McKenzie H.
Blue Ridge, WA
Professional poop scooper
Pet care experience
In September of 2020, I got my own pup, so I know how much trust I'd need to put in a dog walker to take care of him and keep him safe. I have recent experience with training him on everything from fun tricks (his most recent is "hug"), potty training, and working to pass the Canine Good Citizen test. My family has had dogs my whole life, and I walked them daily through middle school, high school and parts of college, and was an active participant in their training, including dozens of hours of loose leash walking and running. Because of these experiences, I am dedicated to making sure that your pup has has an enjoyable walk or playtime, and that I treat them with the same care and love that I treat my own dog, with a mind for reinforcing positive behaviors! I know how important being consistent with training is, and so I'm happy to incorporate your training goals into our walks. I have recent and extensive experience with puppies, their small bladders, and teaching them manners while they're still learning the ropes of being a part of the family, using evidence-based positive reinforcement and force-free methods! I aim to instill trust with you, the pup parent, in the form of thorough communication about your pup's behavior while in my care. Outside of caring for pets, I have experience nannying for the same family for 3+ years, which involved enforcing household rules, showing up on time, and caring for human children, which translates well to caring for fur babies.
Reviews
McKenzie came through for me when my 2 regular sitters were out of town and I spaced out booking in advance. She took great care of my 2 kitties and was really responsive. Five stars for sure!
First time using Rover! McKenzie was very helpful and provided great on time check ins with great photos!
McKenzie has always been reliable and communicative. When we return home after she’s been looking in on our cats, the cats are happy and relaxed.
McKenzie is always great when visiting my cat while we're on vacation! She keeps us informed and always sends great photos :) We've had McKenzie watch our cat twice now, and will continue to book!
About McKenzie H.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I love my pup more than anything, so I approach every visit with the philosophy of treating your animals with the level of care that I'd want for him. For walks, this means always being aware of the environment around us for hazards, and watching your pup for signs of distress or overwhelm. I always check with other dog owners before allowing dogs to interact, and confirm that their dog has "friendly" body language, and am comfortable with telling other dog owners that they need to keep their distance if your pup prefers space from other dogs. Maintaining control of your dog is highly important. I don't let dogs pull me around - I stop and wait until they give me a slack leash, reward (verbal praise or treat), and continue walking. This might mean we cover less ground than if I'd let them pull, but it reinforces nice walking, keeps us both safe and exercises their brain with training. If you have another way of reinforcing nice walking, let me know and I'm happy to incorporate your methods. I do prefer using a harness for larger dogs or dogs with a penchant for pulling. I will never let your dog off-leash, except if we have previously discussed a trip to a fenced official dog park. When walking your dog, all of my attention is on your pup. This may mean that if you text me while I'm walking another dog, my response may be minorly delayed.
Information McKenzie H. would like to know about your pet
Before I take your dog on a walk, it's important for me to know if they have any behaviors I should be correcting (no judgement, training is a lifelong process!!), if they have any "trigger" spots around the neighborhood that are stressful for them, and how they respond to other dogs while on leash. If they are a young puppy, I need to know their vaccination status. If I'll be sitting, I like to know house ground rules like if they're not allowed on furniture, and about your daily routine for them (mealtimes, walk times, where they like to sleep).
A typical day
Every dog is different, so a typical day might look the same for each pup. Some things I do with my own dog include physical exercise, cognitive enrichment with puzzle toys and training, and my personal favorite - snuggling on the couch when we're exhausted from the above. I have an arsenal of size-appropriate toys that I bring along to sits, and if previously discussed, will bring along my own pup for playtime! For walks, I will typically avoid busy streets, especially if your dog is easily overwhelmed or distracted. Because the act of sniffing helps dogs de-stress, I like to let dogs sniff a lot and set their own pace for walks. I also aim to have a high level of engagement from your dog, and will encourage them to check-in with me frequently. Some puppy-specific activities might be going to a dog friendly store in a sling, gentle puppy handling practice, puppy-appropriate training, or spending time with a frozen Kong.
Services
McKenzie can watch in your home
Availability
Walking for Rover complements my "day job" as a graduate student, which allows me a fair amount of flexibility for some daytime walks. Last minute requests can sometimes be accommodated, so just send me a message and we can see if I can make it work.
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About McKenzie H.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I love my pup more than anything, so I approach every visit with the philosophy of treating your animals with the level of care that I'd want for him. For walks, this means always being aware of the environment around us for hazards, and watching your pup for signs of distress or overwhelm. I always check with other dog owners before allowing dogs to interact, and confirm that their dog has "friendly" body language, and am comfortable with telling other dog owners that they need to keep their distance if your pup prefers space from other dogs. Maintaining control of your dog is highly important. I don't let dogs pull me around - I stop and wait until they give me a slack leash, reward (verbal praise or treat), and continue walking. This might mean we cover less ground than if I'd let them pull, but it reinforces nice walking, keeps us both safe and exercises their brain with training. If you have another way of reinforcing nice walking, let me know and I'm happy to incorporate your methods. I do prefer using a harness for larger dogs or dogs with a penchant for pulling. I will never let your dog off-leash, except if we have previously discussed a trip to a fenced official dog park. When walking your dog, all of my attention is on your pup. This may mean that if you text me while I'm walking another dog, my response may be minorly delayed.
Information McKenzie H. would like to know about your pet
Before I take your dog on a walk, it's important for me to know if they have any behaviors I should be correcting (no judgement, training is a lifelong process!!), if they have any "trigger" spots around the neighborhood that are stressful for them, and how they respond to other dogs while on leash. If they are a young puppy, I need to know their vaccination status. If I'll be sitting, I like to know house ground rules like if they're not allowed on furniture, and about your daily routine for them (mealtimes, walk times, where they like to sleep).
A typical day
Every dog is different, so a typical day might look the same for each pup. Some things I do with my own dog include physical exercise, cognitive enrichment with puzzle toys and training, and my personal favorite - snuggling on the couch when we're exhausted from the above. I have an arsenal of size-appropriate toys that I bring along to sits, and if previously discussed, will bring along my own pup for playtime! For walks, I will typically avoid busy streets, especially if your dog is easily overwhelmed or distracted. Because the act of sniffing helps dogs de-stress, I like to let dogs sniff a lot and set their own pace for walks. I also aim to have a high level of engagement from your dog, and will encourage them to check-in with me frequently. Some puppy-specific activities might be going to a dog friendly store in a sling, gentle puppy handling practice, puppy-appropriate training, or spending time with a frozen Kong.
Location
Seattle, WA
Pets
McKenzie H.
Blue Ridge, WA