Hello! Thanks for coming to view my profile. A bit further below, I will describe my experience with animals, as well as myself as a person in the world, but first I wanted to share a couple of things about the types of animal care work that I do. I mostly do longer “House Sits”, which are at least a week in length. “House Sitting” is where I travel your home, and become your live-in surrogate while you are away. I care for your pets in their home environment, which is much less stressful for them than going to a kennel. Please note that I only take on occasional new clients for a longer-term relationship, and who book me for at least one longer sit per year of at least a week, and preferably two or three weeks in length. I don’t generally book dog walking, or drop in visits services, except for some repeat clients. I do very occasional boarding for very small dogs. Also, I no longer sit for dogs that pull or lunge on the leash. And now, here is my experience with animals: I grew up with a cat on my bed from a young age, and we were very close. I know cats very well, and all the spots they like to be scratched, and am very tuned into their ways of being. Indeed, some people say that I am a "Cat Whisperer." I also really like dogs. My father did not let us have one while growing up, but I made up for that though!! There were several large dogs at the farm where I rode horses between the ages of 10 to 18 - they were always around and part of our barn “pack”, with the woman who owned the farm being the pack leader of us all. While growing up, we had close family friends with a Labrador and Newfoundlanders. In my early 20s, I lived with two Bernese Mountain dogs and a Labrador. All those experiences helped me be confident and comfortable around large dogs. I then lived with a Pit Bull at the height of the Pit Bull scare in the 80s. She was a very smart dog, and was well trained, so I had that experience of living in close contact with a “dangerous” dog and was not afraid. I finally did get my own dog in my 30s. I raised a Border Collie from a puppy. He was hand-fed raw food, and well trained. I learned a lot from the Dog Whisperer, and to stand as a “Pack Leader” with dogs of all natures. I endeavour to stay calm and grounded, and give them love in rewarding ways, as well as giving clear direction and holding firm boundaries. I can potentially share some of my observations and thoughts about your pet(s) when you return, in case you are interested in some suggestions that I might have for you. We can also potentially make additional arrangements for me to provide some training for your dogs while I am with them. As referenced further above, I spent my growing years working on a farm with 40 horses. Working with horses gave me an excellent foundation for training dogs, as you need to be patient and consistent. I have also taken care of other farm animals, so bring on the chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, and llamas! I am open to other pets besides dogs, cats, and farm animals. Family friends of ours had budgies growing up, and I really enjoyed them. I cared for some rats from high school in my teens. Other friends have had guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, and rabbits, and I loved to spend time with them. And, I also lived with a fish aficionado, so have some experience with fish as well! In terms of dogs, I have cared for dogs of all shapes and sizes, from young to old. I have administered both short-term and chronic condition medication, and have cared for animals recovering from surgery. I am adept at seeing, meeting, understanding, and creating connections with animals, where there is respect and love, so that they are safe and well looked after while you are away. Here is some information about me as a person and what I do in the world: I am a mature woman, who is clean, quiet, and respectful. I have lived in shared houses for most of my adult life, so I have a strong regard for living in other peoples' spaces. I wash my hands when entering the home. I am a dedicated environmental educator, who has done service work in over 40 countries across five continents. Though I have really valued my work overseas, Canada is home, and I plan to spend more time in it in the coming years. I am working on my Master's part-time, and also work part-time, mostly as a volunteer on international projects, and can do that from anywhere, especially with a good internet connection. I am relatively flexible in my schedule and will be at home as much as possible to look after your pet(s). I don't smoke, I eat a healthy diet, and I only drink occasionally (usually at special events or holidays). I have a good head on my shoulders, and am not a nervous or fearful person, so I can figure things out and deal with emergencies in effective ways. I am based in Guelph, and have family in Guelph, Fergus, K-W, Burlington, Grimsby, Niagara Falls, and Toronto, so I have a good support network in the region. I drive a 4-wheel-drive truck which can take dogs in it in emergencies, or if we make additional arrangements for me to transport your pets for outings. I know how to water plants, and have a fair amount of experience with gardening and weeding. I mowed our large lawn growing up since the age of 10, and also ran the snowblower to clear our driveway (and have done so for some clients). I also have some experience with maintaining pools. Should any of these types of work be desired by you, we can explore making arrangements for me to take on any of these extra responsibilities while I am sitting for you and your pets. I was raised by a mother who keeps a perfectly clean home (as do her sisters), so I have high standards and skill at cleaning. I will leave your home tidy, and am open to having you arrange to have a cleaning person come to clean at the end of my stay. We can discuss if you would like to engage me to do that end-of-stay cleaning before your return. I am also available to be hired to doing some deep cleaning on particular projects or areas while I am in your home. I am a good communicator: I can listen to your needs, and make sure that I understand what is important to you in the care of your pet(s), and it would be a pleasure to support you to know that they are in good hands so you can relax and enjoy your time away. Rates & Booking: My base rate for the first animal is $200/day, and $50/day for additional pets. There is a surcharge for holidays of $50/day. I also charge more for puppies ($50-100), depending on their age, needs, and state of training. The needs of rescued dogs, and dogs requiring medication may require an additional fee, depending on the work and responsibilities involved. I am a mature, responsible, experienced pet sitter, and endeavour to provide excellent service. My work is to take very good care of your pets, and be a reliable, trust-worthy, mature adult in your home, so that you can relax while away knowing that your pets and home are in capable hands. I generally book months (or at least weeks) in advance. But, if you are in a tight spot, or have an emergency, please reach out, as I would be willing to help you out to make sure your animal(s) are cared for if you need to be away on short notice, especially if you feel that we would be a fit beyond that. Thank you for your time in reading this part of my profile. There are a few more sections below on schedule, safety, and things I would like to know ahead of time. After reading those, if you feel like we are potentially a good fit, please be in touch and let me know your response to what I have written in my profile. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you. Jillian :)