Profile image

Mahayla G.

5.0 out of 5 stars
24 repeat clients
Profile image

Mahayla G.

5.0 out of 5 stars
24 repeat clients

Contact for Boarding

$84 total per night

These prices are for 1 dog, including a booking fee of 11%.

Highlights

Mahayla has Star Sitter status!
Enhanced background check
15 years of experience
Has a fenced yard
Home full time
Can administer medication

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

24 repeat pet parents
96% response rate
Usually responds in a few minutes
80% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards
15 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration

Ratings and reviews

5.0
stars
46 ratings
Sara D.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Mar 30, 2026

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!!

Profile image
Stephen M.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Aug 20, 2025

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.

Profile image
Rhonda G.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Aug 01, 2025

Hailey is the best! Ollie comes home pooped from all the hiking. She’s great with him!

Profile image
Paul S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Jun 16, 2025

Thank you for caring for our beloved dog. Your love of dogs is obvious, and we appreciate your enthusiasm.

Profile image
Jean M.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Jun 08, 2025

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.

Profile image
Karen M.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Apr 16, 2025

Excellent care!

Profile image

Calendar and availability

Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
SMTWTFS

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

Lives in a house
Has a fenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has 1 dog
No children present
Dogs not allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 2-4 hours

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.

0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
No females in heat
Mahayla can host up to 3 pets per night
All breeds and ages welcome! If your dog will be participating in group activities they MUST be dog-neutral or dog-social with all genders and breeds including intact males. PLEASE NOTE: I can take shy dogs or dogs who need to build confidence around other dogs, but cannot board dogs who exhibit forward aggression towards other dogs with intent to injure. Aggression towards humans or small prey animals is ok. If your dog will be coming on off-leash adventures they MUST be good off-leash in heavily wooded areas at all times of year. Please let me know if your dog has any food sensitivities and preferred reinforcers (i.e. chicken, a ball, sticks, or mud puddles) so I can utilize the correct things for recall training. Please let me know if your dog has a bite history or medical conditions.
Each sitter joining Rover needs to pass a background check. And by booking on Rover, you can get photo & message updates, 24/7 support, and reimbursement for eligible vet care.

These prices are for 1 dog, including a booking fee of 11%.