Mahayla G.
Mahayla G.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Exercise, training, and wellness!
**Please kindly note that I have a 2 night minimum for bookings. I will not accept single night requests** Mahayla "Haylie" Gernert-Dott has been positively obsessed with animals since she was a child. Between working for rides at her local riding stable she spent her time reading dog and horse breed manuals cover-to-cover and/or begging her parents for a dog to train. When they finally relented, Haylie immediately began training Tally Ho! (her Wheaten Terrier) to do Rally Obedience, Agility, and all manner of tricks. When Tally developed leash reactivity, Haylie delved into the world of behavior modification at age 14 and soon discovered there was so much more to dog behavior than she previously understood. Haylie graduated from the University of Vermont with Honors. She has a B.S. in Animal Science with a concentration in canine behavior, minored in Food Systems, and wrote her senior thesis with Kelly Bollen M.S., C.A.B.C. and Jamie Shaw on problematic behaviors in recently adopted dogs. After graduating in 2017 Haylie began her apprenticeship at The Dog School under the guidance of Jamie Shaw, a UVM lecturer and one of New England's first canine behaviorists. Haylie apprenticed under Jamie for 3 years, shadowing her at consults, assistant teaching canine behavior classes at UVM, and training dogs hands-on at Jamie's in-home boarding business. There she learned the power of positive reinforcement, gained an extensive knowledge of canine body language, and discovered that the key to good training is relationship and trust. Now, Haylie knows much more than she did at 14. However, she finds that for every new thing she learns about canine behavior, she finds 10 new questions that beg to be explored. To her, that's the most amazing (and addictive) thing about dog behavior, and she feels privileged to wake up each day and do what she loves most in this world! After her apprenticeship with Jamie, Haylie moved to the Berkshires to take on the role of lead trainer at Berkshire Humane Society's Family Dog School and Canine Behavior Specialist for the shelter itself. Haylie now lives in Adams MA with her partner Luke, his Labrador Beya, and her 2 Border Collies (Bash and Swift) who she competes with in the sports of Dog Agility, Nosework, and Mondioring. When she isn't training dogs Haylie enjoys trail running with her dogs all over the Berkshires. Haylie uses her extensive training experience and her knowledge of canine nutrition and physiology to care for each individual dog holistically. Dog care is her passion and profession, and she can't wait to work with you and your pup!
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Suri and Haley are best of friends! She loves her time playing with Haley and her pups and loves her stays with her. Thank you!!
Mahayla was great. My lab had a great time playing with their lab in the big backyard, going on hikes etc. She was responsive in communicating about logistics and pleasant to deal with overall. I would recommend.
Hailey is the best! Ollie comes home pooped from all the hiking. She’s great with him!
Thank you for caring for our beloved dog. Your love of dogs is obvious, and we appreciate your enthusiasm.
Molly loved hanging out with Hailey. Molly went everywhere with Hailey. Molly thrives in a home setting. So glad we have Hailey to watch Molly.
Excellent care!
Calendar and availability
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
28 | 29 | 30 |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Schedule
Boarding dogs live in the house with my pack, enjoy free access to our 1/2 acre fenced yard (6' wooden stockade fencing) when we are home, and come to work with me during the week along with my own dogs, where they hang out with my coworkers and enjoy indoor freedom in my training space on bad weather days. Boarding dogs get daily exercise and playtime along with all the usual social perks of living in a home. (read: snuggles!)
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
We offer a 1/2 acre yard completely fenced with 6' wooden stockade fencing and a privacy hedge. We have 3 friendly and playful dogs to keep your pup company, and can crate your pup for naps or bedtime if desired. Dogs can accompany me and my dogs on our trail runs/hikes if their fitness permits, or will get their own (more leisurely) walk if that suits them better. Meals are fed twice a day in separate areas, and food toys/occupiers/enrichment items can be provided upon request.
Pets
A typical day
Daily trail running adventures, on- or off-leash (with your permission) with extensive training in recall. Daily controlled, mutual activities-based socialization and play with other dogs (i.e. going on walks together, exploring a new place, etc.) Enrichment "sniff" walks where they use their nose to explore a new space on a long line. House manners work as needed. Plenty of social time at home and work with my friends and coworkers, and a safe indoor play space in my training room for bad-weather days. All activities are choice-based for each dog, meaning that they get the opportunity to opt into or out of any situation at any time. Forcing a dog to interact with other dogs, or engage in an uncomfortable activity, only creates fear and undermines their confidence. The goal with any canine activity is to behaviorally enrich their lives and create a calmer, more confident dog. With that in mind, each activity is adjusted to fit an individual dog's mental and physical needs to ensure they have a good experience.