INTRO & EXPERIENCE Hi! Thank you for considering me to walk or care for your precious family member - dog or cat! Animals have always been one of the most important parts of my life. I grew up in Norway with a family dog, volunteered at a cat rescue center for several years, and since moving to NYC nine years ago, I have volunteered to foster and walk dogs with various rescues and have worked as a staff member of an international dog rescue organization. Through walking and fostering rescue dogs, I've learned so much about different types of dogs and their individual needs, from special need health issues to behavioral challenges. I continue learning as I work on training with my own rescue dog. MY DOG WALKING PHILOSOPHY Safety first - I ask that your dog wear a tag and I use a back up clip between the leash and collar/harness for extra safety. When walking dogs, my full focus is always on the dog and the environment around us (being mindful of other approaching dogs and their body language for example). If my phone is out, it would only be to take a photo of your pup! If you are currently working on training your dog, I know how important consistency is and I'm happy to implement your training into the walks! If you have a fearful dog, I have lots of patience and am willing to work on getting them comfortable with me step by step. For fearful dogs, I recommend for you as the pawrent to be present for the first walk. APPROACH I have a gentle approach to meeting animals where I give them space until they are ready to greet me. Through my experience with rescue dogs and cats, I am familiar with reading their body language, and I'm especially mindful of the correct ways of greeting a dog.