Update: I am now a new homeowner, so I now have a home with a fenced yard, so if you are looking to board your pet, I will be opening those services hopefully by summer. Hi! I'm Ky. I am among the very few sitters who has never cancelled on a client, never had a dog escape due to strict safety precautions, and never had a dog have an emergency in my care. I also have additional insurance so you can have peace of mind. I have stuck with my commitments through my own personal emergencies and extenuating circumstances. You will never get a call from me saying I can't do it, because I will find a solution. My family ran a word of mouth dogsitting business in a small community and when I moved to Des Moines, I learned about Rover. I have since been running the business on my own, and have had a very successful time on here. I have always lived with dogs, they are everything to me, and I know the anxiety that leaving a beloved family member in a strangers care can cause. You can count on me to communicate and document all of my care through the stay. I always meet first and the vast majority of time, even timid dogs love me and immediately respond well. I have a calming presence and I do not yell. I use positive reinforcement. I joined Rover because I love animals and I have the privilege of working from home with a flexible schedule which means I am able to be at home with your pets for the entirety of my stay. You will not have to worry if your pets are okay while I work and 8 hour shift elsewhere. Currently, I am a mom to a Siberian Husky and a grey cat. My dog is an extremely well-trained husky who I trained to sit at the door and wait for permission to leave. Huskies are the great escape artists, so I learned every safety precaution in the book to keep her safe because when huskies escape, they run, so I treat all dogs as if they were a husky to prevent any incidents. I always supervise outside play, I double leash when walking, I keep doors locked while inside and have even put up baby gates in front of doors to prevent a dog rushing the door. If I leave, I do a headcount. For cats, I remain conscientious and ensure they are in another room when opening front and back doors. I have worked with indoor/outdoor cats, but I would rather not due to anything happening and not wanting to have that on my conscience. I walk my husky twice a day, sometimes for several miles, but for Rover expect 1-2 walks that last a mile. I also have experience with bathing, feeding, and very basic training (I'm not a trainer though, so please don't use me in replacement for one). I use positive reinforcement to communicate with dogs I care for. I bring escape proof leashes with me to every job. If you agree to hire me and I become nervous about a dog that tugs and could potentially break his or harness, I will either have to switch to my equipment or not walk. If you hire me, I very well may have to use my own equipment, but it's for their protection when in my care (my husky used to tug and break through harnesses and collars before we trained her, her trainer gave us specific leashes that do no allow escape no matter how hard she tugs and she has had zero problems since.