Lindsay B.
Minneapolis, MN
Furry friend lover and caretaker.
Pet care experience
Specializing in reactive & fearful animals • Positive-reinforcement dog trianer • Experience with special needs and senior animals • All breeds, shapes, sizes, and levels of need equally loved! I have loved and cared for animals my entire life, and with my background in teaching and working with children, I’ve always naturally leaned toward caretaking. But it wasn’t until I rescued my pit bull mix, Obi Wan Kenobi, that I learned just how hard it can be to find someone you can trust to care for your fur-babies. Obi came from a terrible and abusive past, and though I had worked with fearful animals before, I had never seen anything quite like the big emotions he was feeling. It wasn’t long before all of my free time was dedicated to reading about animal behavior, taking training courses, and working with Obi and with friends’ pets. Working to help Obi trust me and others again has launched what once was a hobby into a passion that is a very big part of my life. Today, I am working on my dog training certification (CPDT-KA), and I have gained some truly incredible clients whose animals I care for and train on a regular basis. I am fully dedicated to helping all of the animals I care for learn to trust, to feel comfortable and safe, and to feel happy. And I love training their humans to better understand and help them every step of the way! I am a positive reinforcement dog trainer, and am committed to zero harm towards animals. As an advocate of the Click to Calm method, I absolutely love clicker training - particularly when working to shift an animal’s emotional state associated with a triggering stimulus. I have experience with anxious animals, senior animals, special needs animals, and more. As a dog-mama to a reactive and fearful dog that faces breed discrimination, it is extremely difficult to find someone I can trust to understand how to work with Obi - how to make him feel safe and how to ensure his safety. I, like many pet owners, have had some bad experiences with pet sitters. These experiences have taught me not only what to look for in a sitter, but they have inspired me to be the person that you can trust to care for your pet. I will care for, love, and protect your pets like they are my own.
Reviews
Lindsay was a terrific caregiver during the weekend my husband and I were out of town! Our cat needs special cares (eg, diapers, baths); Lindsay came over before the weekend to see my routines. It's clear she did everything perfectly. Our cat greeted us enthusiastically, and is still telling me about how much she loves Lindsay and that she hopes Lindsay will come back soon to take care of her again!
Lindsay was extremely responsive, responsible, kind and loving towards my fur kitty. I will totally book her again for more services!
Lindsay
Lindsay is a wonderful person and definitely connects with my cat Tazzie I recommend her to all pet owners. Thank you so much for caring for Tazzie!
About Lindsay B.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
For all new clients, I’ll ask that you complete my New Client Intake Form, which gathers in-depth information on your pets and their needs. NEW CLIENT INTAKE FORM: https://forms.gle/EhuMWe2E67XCaCji9 I require that all my clients’ pets be up to date on their vaccinations, and require proof of vaccination from your veterinarian. For new dog clients, I prefer to set up a meet-and-greet, allowing us to ensure a calm and fear-free introduction, setting your dog up for success. For dogs (especially those who experience anxiety, fear, and/or reactivity), I recommend a parallel walk during which I’ll ask you to give your pup high-value treats every time they look in my direction/acknowledge my presence as you both slowly walk closer alongside me. I’ll also toss treats at my feet. This allows the dog to approach at their own comfort and helps to create a positive association with me. I will ignore them and give calming cues such as yawning, soft eyes, and blinking, to help them feel at ease. When I meet a new animal, I ensure their consent is there before interacting with them - and in some cases, of course, no interaction is necessary to ensure the animals comfort - and that is totally okay! Boarding / House Sitting: I only book boarding/house sitting requests with existing clients. If you’d like to be considered for future care, please know that for the safety of my fur-baby and yours, I only accept crate-trained neutered/spayed dogs that are muzzle trained with excellent recall, and require a bite-proof muzzled meet-and-greet session with my pup and yours to ensure a proper fit. Of course, this doesn’t describe most dogs - it’s not easy! Which is where I’m more than happy to work with you and your dog to get to that point :), and can recommend other wonderful sitters in the meantime. (New to muzzle training? I highly recommend checking out the Muzzle Up Project - it’s an incredible resource!!)
Information Lindsay B. would like to know about your pet
As previously mentioned, I ask all new clients to complete my New Client Intake Form (https://forms.gle/EhuMWe2E67XCaCji9), which gathers comprehensive information about your pet - from their feeding schedule to their health and emergency information to their behavioral cues, I want to know it all so that I can ensure that I set up your pet for success and can do my best to help them (and you!) feel safe and at ease. Please also be prepared to ask your vet to share your pet's vaccination records.
A typical day
A walk with your pup is THEIR walk, not mine! That means that if they want to power-walk, we’ll hustle down the street! If they want to stop and sniff every flower we come across, that’s what we’ll do! If your dog needs a run, I’m totally down (though of course, please check first with your vet). My goal is for each walk to be physically and mentally enriching. And if you’d like, I’m happy to train and behavior manage while we walk as well - whether it’s clicking and treating and/or making a quick U-turn every time we see something triggering (i.e. another dog, a cyclist, a car), or practicing sitting at every curb, we’re on it! For every walk, I carry lots of yummy treats (provided or approved by you), a clicker, a first aid kit, a squeaker in case I need to get your dog’s attention, and pet-safe citronella spray in case another animal runs at/attacks us. Please note: I will always advocate for your dogs space and safety. This means I will not let anyone approach them, and will always maintain a distance with other people and animals. I will not let a pet off leash unless in a private and fully-fenced area approved by you. If your pet needs to run free but you don’t have a space for them to do so, let me know - we can talk about using a long-line leash or renting a SniffSpot! Check-ins: these involve whatever you need - whether it’s feeding your pet, administering medication, bath time, a diaper change, snuggles, playtime, a frozen kong, a puzzle, a potty break, you name it - I’m on it! As previously mentioned, I only book boarding/house sitting with existing clients, and have a few requirements. Please read above for more detail, and let me know if you have any questions! Whether caring for pets in your home or mine, I ensure lots of mental and physical enrichment. For active pups, I love to work outside (whether it’s my backyard or yours) while they play. When it comes to sitting in my home, my backyard is fully-fenced and full of toys. I’ve convered my finished basement into a doggie-playroom, which is wonderful for cold or rainy days. My home is fur-baby proof, meaning even the nosiest pup won’t be able to get into anything! And there is a big water dish in every room :).
Services
Lindsay can watch in your home
Availability
My job is virtual and flexible, allowing me to dedicate my free time to caring for your pet! I also work to train other sitters to work with reactive and fearful animals, and am happy to recommend others if I am not available.
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About Lindsay B.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
For all new clients, I’ll ask that you complete my New Client Intake Form, which gathers in-depth information on your pets and their needs. NEW CLIENT INTAKE FORM: https://forms.gle/EhuMWe2E67XCaCji9 I require that all my clients’ pets be up to date on their vaccinations, and require proof of vaccination from your veterinarian. For new dog clients, I prefer to set up a meet-and-greet, allowing us to ensure a calm and fear-free introduction, setting your dog up for success. For dogs (especially those who experience anxiety, fear, and/or reactivity), I recommend a parallel walk during which I’ll ask you to give your pup high-value treats every time they look in my direction/acknowledge my presence as you both slowly walk closer alongside me. I’ll also toss treats at my feet. This allows the dog to approach at their own comfort and helps to create a positive association with me. I will ignore them and give calming cues such as yawning, soft eyes, and blinking, to help them feel at ease. When I meet a new animal, I ensure their consent is there before interacting with them - and in some cases, of course, no interaction is necessary to ensure the animals comfort - and that is totally okay! Boarding / House Sitting: I only book boarding/house sitting requests with existing clients. If you’d like to be considered for future care, please know that for the safety of my fur-baby and yours, I only accept crate-trained neutered/spayed dogs that are muzzle trained with excellent recall, and require a bite-proof muzzled meet-and-greet session with my pup and yours to ensure a proper fit. Of course, this doesn’t describe most dogs - it’s not easy! Which is where I’m more than happy to work with you and your dog to get to that point :), and can recommend other wonderful sitters in the meantime. (New to muzzle training? I highly recommend checking out the Muzzle Up Project - it’s an incredible resource!!)
Information Lindsay B. would like to know about your pet
As previously mentioned, I ask all new clients to complete my New Client Intake Form (https://forms.gle/EhuMWe2E67XCaCji9), which gathers comprehensive information about your pet - from their feeding schedule to their health and emergency information to their behavioral cues, I want to know it all so that I can ensure that I set up your pet for success and can do my best to help them (and you!) feel safe and at ease. Please also be prepared to ask your vet to share your pet's vaccination records.
A typical day
A walk with your pup is THEIR walk, not mine! That means that if they want to power-walk, we’ll hustle down the street! If they want to stop and sniff every flower we come across, that’s what we’ll do! If your dog needs a run, I’m totally down (though of course, please check first with your vet). My goal is for each walk to be physically and mentally enriching. And if you’d like, I’m happy to train and behavior manage while we walk as well - whether it’s clicking and treating and/or making a quick U-turn every time we see something triggering (i.e. another dog, a cyclist, a car), or practicing sitting at every curb, we’re on it! For every walk, I carry lots of yummy treats (provided or approved by you), a clicker, a first aid kit, a squeaker in case I need to get your dog’s attention, and pet-safe citronella spray in case another animal runs at/attacks us. Please note: I will always advocate for your dogs space and safety. This means I will not let anyone approach them, and will always maintain a distance with other people and animals. I will not let a pet off leash unless in a private and fully-fenced area approved by you. If your pet needs to run free but you don’t have a space for them to do so, let me know - we can talk about using a long-line leash or renting a SniffSpot! Check-ins: these involve whatever you need - whether it’s feeding your pet, administering medication, bath time, a diaper change, snuggles, playtime, a frozen kong, a puzzle, a potty break, you name it - I’m on it! As previously mentioned, I only book boarding/house sitting with existing clients, and have a few requirements. Please read above for more detail, and let me know if you have any questions! Whether caring for pets in your home or mine, I ensure lots of mental and physical enrichment. For active pups, I love to work outside (whether it’s my backyard or yours) while they play. When it comes to sitting in my home, my backyard is fully-fenced and full of toys. I’ve convered my finished basement into a doggie-playroom, which is wonderful for cold or rainy days. My home is fur-baby proof, meaning even the nosiest pup won’t be able to get into anything! And there is a big water dish in every room :).
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Pets
Lindsay B.
Minneapolis, MN