When I was a little kid, I dreamed of living on a farm and caring for all the animals! As a lifelong animal lover, I've always had pets around. Growing up, my family had a total of five dogs and five cats (thankfully not all at the same time or in the same household LOL), so caring for animals has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Over the years, many friends have entrusted me with the care of their pets while they traveled, and two years ago I finally got my first dog as an adult. What a joy it has been to have her in my life! Since she came from the streets with no known background, I dove headfirst into learning about dog behavior and training so I could give her the best life possible. I have become incredibly interested in animal behavior and have spent the last few years learning about dog communication, training methods, and behavior modification. I've completed two online courses through Leerburg University: "Training Dogs with Food" by Ed Frawley and "Developing a Relationship with Your Dog" by Michael Ellis, in addition to spending countless hours learning from respected trainers via YouTube and other educational resources. I'm very familiar with concepts such as marker training, classical and operant conditioning, leash-pressure training, loose-leash walking, and more. While I am not a professional dog trainer, I have seriously considered pursuing it as a career and have had great success applying these methods with my own dogs. I believe this knowledge helps me better understand and care for pets of all personalities, including those who may be shy, anxious, reactive, or have other behavioral challenges. That said, I want to be clear that I would never attempt to train your pet or change any behaviors without your permission. I would never overstep those boundaries. However, I'm always happy to discuss any behavioral concerns you may have and, if you'd like, support any training goals you're already working on. Above all, my goal is to make sure your pets feel safe, loved, understood, and well cared for while you're away. Thank you for your consideration—I look forward to meeting you and your furry family members!