Hi! I'm AJ (Julie) the mama of Duncan, an energetic, sweet, and social Shepherd-Akita-supermutt who just turned 10! He is a true pack animal and gets excited any time I tell him anyone is "coming over." Duncan will try to play with every dog who's down for a wrestle or run! Please note that I'm no longer taking boarding clients that are under 2 years old or unneutered. I've learned what works best for everyone, the capacity of my space, and my pup's comfort level. I like to do a meet & greet with your dog off-site, either at your home or a park. We’ll discuss the best options for everyone. Goals for our Rover experience: Comfort. Safety. Communication. Fun. Love! Dog People are the Best. A shared love for dogs has led to great friendships, and these canines teach me how to be a better human. This statement is more true with time. My Story: I've taken care of dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, ducks and the occasional reptile for friends and fam over the years. At age 10, my parents FINALLY agreed to adopt a dog, a shepherd hound mix that my bestie and I named while riding home in the van with the formerly "Belvie Joe" and a bag of Alpo. We were making up silly songs and combined the words to land on "Alphie." :) And as an adult, I am a second-time dog mom, as my former partner and I were lucky to have adopted the late, great Compay Pablito Bear, driving 6 hours to meet him and falling instantly in love. Those years in-between having a dog were rough! To fill the void, I rescued feral kittens, dog nannied for a cousin when she traveled for work, stayed at friends’ homes to watch pets while they were away, and leapt across traffic, lava and beds of nails to pet any dog in view! ;) [Sidebar: Thanks to the badass Detroit farmer Tuka who taught me how to hold a hen named Red, in Madison, I was able to carry a chicken named Poppy across the yard to her condo inside the coop in the rain. And one hot summer in the old meat packing district of Chicago, I was in charge of rabbits, ducks, hens and one very mean rooster.] I ask that your dog arrives with a collar that contains ID with name/contact, up-to-date rabies and city tags. And if your doggo has Dane County Dog Park tags + good park socializing experience, I’d love to take them with us on evening or weekend adventures. Meet and Greets Before dropping in to visit your cats or pick up a dog for walks, I will meet with you at your home and ask you to show me around. You can let me know which kitties are sneaky and which doors are tricky. Please be transparent about any concerns. If your pets are leery of strangers when you are not home, let me know this so we can strategize together. It’s important that we are all safe. If your cat does not like to be pet, but will engage with a dangling toy, great! Let me know this! If your pup is likely to run out of the crate and under the bed, let’s talk about how I can get the leash on in a way that makes them feel safe and not threatened. It’s all about love! Safety is important and I ask that parents don’t enter the yard, even if it’s your 100th visit. This eliminates any jealousy/resource guarding and subsequent behavior. In August 2024, I bought a house! It's a cozy space with a finished basement and huge fenced-in yard with a deck. The bigger space makes it easier for dogs needing quiet time away from others or to get their zoomies on. And as always, there's an endless supply of snuggles & scratches! No matter the critter, I'll happily refresh water, fill food bowls, administer medication, turn on fans, clean after their accidents, and fulfill other requests to ensure comfort. Look forward to meeting you!