Maddie B.
Woodbine, MD
Gentle, focused love and care
Pet care experience
Hello! My name is Maddie, and I would love to meet you and your pet(s)! I am working with my husband Chris, who will accompany me on almost all jobs. He is gentle and loves animals - he grew up amongst various farm animals, as well as dogs and cats. *PLEASE NOTE: I do not accept jobs where a dog or cat will be confined to a crate for more than 18 hours per day, or alone for 20+ hours per day!* Thank you for understanding! About Me: I've loved all animals for my entire life and have been caring for pets professionally since 2011. I have a heart full of love for these beautiful creatures and strive to provide safety, empathy, and comfort for all pets in my care. I am experienced with puppies, senior dogs, healthy dogs, sick dogs, deaf dogs, blind dogs... You name it! I grew up with multiple family dogs, including one who unfortunately lost her vision and then her eyes to glaucoma. I've adopted two senior dogs: Shine, a Plott hound in advanced renal failure and, later, Piper, a deaf golden retriever with cancer. I was honored to be able to care for them in their golden years and keep them comfortable when they needed it most. Cats were a constant presence in my home when I was growing up. The “purr” of a content cat is one of nature's most wonderful sounds! Starting in 2011, I worked at a dog and cat boarding facility for years. I met hundreds of dogs and cats! There, I grew accustomed to administering medication and handling animals of many different sizes and personalities. I then managed dogs in a doggy daycare for a few years, where I supervised groups of 10-25 dogs every day. I believe animals are gifts to be treasured, so I treat them with kindness and respect. I would be honored to spend some time with your beloved pets!
Reviews
Maddie is awesome! I feel at peace knowing I have the right person walking my Sabrina!
Maddie is, hands down, the best dog walker our Lab has had. She is excellent at communicating with us about the walk - usually a very sweet paragraph- about Tally’s behavior and about any pups they may have met or avoided on the walk. She is meticulously on time and always spends extra time after the walk giving our girl some love. You truly couldn’t ask for a better walker.
Maddie is a joy to have as our dog walker. She provides great notes and pictures. It is very obvious that she loves her work.
Our Dogs love it when Maddie takes them for their walk. I do too! She is on time, spends the full walk time with the girls, sends me cute pictures and is easy to communicate with!
About Maddie B.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Safety is always my top priority! Pets can be anxious if owners are gone, so their behavior may differ from their norm. I play it safe and avoid contact with other humans and animals while your pet is under my care. We also will walk familiar routes and stick with your pets’ routines as much as possible. To foster a trusting relationship between myself and your pet(s), I follow a force-free positive reinforcement approach. This means using treats to reinforce good behavior and to help your pet cope with stress. I pay close attention to their body language to honor their communication. Providing agency to your pet is important to me. Within reason and whenever safe, I'll allow your dog to choose what route to take on their walk, and stop and sniff when they want to, for as long as they want. I will not ask them to walk next to me for the majority of the walk. All pets under my care can opt out of activities like petting, brushing, or playtime. I also stop for consent checks during petting sessions to ensure your pet is still enjoying the interaction. The idea is to give them some choice and control over their lives as domesticated animals typically have very little if any!
Information Maddie B. would like to know about your pet
Of course, I require a heads up about any special needs or medications, any noteworthy behavioral tendencies, a description of the routine the animal is used to, and any other relevant information.
A typical day
For dog walks, we will walk around the neighborhood on your pup’s familiar route. We can also spend some time playing with toys. When weather is very poor, we will go outside to go potty at least, but will spend the majority of the booked time indoors playing with toys. I may also bring toys and puzzles of my own like snuffle mats or food puzzles. Please note: I do not drive dogs to other locations for walks. Rover intends walkers to stay within the dogs’ neighborhood on their walks, and the pricing and time frame does not reflect travel time and car use. I will use your leash and harness or collar for walks. My personal favorite is a leash that is 6-15 feet in length clipped to the back of a harness that has a Y-shaped front and side straps which avoid the shoulder blades (straps that cross over the shoulder blades impede your pet's movement and are uncomfortable at best). I will, however, use whatever gear you use.
Services
Maddie can watch in your home
Availability
Feel free to send me a message anytime. If the exact time you request is not available, we might be able to work something out. My availability for jobs is between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM.
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About Maddie B.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
Safety is always my top priority! Pets can be anxious if owners are gone, so their behavior may differ from their norm. I play it safe and avoid contact with other humans and animals while your pet is under my care. We also will walk familiar routes and stick with your pets’ routines as much as possible. To foster a trusting relationship between myself and your pet(s), I follow a force-free positive reinforcement approach. This means using treats to reinforce good behavior and to help your pet cope with stress. I pay close attention to their body language to honor their communication. Providing agency to your pet is important to me. Within reason and whenever safe, I'll allow your dog to choose what route to take on their walk, and stop and sniff when they want to, for as long as they want. I will not ask them to walk next to me for the majority of the walk. All pets under my care can opt out of activities like petting, brushing, or playtime. I also stop for consent checks during petting sessions to ensure your pet is still enjoying the interaction. The idea is to give them some choice and control over their lives as domesticated animals typically have very little if any!
Information Maddie B. would like to know about your pet
Of course, I require a heads up about any special needs or medications, any noteworthy behavioral tendencies, a description of the routine the animal is used to, and any other relevant information.
A typical day
For dog walks, we will walk around the neighborhood on your pup’s familiar route. We can also spend some time playing with toys. When weather is very poor, we will go outside to go potty at least, but will spend the majority of the booked time indoors playing with toys. I may also bring toys and puzzles of my own like snuffle mats or food puzzles. Please note: I do not drive dogs to other locations for walks. Rover intends walkers to stay within the dogs’ neighborhood on their walks, and the pricing and time frame does not reflect travel time and car use. I will use your leash and harness or collar for walks. My personal favorite is a leash that is 6-15 feet in length clipped to the back of a harness that has a Y-shaped front and side straps which avoid the shoulder blades (straps that cross over the shoulder blades impede your pet's movement and are uncomfortable at best). I will, however, use whatever gear you use.
Location
Woodbine, MD
Maddie B.
Woodbine, MD