Heather D.
Camp Springs, MD
Experienced Pet Companionship
Pet care experience
I grew up with dogs, cats, and weird exotic fish, and have either owned or volunteered with dogs and other pets for my whole life, starting with my grandad's springer spaniel when I was a baby, up through the dog and the betta fish I have now! I volunteered with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa for 10 years as a dog walker, small animal companion, adoption counselor, and intake specialist - assessing dogs for temperament and placement recommendations. I was also a volunteer instructor for the Red Cross and taught first aid for both humans and pets. I love dogs and would adopt all of them if we could, but for now, we're happy to supplement our two-dog household with pets who need a cozy place to stay while their owners travel or have other obligations! Our 14-year-old corgi mix (Chase) grew up with other dogs, in a household training physical assistance dogs. While he doesn't have the temperament for a real job, he enjoys the company of other dogs and even tolerates the most playful of puppies using him as a jungle gym. Because of his age and intra-vertebral disc disorder (IVDD) affecting his spine, we are happy to host fellow senior and disabled dogs of any size, and all dogs Chase's size or smaller (larger dogs can accidentally knock him over, so much as I love them, we have some limits on who can stay over). We also have a 15lb mixed boy named Churro. He is a bit more energetic and much healthier than Chase, and is friendly with other dogs but generally prefers people.
Reviews
Our experience with Heather was exceptional (as usual). Not only did they provide top-notch care for our beloved old dog, but they also went the extra mile by sending us plenty of heartwarming pictures, keeping us reassured and connected throughout our time away. With Heather, we always have peace of mind knowing our furry family member is in loving hands. Highly recommend!
It was my first time sending Benji with a stranger annd for ann overnight stay! Heather made it extremely comfortable and seamless! She sent periodic pictures throughout his stay and constantly reassured me with updates. She is extremely knowledgeable about dogs and how to provide expert care to them! I would highly recommend Heather and will be utilizing her for future sittings! Thank you Heather 🩷
I highly recommend Heather wasn't too sure how well it was going to work out. My dog Milo can be a little difficult at times with people he doesn't know very well but Heather did a fantastic job. She gave updates and sent pictures. I was afraid Milo wasn't going to want to come back home. I will definitely be using Heather again. 🙂
Heather is Awesome! My doggy always has a great time there. 😊
About Heather D.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Pets in our home are always required to be vaccinated. Disabled, senior, and chronically ill pets with nothing transmittable are welcome! Dog toys and beds are sprayed with clinical-strength lysol, then run through a wash cycle between visitors to remove residue. All floors are also cleaned with an antibacterial floor cleaner between visitors (I need a new roomba, I have a lot of floor, lol!) We have lots of food and water bowls (run through the dishwasher between visitors). My dogs normally have access to their food any time and eat when we eat because they like the company, but can easily switch to a schedule to accommodate guests. Dogs who are on a schedule or protective of their food are fed in separate rooms with gates up. New environments and people can be exciting or stressful for even well-mannered, friendly, dogs, so we monitor visitors for signs of stress, and do our best to keep them engaged and feeling safe. It's normal for pups to eat a bit more or less in a new place. I always update owners on unusual eating habits but don't worry about it as long as it's only a few days and they are still drinking water normally and otherwise seem healthy. We also have plenty of spare harnesses, and all new dogs who don't have one of their own will be fitted for one for their first few walks. They don't wear them around the house, but a harness is safer for dogs who get overly excited and lunge or may slip out of a collar, and even the best-behaved dogs can test boundaries with new people, especially the smart ones! We always have treats for after walks and before bed, if your dog has any dietary restrictions on treats please let us know!
Home
Information Heather D. would like to know about your pet
I would love to know what your dog’s energy levels, favorite activities, and stress/aggression triggers are. What does their routine usually look like, and do they need to stick to it? Are they working on any commands or behavior training that needs reinforced? Please provide any special equipment, food, or medication they need, like a favorite toy, blanket that smells like home, or a particular lead/leash/harness for walks. For drop-ins or walks, I’m happy to work with dogs with dog-aggression/anxiety, but for boarding, they do need to be able to get along with my old corgi mix. Additionally, my house has stairs so they will either need to be comfortable being carried and under 50lbs, or able to navigate stairs on their own.
A typical day
BOARDING Dogs staying at the house will love our nature trail and the variety of surfaces to nap on and toys to play with! We get barkbox every month, so we have toys in many sizes and durability levels, and destruction is inevitable, don't worry, we will have more! During the week, dogs get fed and walked in the morning around 7:30 am, let out or taken on a short walk when my husband gets home around 4, and are taken for a longer walk when I get home around 6:30 pm, and will be taken out as often as needed until their last bedtime short-walk. On weekends, holidays, and evenings dogs have lots of time to play, cuddle, and explore the walking trails with us, or just do their own thing around the house - we are pretty low-key and don't go out a lot. Dogs are allowed all over the house and on the furniture, except in my art room unless I'm there with them. Trash and food (for humans and dogs) are safely kept out of dog range in cabinets or the pantry. While we're at work, puppies, new visitors, and known-chewers will typically be gated to one floor or kept in the guest room so they have room to play but limited access to things they shouldn't chew on, and aren't unsupervised with our old corgi-mix. More mature visitors are free to roam the house and take naps with our dog after their first day. We have a large and medium kennel available, but keep the doors off unless a visitor is kennel trained/training and needs to stick to their routine. WALKING AND DROP INS: I live near the Branch Avenue Metro and am happy to drop in on or walk my neighbor's pets in the evenings (after 6:30pm) and on weekends! I am also off most federal holidays.
Services
Heather can host
Heather can watch in your home
Availability
We get outside first thing in the morning, 4ish, 6:30ish, and before bed. We try to do two longer walks, though long is pretty variable depending on the dogs (could be 20 minutes, could be an hour). For dogs with different walking needs, we stick to the same schedule, but will split duties so my husband takes slower dogs with shorter walk needs and I take the dogs who prefer a longer walk! In between, the dogs play, nap, or hang out with us while we work on projects, read, and play D&D. Most of our house has low or floor seating, so it's easy for the dogs to join us for some attention or playtime! Our neighborhood has a great walking path including a small section of woods and large open fields where the dogs can explore! Our second-story deck is a great hangout for dogs that like to catch a breeze and lounge in the sun, and there are dog beds or dog-height furniture in every room, and water bowls on every floor. When we go out hiking or visiting friends on weekends, Chase prefers to stay home. Visitors are welcome to come with us or to avoid unsupervised interaction, we can keep your dog(s) on a separate floor from our permanent resident while we’re gone. We also have a spare bedroom that is set up with dog beds and toys for visitor dogs to have their own space, while we're gone or just because they want some alone time. Dogs who board M-F (except federal holidays when I'm off) can have the run of the house, be gated off to one floor, or chill in the visitor dog bedroom while we're at work (around 8am to 4pm), depending on their individual needs!
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
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7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
28 | 29 | 30 |
About Heather D.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Pets in our home are always required to be vaccinated. Disabled, senior, and chronically ill pets with nothing transmittable are welcome! Dog toys and beds are sprayed with clinical-strength lysol, then run through a wash cycle between visitors to remove residue. All floors are also cleaned with an antibacterial floor cleaner between visitors (I need a new roomba, I have a lot of floor, lol!) We have lots of food and water bowls (run through the dishwasher between visitors). My dogs normally have access to their food any time and eat when we eat because they like the company, but can easily switch to a schedule to accommodate guests. Dogs who are on a schedule or protective of their food are fed in separate rooms with gates up. New environments and people can be exciting or stressful for even well-mannered, friendly, dogs, so we monitor visitors for signs of stress, and do our best to keep them engaged and feeling safe. It's normal for pups to eat a bit more or less in a new place. I always update owners on unusual eating habits but don't worry about it as long as it's only a few days and they are still drinking water normally and otherwise seem healthy. We also have plenty of spare harnesses, and all new dogs who don't have one of their own will be fitted for one for their first few walks. They don't wear them around the house, but a harness is safer for dogs who get overly excited and lunge or may slip out of a collar, and even the best-behaved dogs can test boundaries with new people, especially the smart ones! We always have treats for after walks and before bed, if your dog has any dietary restrictions on treats please let us know!
Home
Information Heather D. would like to know about your pet
I would love to know what your dog’s energy levels, favorite activities, and stress/aggression triggers are. What does their routine usually look like, and do they need to stick to it? Are they working on any commands or behavior training that needs reinforced? Please provide any special equipment, food, or medication they need, like a favorite toy, blanket that smells like home, or a particular lead/leash/harness for walks. For drop-ins or walks, I’m happy to work with dogs with dog-aggression/anxiety, but for boarding, they do need to be able to get along with my old corgi mix. Additionally, my house has stairs so they will either need to be comfortable being carried and under 50lbs, or able to navigate stairs on their own.
A typical day
BOARDING Dogs staying at the house will love our nature trail and the variety of surfaces to nap on and toys to play with! We get barkbox every month, so we have toys in many sizes and durability levels, and destruction is inevitable, don't worry, we will have more! During the week, dogs get fed and walked in the morning around 7:30 am, let out or taken on a short walk when my husband gets home around 4, and are taken for a longer walk when I get home around 6:30 pm, and will be taken out as often as needed until their last bedtime short-walk. On weekends, holidays, and evenings dogs have lots of time to play, cuddle, and explore the walking trails with us, or just do their own thing around the house - we are pretty low-key and don't go out a lot. Dogs are allowed all over the house and on the furniture, except in my art room unless I'm there with them. Trash and food (for humans and dogs) are safely kept out of dog range in cabinets or the pantry. While we're at work, puppies, new visitors, and known-chewers will typically be gated to one floor or kept in the guest room so they have room to play but limited access to things they shouldn't chew on, and aren't unsupervised with our old corgi-mix. More mature visitors are free to roam the house and take naps with our dog after their first day. We have a large and medium kennel available, but keep the doors off unless a visitor is kennel trained/training and needs to stick to their routine. WALKING AND DROP INS: I live near the Branch Avenue Metro and am happy to drop in on or walk my neighbor's pets in the evenings (after 6:30pm) and on weekends! I am also off most federal holidays.
Location
Camp Springs, MD
Pets
Heather D.
Camp Springs, MD