McKenna C.
McKenna C.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Certified Dog Trainer
I love all animals!! From the time I was a toddler up until the present, I have owned and cared for dogs, cats, reptiles, fish, birds, amphibians, small animals, and invertebrates. They are all fascinating to me, however I have an extreme affinity for canines. I was born into a house with two large dogs, and have owned them ever since. I can't imagine my life without dogs— They mean way more to me that simply being pets they are my family. I'll tell people that 'I'm fluent in Canine', and read and understand dogs' communication and psychological needs. I volunteered for a non-profit dog rescue for 9 years. Eventually, volunteering led to fostering, and it was my duty to care for and teach dogs who were in need of second chance love, basic obedience, household rules, and how to be family companions. It gave me a sense of responsibility, significance, and hope that I began to rescue and rehome dogs on my own; I personally found homes for nearly 20 dogs, and fostered many others. I gained so much understanding and experience during my decade of rescue involvement about different ages, breeds, and temperaments. I became a certified positive dog trainer in September of 2013, and mastered teaching obedience cues and solving mild behavioral issues. I am also certified to perform AKC CGC and STAR Puppy tests, and training to help dogs pass. I believe that training is necessity for all dogs, and is pivotal in developing a strong bond of trust and respect between both canine and human.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
McKenna was great! My dog had a blast and came home just the right amount of tired!
She was great with Shapiro
McKenna is a highly qualified and reliable pet sitter. We have two Lab mixes who can become very anxious in new environments. McKenna knew how to properly introduce them to her home and her dogs to ensure that it was a positive experience. The meet & greet and trial stay were incredibly helpful and gave us peace of mind before we book a longer stay. McKenna also sent us daily updates with photos and videos to keep us informed, which we greatly appreciated. We're so relieved that we found a trustworthy person to give our dogs the best possible care while we're away!
McKenna was very responsive and provided updates for my dogs day care visit.
She was amazing with Russell. She did two slow intros before his stay to make sure he was comfortable, and it really showed. She knows dog body language so well and handled him confidently with her dogs and another boarder. My parent's picked up a happy dog, and she said he was easy and welcome back anytime. We’ll definitely book with her again!
McKenna is incredibly observant. She accurately read my dog's 'muted' behavior in the beginning and successfully helped him open up and play. Highly recommend for anyone with a shy or insecure dog.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
My day typically starts at 6:30-7am, where I feed and tend to the animals. Trainers meet up M/W/F in the mornings around 9am to work our board & train dogs. I am usually back home by 11:30am for playtime and potty breaks. On days trainers do not have meetups (or if the meetups are too far away), I will typically work my board & train dog during this time on my own (usually at Tewinkle Park which is right next to my house, or in my yard/home) for 1-1.5 hours. I have an afternoon walk M/W/Th (excluding holidays and breaks when kids are home from school, this relationship is over 5 years old). I have an evening walk M-F, after doggies @ my home are settling down after dinner, then I am back home for the remainder of the day. I am pursing my BA in psychology at CSUF— currently on holiday until the week of Jan 22nd— my final semester before achieving my BA— so I have oodles of time for pet care. Even while school is in session, I am hardly away from home more than 2-3 hours at a time (4 hours away may be the maximum, however I try to limit alone-time as much as possible). Aside training and walks, I am very much a home-body. I run a small aquatics business (fish & plants) from my house, and it is my favorite place to be, and spend all of my down-time here.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
Dogs are not allowed outside in our nice, fenced-in yard without supervision & dogs in my care are provided ID tags with my information. The only personal pets in my household are fish, reptiles, and invertebrates, which are all kept in my insulated/heated garage and away from doggies. I will also typically have at least one dog staying at my residence at any given time for board & train (8 weeks on, 1 week off schedule), though my private-pet-business-insurance allows for up to 5 dogs to stay overnight. If personalities of dogs in my care don’t mesh well, I am fully capable of analyzing the situation and separating/ rotating pups around for their comfort and safety.
Pets
A typical day
At-home fun includes: cuddles, tug, fetch, mental enrichment (i.e. Training, games, etc)! My favorite place to take dogs for walks is Tewinkle Park, located right outside my neighborhood. If pups enjoy car rides, I love taking them new places for walks/hikes (Back Bay is my go-to, but I’m always open to other dog-friendly areas). Social dogs that enjoy car rides are also brought with me to my M/W/F evening walk, as that client LOVES other dogs and making new friends.