Hi there! My name is Kristen, and I've got two lovely dogs of my own - Kayla, a 10 year old Lab mix, and Tucker, a Jack Russell terrier mix. Both are rescues, both are spoiled, and both love company. I am a medical doctor and am working from home, coaching patients and writing medical cases. I am home all day. I am holistic minded in my approach to my own life and health, and in my approach to caring for my dogs. If you're looking for someone who will be strict with your pup, I might not be the one for you! My dogs have the run of the house - they are allowed on the furniture and in bed with me! What can I say, they run the place! When your dog is here with me, you can expect: Positive training I trained my dogs using the clicker training method, and I spend time with each pup in my care individually working on simple commands like sit and stay and loose leash walking. I love how happy it makes dogs when they realize they are doing what you want them to do - they are happy, you are happy, and your relationship with your pooch blossoms! Let me know if they are any behaviors you'd like me to work with your pet on, and I'll do so as time allows. Fun trips to the park I like to bring the pups to the park on Waterman Street. Safety is most important to me, so trust that your pups will be transported with care and safety in mind! Everyone has pup seat belts when they are in my car, and all are closely watched at the park to ensure they are well hydrated, cool, and getting along fine with others. Let me know if your pooch prefers a less stimulating environment. There is a private park associated with my apartment complex, and it requires a code to get into, so it's usually fairly quiet with few dogs around. We can go there instead! Feeding time I like to keep dogs stimulated and happy, and part of that is making sure they are mentally challenged with fun tasks. Feeding time around here always involves challenges. Each day I take your pup's daily food allowance and mix it with broth, banana, tuna, wet food, or whatever you prefer, and I stuff it into Kongs, smear it on lickmats, or put it into Wobblers so that feeding time becomes a challenging game. All the dogs are separated with their treats during meal time to prevent any fights or stealing. The pups stay busy "hunting" their meals for an hour or more. A busy pup is a happy pup! I am very health conscious both with myself and my pups. My pups, and all the pups I've hosted, LOVE banana, apple, carrots, broccoli, and more. I usually add apple cider vinegar and coconut oil to my dogs' food. Both have numerous benefits. I would love to do so for your pooch, too. Bath time! One of my favorite things to do is make home-made dog shampoos and give my dogs baths that pamper and soothe them. I've found my home made concoctions more effective that store bought for soothing irritated skin and really cleansing the dogs fur, as well as killing any bacteria or fungus that might cause them to scratch excessively or bite at their feet. My favorite shampoo recipe combines green tea, the gel of one of my own aloe vera plant's leaves, 3 drops of tea tree oil (toxic in large doses, but at tiny doses great for killing bacteria and fungus), and Dr. Bronner's Hemp Baby Castille Soap. I let this on my pups for at least 10 minutes before rinsing. It helps with fleas, ticks, itching, bacteria/fungal infection, dry skin, and much more. I'm happy to give your pooch a bath, too! Call me crazy, but I also really love all things grooming related. I love to use the furminator on big time shedders (it's SO satisfying), and I routinely use a Dremel to file down my pups nails. With your permission (and your dog's permission of course!), I'd be happy to trim your dog's nails too! I use an enzymatic toothpaste on my up's teeth every other day or so, so let me know if your pup has an issue with stinky breath (like my Jack Russell! I'm pretty sure he's hiding a dead fish in his mouth somewhere). I can use my tactics on your pup's stinky teeth to see if I can help out :). Elderly dogs I love caring for aging dogs. My dog Kayla is 11 years old, but she still acts like a puppy most of the time! What I love MOST is seeing them come alive when they are surrounded by younger, playful pups. I also keep Cosequin on hand - I give it to my Kayla for her joints, and with the permission of their owners, I've given it to elderly pups I've cared for with great improvement in their mobility within about a week. If you haven't tried Cosequin, trust me - it's life-changing for old dogs with achy joints! That about wraps it up! For more fun pictures of my adventures with my dogs and the dogs I care for, you can follow me on Instagram at only_pawsitive_vibes! Questionnaire I will send a questionnaire to your email so that you can help me get to know your pup's needs. On it I will ask about eating habits, sleeping habits, playing habits, health and grooming habits, training needs, and more. When you get in touch, please send me your email address at the initial contact so that I can send you the questionnaire and we can get started on the right foot with most of your questions answered! Please reach out if I can be of service to you! As you can probably tell, I am passionate about animals - about their health, about their happiness, about ensuring their needs are met. I'd love to get to know you and your dog.