't be welcome at home). I also find it relaxing to comb their fur during blowout season.
Pets
A typical day
A typical day: I am new to my neighborhood and want to explore more. This would be a great opportunity for me and the dog(s) to check out the parks together, play with some toys, or just work out some of that high energy. During down times, we'd likely watch a movie together. There'll be lots of belly rubs!