Kaitlin & Derek F.
Near North, MN
Kaitlin & Derek F. have Star Sitter status
The Star Sitter program highlights responsive sitters who deliver highly rated care and have a history of listing accurate availability and preferences, making it easier for pet parents to find the best care for their pets.
Our dog loves having friends over!
Pet care experience
Hello and thanks for stopping by! We’re Kaitlin and Derek, a couple of partial work-from-home animal lovers located near Theodore Wirth Park. We bring a combined 25+ years of different pet-owning experiences, so together we make a great team. We have experience in caring for dogs of all sizes, ages, and energy levels. Keep reading to learn a bit more about us! Kaitlin: I’ve grown up with dogs my entire life and have a deep love for man/woman’s best friend. Derek and I recently adopted a Great Dane from a local rescue and put her through a board and train program. We spend our days playing with her, working on her training, and lots of snuggles. Derek: I grew up with a dog and now have a Dane of my own! My approach to pet care is patience, routine, positive reinforcement, and lots of love. Circe: Circe is our 1.5 year old Great Dane we rescued Aug 2023. She’s a VERY playful pup and loves to run around with other dogs and wrestle. She’s still young and growing, but she’s conscious of her size and strength so she’s a great play partner with any size dog (especially extremely tiny dogs, she LOVES small dogs). Initial meet ups are usually the most chaotic because she’s VERY excitable and wants to play. If you’ve got a playful, high-energy dog then Circe would love the company. Unfortunately due to her size, some dogs don’t become aggressive toward her because they’re intimidated, so meet and greets are mandatory for the safety of our dog. Dog Capacity: We are able to accept one other dog in our home of any size. Limitations: We are unable to board: • dog-aggressive dogs • dogs that are not house-trained • dogs that excessively bark
Reviews
Kaitlin and Derek watched our puppy and we are so pleased with the love and care they provided him while we were away! I was so nervous to leave my pup for the first time, but they sent updates of him having so much fun and that put me at ease. Id definitely recommend these guys!
Kaitlin and Derek
Carl had a blast, came home tired! The communication was great & it was great getting pictures.
Kaitlin and Derek took wonderful care of our dog Luna! We appreciated the attention they gave her, taking her on long walks to Theodore Wirth. They were very communicative and sent great photo and video updates!
About Kaitlin & Derek F.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Safety and Environment: Safety and transparency are paramount when caring for your pet, because we know that’s what we’d want if we were in your shoes. • Our neighborhood is quiet with plenty of places to walk around. • We own a triplex where we occupy the first floor with a small dog run on the side. • We have a dog gate that we can use if your dog needs to be confined to a dog-proof space during times they aren’t being supervised directly. • It’s always better to ask than assume, so we run everything by pet parents first. • Meeting your dog before we care for your dog is important. Your dog is going to have the best care in the hands of someone that is most capable (and that may not be us and that’s okay!). If your dog is not a fit for us for any reason we will let you know. • If you’d like, we can provide you pictures, videos, and updates of your pup!
Home
Information Kaitlin & Derek F. would like to know about your pet
We have a detailed document full of questions, but to get started here are a handful of questions we’d like for you to answer in your first message: • Training thus far (house trained? Leash trained? Recall? Etc) • Is your dog crate trained? Do you have a crate that you could provide? Can your dog be left uncrated while unsupervised? (We do not have a crate at this time) • How does your dog do around other dogs? • Does your dog become aggressive under specific circumstances, such as when food, toys, crate, etc are introduced? (Not to be confused with general aggression) • Is your dog high, average, or low energy? • Allergens, medical/special needs, dietary restrictions/needs, health concerns, or injuries? • Any behavioral issues, such as resource aggression, separation anxiety, excessive barking, or specific triggers? • Do you have proof of rabies vaccination that you could provide us? • Anything you think we should know about your pup!
A typical day
Typical day: Our typical work days are pretty low-key when we’re home and we’re typically on calls most of the day. If playing with our dog isn’t enough entertainment, then we can provide plenty of physical and mental stimulation. Both of us are able to alternate taking your pup outside for some fresh air and there are plenty of small parks around here. If your dog prefers to hangout outside we do have a dog run that would allow your pup to get some naps in the sun. We also have toys, treats, games, and endless belly rubs to keep us all happy while we’re inside. We believe routine is important so let us know if your dog goes outside, gets food, or needs to play at certain times of the day and we’ll do our very best to follow it. Please feel free to bring toys, beds, a crate, food, or any other items your dog may want or need during their stay.
Services
Kaitlin & Derek can host
Availability
Scheduling: Our schedules are fairly flexible. Derek works from home Mondays and Fridays. Kaitlin works from home almost everyday, with the exception of an occasional lunch meeting or half day at the office. Although it’s rare, one of us may be gone for a couple days on a work trip. We’ll always let you know what our travel schedule looks like ahead of time in case you’d like us both present the whole time. Please note: We work on a first come, first serve basis. Meet and greets are required with our dog before we accept a booking in order to minimize issues and maximize the good times.
About Kaitlin & Derek F.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Safety and Environment: Safety and transparency are paramount when caring for your pet, because we know that’s what we’d want if we were in your shoes. • Our neighborhood is quiet with plenty of places to walk around. • We own a triplex where we occupy the first floor with a small dog run on the side. • We have a dog gate that we can use if your dog needs to be confined to a dog-proof space during times they aren’t being supervised directly. • It’s always better to ask than assume, so we run everything by pet parents first. • Meeting your dog before we care for your dog is important. Your dog is going to have the best care in the hands of someone that is most capable (and that may not be us and that’s okay!). If your dog is not a fit for us for any reason we will let you know. • If you’d like, we can provide you pictures, videos, and updates of your pup!
Home
Information Kaitlin & Derek F. would like to know about your pet
We have a detailed document full of questions, but to get started here are a handful of questions we’d like for you to answer in your first message: • Training thus far (house trained? Leash trained? Recall? Etc) • Is your dog crate trained? Do you have a crate that you could provide? Can your dog be left uncrated while unsupervised? (We do not have a crate at this time) • How does your dog do around other dogs? • Does your dog become aggressive under specific circumstances, such as when food, toys, crate, etc are introduced? (Not to be confused with general aggression) • Is your dog high, average, or low energy? • Allergens, medical/special needs, dietary restrictions/needs, health concerns, or injuries? • Any behavioral issues, such as resource aggression, separation anxiety, excessive barking, or specific triggers? • Do you have proof of rabies vaccination that you could provide us? • Anything you think we should know about your pup!
A typical day
Typical day: Our typical work days are pretty low-key when we’re home and we’re typically on calls most of the day. If playing with our dog isn’t enough entertainment, then we can provide plenty of physical and mental stimulation. Both of us are able to alternate taking your pup outside for some fresh air and there are plenty of small parks around here. If your dog prefers to hangout outside we do have a dog run that would allow your pup to get some naps in the sun. We also have toys, treats, games, and endless belly rubs to keep us all happy while we’re inside. We believe routine is important so let us know if your dog goes outside, gets food, or needs to play at certain times of the day and we’ll do our very best to follow it. Please feel free to bring toys, beds, a crate, food, or any other items your dog may want or need during their stay.
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Pets
Kaitlin & Derek F.
Near North, MN