Hey! My name is Lauren, I'm a 24yo animal lover born and raised here in Warrenton, Va. where I continue to live and work! I’ve been on Rover for a long time, but took a couple years off and have decided I miss it! Riding and training horses has largely consumed life since I was 5 years old. I manage a beautiful farm just outside of town and love the flexibility this gives me. My own horses and two working dogs consume a big chunk of my time and money, but are my peace and sanity when they’re not being the exact opposite! I enjoy purchasing horses from less than ideal situations, putting in some time, TLC, and training, then helping them find their happily ever after! My dogs and I compete in the sport of Schutzhund and play around with showing in conformation, obedience, FastCAT, and more! There are a few pictures of them both on my profile. Pet Care History: But enough about that! I would love to care for your dog(s) and home while you are out of town! I have been offering pet sitting in the pet's home for as long as I've had my driver's license and could get myself from point A to point B without help, that’s nearly 8 years now! Besides my barn work, my entire life has revolved around my family's and my own animals. I have 2 very spoiled cats and my two dogs, Diaval and Kaiju, who are working line German Shepherds. My herd of horses hovers around 5. I spent these years h building an immensely long list of loyal clients and was so extremely busy for so long I hardly knew what to do with myself! I’m looking to rebuild some of that now after my little hiatus and look forward to both seeing familiar faces and new ones. I love meeting new pets and their families and building lasting relationships! Years ago, if you had asked me if this business would grow this large, I definitely would have told you no! I had never planned on expanding beyond my few word-of-mouth recommendations, but I can’t imagine not having pet and farm care in my life to some degree. Whether you need someone to feed, let out, and give lots of love to the dog(s) 2-4 times a day, work hands on with your new puppy or senior dog to ensure they get the nurturing they need, or stop in every/every other to water the plants, feed the cat, etc. I would love to help. I will be happy to stay at your home to ensure your animals get the attention and care they need, or make multiple stops a day. Let's design a schedule that works for your pets! Why In-Home Care Over Boarding? I feel that in-home care is the most comfortable, as well as the safest and least stressful way to leave most pets, it also tends to be no more expensive (I've found it's typically a lot less) than a reputable boarding operation, and your animals receive so much more individual attention and love! Even the best kennels and small scale in-home boarding ventures cannot offer an environment as safe, relaxing, quiet, and clean as your own house. With so many animals from all different homes and lifestyles cycling through one of those facilities, and many boarders/house sitters not checking vaccine records, it doesn't take much to stress your dog out and open the possibility of them contracting an illness. In home care eliminates the adjustment to a new environment and allows the animals’ routine to stay largely the same, this makes a great deal of a difference to your dogs, but even more so to cats and other animals who aren’t easily moved from the house. I work to make your absence as much of a vacation as the one you're probably on, and as safe as possible. This said, while I don’t typically offer boarding in my home, for the right dog(s) that is absolutely an option! My Philosophy/Comfort Zone, "Difficult" Dogs: I have experience with nearly any and every animal you can imagine in addition to dogs/cats and no insecurities or fears when it comes to any pet, from guinea pigs to tarantulas! I grew up with large German breeds and am experienced with higher drive dogs that tend to be intimidating and more than many people can or want to handle. I compete in protection sports with my Shepherds who run at 110% all the time. Many of these type of dogs need someone experienced in meeting their exercise and simulation needs in order to keep them content and out of trouble, a tired dog is a happy dog! If you are feeling trapped at home for fear of leaving a high energy or even flat out "difficult" dog that may be more than most people can handle, I can help offer a solution, and some freedom! I have worked extensively with rescue dogs and am several foster paw-rent and rescue groups' go-to-girl when they have to leave their quirky pack. I am experienced with fear aggression, dog aggression and reactivity, high prey drive, nuisance barking, separation anxiety, poor leash manners, resource guarding, and more. I am comfortable using training/correction tools such as Ecollars, prongs, head halters, clickers, etc. My goal is always to work positively and proactively with my pet families and their dog(s) to make our collective experience as great as possible. While I love working with puppies and more challenging/demanding dogs, I am just as happy relaxing around the house with a more laid back individual. Medical Experience: I am comfortable and confident administering medication and caring for animals that need extra attention, from pills and liquid steroids, to insulin injections, ear cleanings, bandaging and so much more. My experience administering medicine, following complicated medical routines, and relatively no squeamishness with anything is due to my extensive background with horses and other farm animals/livestock. From giving stitches, vaccines, complex bandaging/wound care and much much more, I've had to deal with it somewhere along the line and am no stranger to working alongside vets and following complex treatment plans! If you have a geriatric or special needs pet who requires extra attention and/or medication and makes leaving all the more worrisome, I can assure they will get the love, attention, and stay on schedule to continue thriving! Some of the health issues I've dealt with in the past include: deaf/hearing impaired, blindness/vision issues, glaucoma, happy tail, skin issues, hot spots, cysts, ear infections/hematomas, diabetes (including 2x daily insulin), seizures, epilepsy, tendon/joint injuries (requiring crate rest and heavy medications), respiratory sensitivity, collapsed trachea, food/environmental allergies, megaE, heartworms, tickborne disease treatment, anxiety, and much more. I pride myself on being knowledgeable and aware enough to catch potential problems, big and small, quickly enough to prevent a serious situation. Additional Skills: Rover isn't really the place to look for care beyond dogs, cats, and the occasional small animal, but I feel obligated to mention that a lot of the work I do in the area is farm based. Horses are overwhelmingly my specialty (where I got my start in pet care!) and I've worked/interned in all sorts of operations; from full blown breeding ops with multiple stallions, to hobby farms, professional competition barns, and everything in between. Nothing equine or farm based phases me. I attended a farm school through high school and am comfortable with the standard poultry, both meat and dairy cattle, goats, sheep, hogs, I've even cared for camels and zebras! I know how stressful it is to leave a farm when you decide to plan a trip, so don't hesitate to contact me or send my name on to someone in need of a farm sitter. I'm always happy to work with those whose situation is on the unique side and provide peace of mind. My Schedule/Availability: I have a flexible schedule and spend my free time relaxing with my own animals and family, keeping my own farm running, and watching over homes, farms, and pets! I do tend to get busy, so do not wait until the last minute to contact me! Especially for longer stays during peak times (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) I need several weeks to a month or more of notice to guarantee availability. I will always do my very best to help you myself or provide a recommendation to another sitter should I be unavailable. If you are flexible on overnight vs. drop-in visits, I can almost always fit several drop-ins into my schedule. Animals have always been my passion, I figure there's no better way to spend my free time than providing peace of mind to families while they are out of town. I continue to do most of my business through word of mouth and local advertising, so Rover is more of a secondary source for me to meet new people and their pets. I am always willing to provide contacts from my long-time pet families for new clients to call/email and will happily go above and beyond to help you feel comfortable with me and my services. Hopefully you've enjoyed learning a bit about me and are ready to reach out and introduce yourself and pets! Yours truly, Lauren