My name is Karen and I’m 40 years old. I've owned dogs my entire life and have experience loving them and training them. I love how each dog has their own personality and is smart in their own ways. When I was 10, I got to know my one neighbor and his dog, who was a big purebred lab named Max. My neighbor let me dog sit his dog several times a year. He also gave me the key to his house and let me take Max out for a walk or play with him whenever I wanted to in the summer. I watched/played/walked and took care of Max for 8 years of his life before he passed away from lyme disease. At the time, I owned a dog of my own who was a rescue and was a lab/whippet mix. I always took Max and Teddy for walks together and let the both of them play in my neighbor's backyard. I spent hours over at his house w/ both my dog and his dog. I enjoyed the time I spent with those 2 dogs. My current dog is an 11 year old Shepherd/Airedale Terrier Mix named Sunshine. She is also a rescue. I walk her 2-3 times a day around 1-2 miles each time. I often go bike riding with her too which she enjoys as we go for walks in the woods or biking in the woods so she can go exploring. I take her for hikes on a weekly basis as well. For 2 1/2 yrs,, I worked at Best Friends Pet Resort and Salon in NY where they could hold between 200-300 dogs and 50 cats and I had the job of doing play times/walks with these dogs. I had gotten to know the dogs and would usually choose the dogs that didn't get a play time the previous day as I always wanted to give each dog ample time to get out of the cage and to relax and have fun for awhile. I went to Bancroft School of Massage Therapy and received a Certification for Small Animal Massage. I often massage my dog which she loves. If you would like your dog massaged along with the dog walking or drop in visits, I would be happy to do that. I volunteered at an animal shelter for 4 years and walked the dogs that were there. After I graduated from the pet massage school, I started massaging some of the dogs and cats that were there. One of the dogs I massaged, a Pitbull had been at the shelter for 3 yrs, and after I massaged him, he was adopted within 3 days. I love all dogs and get along with dogs of any breed and size. I will be the best companion for your dog. Soon I am going to pursue a career in dog grooming as well.