My first job at a young age was caring for pets around my neighborhood. I offered dog and cat sitting, dog bathing and walking. I grew up around veterinarians who always had different animals in their homes, from show dogs to fostering rescues to old cats who needed medical IV care. I lost my own rescue dog in July. I adopted him when he was 6 years old and he came with a lot of behavioral baggage. Through working with him, I'm very experienced at dealing with dogs with different emotional needs. Myles was (fear-based) dog aggressive and aggressive towards anything on wheels (bikes, skateboards, strollers), he came a long way from where we started 6 years ago and he taught me how to read dog body language and how to address situations where he wasn't comfortable. When I walk dogs it's important to me that they are comfortable and that we can deal with any issues they may have in positive way with positive reinforcement and treats if needed. I think it's important to let dogs sniff around on a walk (they take in the world through their nose, I don't think it's fair to deny them that). Let me know what your dog needs to make sure we have a safe, comfortable and engaging walk. When taking care of pets in the home comfort is also very important, especially if their owner is away for a period of time. I try to positively engage pets with play and love when they need it. I've surprised cat owners in befriending their shy cat while they were away. They didn't believe it when I said we'd be best friends, but I sent pictures of the two of us relaxing together a few days later. I've had my own dog and currently have a cat, so I'm very familiar with their care. I'm experienced at giving medication, including insulin shots and difficult pets who don't want to take their medicine. I'm also familiar with rabbit and reptile care if you have more than just cats or dogs in the house.