I am passionate about dogs and cats. I started taking care of dogs and cats 16 years ago. I was working as a hairdresser and my clients would ask me about dog sitters. I jumped at the chance to stay with their pets! To me, caring for animals is not really work. It is joy. I am now retired and have the time to do what I love most which is working with animals. I enjoy both cats and dogs and have 2 of each myself. I prefer to care for one dog at a time; two at the very most. I am less concerned about size than I am about quantity. I signed up for Rover because I recently retired from my hair dressing business and moved to Colorado. I am looking for something to make a little bit of spending money doing something that I love. I have had a love for dogs all of my life and I am very passionate about them. I choose dog walking and sitting because that is what I have the most experience with and I see this as a part time to full time activity. I know that dog’s make great escape artist! I have had this happen to me personally when I bought my first dog 24 years ago. My dog dug under the fence! What I learned after that from trainers is that bored dogs get into trouble. To resolve that kind of activity I never leave my dogs alone in my fenced back yard. Keeping dogs exercised and providing activities for them helps prevent the need to dig and jump or climb over fences. I also provide a second barrier pet gate at the front door where people come in and out. Before I care for a dog I always want to meet and greet first. When introducing another dog to my own I would do so in neutral territory. I guide my dog to another dog’s back side rather than the face so they can smell each other first. I also watch for signs of aggression such as their body language with their tails. I try to make sure that the energy of the new dog is calmer than my own dogs and have their first experience together be a walk. If one or more dogs becomes aggressive I try to focus on the dog with the highest level of aggression and use touch to snap the dog out of its state. I remain calm and assertive and use positive discipline when needed. I also think it is important to remain calm when you walk by the next dog to help the dog stay calm as well. Both of my dog’s are rescue’s and in the beginning needed quite a bit of love and patience as well as potty training. I never yell or stick a dog’s nose in their accident. I make sure a new dog is with me at all times and take them out for regular potty breaks outside. If I have to leave a new dog alone for any reason I have a pet fence indoors where I can create an area larger than a crate but small enough that they won’t pee in the space. I soon as I return I immediately let them out for potty and reward them. This technique has worked really well for our dogs and our family. As far as destructive behavior goes…I still feel that regular exercise, activities, and positive boundaries are a good deterrent. I feel that being firm with your dog so they no what they can and can’t do helps and always reward good behavior! If I saw further signs of anxiety, I would also spend some one on one time with them walking to strengthen our relationship. I always leave note (report cards) for a pet’s owners and text pics and messages. I feel that through and honest communication is key to a positive experience both for the dog and the dog owner. Thank You for your consideration. Please let me know if you have further questions. Jill