Hi there! My name is Lauren, but you can call me Lo. I’ve worked with dogs for 12 years and counting! My journey started in 2011 working with dogs at a boarding kennel where I started with basic maintenance of the facility and playing with dogs. For about 7 of my 12 years, I worked at 4 different boarding facilities and 2 of them were also veterinary hospitals. During my time in the animal hospitals, I was able to obtain skills in medication administration, observing health concerns, and more. However, my heart was heavy in times of grief for pet owners and so I decided wanted to move away from the medical side of things and learn more about behavioral aspects of animals! In my final 3 years of working for someone else, I worked as a lead dog handler at a social doggy daycare. This is where I gained skills with how to properly handle dogs of all different breeds, temperaments, and being proactive in keeping all the dogs safe as they play together. It was my instinctive priority to keep the dogs safe during their play at daycare and I will continue this instinct with all dogs in my care. The last 3 years I have been self employed with Rover doing overnight stays in owners homes, dog walks, and check-ins. I am happy to take your dog to the local dog park for play or even pick them up/drop them off at their daycare. If you've read this far and you have more than 1 dog, I will adjust overnight rates since the charge is per dog per night. About this sitter I’ve always had a family dog from as far back as I can remember. My most recent pet was a beagle, he lived a great 15 years of life and taught me how to handle a stubborn hound. He sadly passed in 2019, but was a huge reason I began working with dogs. You can see him in my profile picture(: I do not currently live with any of my own pets, which is why I love being around dogs or cats as much as I can. I love dogs any size and actually have a soft spot for pit bulls. When I pet sit, I prefer to stay in your home because I feel it's more comfortable for the pet. I also hope to bring owners peace of mind that their home is being watched over in their absence. I always respect rules given per the owner regarding the home and daily routines. I do this full time as well as another work from home job so your pet(s) will get a lot of attention. I essentially "move in" while I pet sit. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure your pet's spirit remains uplifted while the family is gone. I happily send updates with photos and videos daily. Why I love dog sitting I love to spend as much time with dogs as possible. I truly believe they have a unique skill of bringing instant happiness into anyone’s life! After working a short time in retail, I knew working with dogs would be my niche. It’s been such a natural feeling part of my life to care for dogs and to make a four legged friend makes me so happy. My experience administering medication I can administer oral, inject able, or topical medications. No worries, I have experience with doggies that don't like their medications and have strategies to get the medications administered. I work with pets full time. I usually have dog walks throughout the days during the week. If I am pet sitting, I always make sure to drop in on my busier dog walking days. When it comes to safety on walks, I usually will avoid interactions with other dogs and keep a special eye out for neighborhood kitties in order to prevent any reactivity. I will ensure the temperature is not too hot outside for your pet and will try and stay in the shade on walks, if it is unavoidable, I will only walk your dog until they relieve themselves and will play with them in your home/yard for the remainder of the time. While I am pet sitting, I will not leave small bones or toys out while I am gone.