Michelle G.
Michelle G.
Contact for Boarding
from $40 per night
Highlights
Pet care experience
L/XL Breeds Welcome/Preferred
6/2026 UPDATE: After a long hiatus, I am back to dog sitting. It's a long story but my house burned down and it took years to get back into, a car accident, etc. However, I would like to start sitting other dogs again. I have my own dog, a bullmastiff named Bodi, who turned a year old in May 2026. He's 130+ lbs so far. He's a big big baby. He's very well socialized and goes to the dog park frequently, doesn't guard resources, and loves smaller dogs too. He is very gentle with them. Bodi is not neutered so no females in heat. My mother lives with me and she has a household cat. So, while it's ok for dogs to chase a cat, the cat is dog savvy, I cannot watch any dogs that would wish to do actual harm to the cat. I am especially doing this right now so my dog remains accustomed to new dogs entering his home and welcoming them. I'm home all the time so my schedule is open. My mother also lives with me and she is here all the time as well. I have a small fenced yard. I usually take my dog to the dog park or for a walk, or he has a playdate with the neighbor dog. So, while watching your dog, I would take him/her to the dog Park if that's ok with you, or take them for a walk. I do have a hip issue so I can't promise a lengthy walk every single day no matter what, simply because I do have hip issues. However, i would be able to throw a stick around, etc, to ensure your dog gets enough exercise. My dog Bodi is allowed on the furniture and in my bed and your dog would also be welcome to do so. I do give my dog people food treats. If you do not allow people food, please just let me know and I'll respect your wishes. The last thing I want to say is that my dog is my first priority, being that I'm only willing to watch dogs that get along well with my dog. So, I cannot promise any bookings without meeting you and your dog beforehand. I want dog sitting to be a positive experience for him and I do not want Bodi to be uncomfortable in his own home. 8/23/2019 UPDATE: My dog, Stella, passed away in March from osteosarcoma; but, I can't bring myself to remove her info from my profile yet. So, I'm adding this info as an update. Although I don't think I'm ready to get a new dog myself yet--because I still feel as though getting another dog would be trying to replace the irreplaceable-- I feel ok when around other people's dogs & feel as though I am ready to watch dogs again. In fact, being around dogs more, again, may be exactly what I need first, before getting another dog. All of that being said- despite my profile information & posted pictures, I do not have any dogs in my home so I would be able to watch dogs who may not be good with other dogs. I can watch more than 1 dog at a time, provided they are from the same household; but, I generally don't accept dogs from more than one household at a time. I set that rule/limit because I also had my own dog, so I may be willing to watch two dogs from different households...but, I wouldn't watch another dog from another household unless I had permission from both owners (first & foremost). Furthermore, I still would probably only do so only if I was already familiar with both dogs and/or felt very, very confident that neither dog's presence would negatively effect the other dog's experience. As a final note to owners of multiple dogs: Apparently, my thinking and experience(s) are contrary to Rover and or other Rover sitters in regards to watching two dogs from the same household. In my experience, whenever I have watched more than one dog from the same household, they have been easier to care for, and seem more calm and content. Therefore, instead of charging more for the second dog, my charge is $20 for the second dog. Additionally- I'm not sure what exactly my rate is for extended stays, based on my experience(s), extended-stays become easier and less time-intensive the longer the dog stays. As an example, I never expect to sleep much on the first night a dog stays over, simply because even when they're calm, they tend to wake up more often & obviously feel the need to go outside upon wakening. (However, being able to sleep through the night is an added bonus). So, I am willing to adjust my fees for well-behaved dogs staying longer than 3-4 nights. If and whenever that is the case, feel free to ask me about it, if I don't bring it up myself, during the meet n greet, asked prior to booking anything through the site. ___________________________________________________ Hi! I'm a dog person. As a kid, I grew up in a household with many dogs always coming and going so I am very comfortable with dogs. That being said, large and giant breed dogs hold a special place in my heart, and are my favorite. I am a college-educated professional and very trustworthy, and would be happy to meet in advance of taking care of your dog, in order to ease any concerns you may have about leaving a dog with a stranger. And, I could tell you more about myself over the phone, or in person. I also recognize I am new to Rover, and don't or probably won't have have any reviews or customers for a while, so if there's something I can say or do to ease any concerns you may have, feel free to let me know. I have one pet in my home, an 8-year-old female Bullmastiff named Stella, who is very, very laid back. Although I've known Stella her entire life, she came to live with me during the summer of 2017. She always lived with both male and female dogs of all sizes, and in a household with children, and has never displayed any behavioral issues or aggressive behavior. I think Stella gets a little lonely sometimes so she welcomes canine company. Every once in a while & depending on the personalities involved, the most 'aggression' Stella has ever displayed is a warning growl/light snap if she's eating a bully stick (her favorite), or when lying down in her spot on the sofa. It's an appropriate-level response & not aggressive. Actually, I think the only time she's ever even reacted like that, in any way, has been with dogs of her size or larger/taller than her. Even though I love the large dogs- I think Stella prefers dogs smaller than her. She seems to especially love dogs who nag her to play by running & jumping on and around her. Basically, I think she typically requires that the other dog motivate her to play ? (I think she also likes that she can play with the little dogs without having to do much of the running herself!) All in all, I think there's just a certain instant chemistry between certain dogs that make them immediate friends & good playmates. And, the reason I signed up on Rover is for Stella to have an occasional in-home playmate; however, Stella needs to feel comfortable in her own home, which is my first and foremost priority. Regarding house rules and what your pet may be accustomed to, I will adhere to any rules you set for your dog. Stella is allowed on the bed, and has a designated spot on the sofa. Your dog would be welcome on my furniture, if your dog is accustomed to that. However, I also have two ultra-comfortable dog beds (dimensions of each, 36"x 52"). I have exchanged dog-sitting favors with friends and neighbors and watched other dogs in my home for many years, but do not have any prior "professional" dog-sitting experience. MY HOME'S LAYOUT/SENIOR DOGS For anyone with senior dogs, my home is less than ideal, but can also be manageable for senior dogs. My home has a small fenced rear yard, but is a two-story home with the bedrooms located upstairs. There are also approximately 6-8 steps leading to the fenced yard. If your dog has a problem with the steps leading to the yard, I would be willing & able to walk the dog around the house to/from the yard without encountering the steps. I have hardwood flooring throughout my entire home (as well as ceramic and/or porcelain tile in the bathrooms). The stairs are hardwood floor treads with carpeted treads secured on top of the step. Although my stairs are certainly not the steepest stairs I've ever seen in an old home, they're still a bit more narrow and or steep than would be found in a newer home. Overall, my home may not be the best option for some senior dogs, but steps can be avoided as long as the dog is not accustomed to sleeping in the bedroom at night. That being said- I actually slept downstairs on my living room sofa (which has since been replaced) for 4-5 years when my previous dog was no longer able to climb the stairs. So, I'd probably sleep downstairs if I was watching a dog who couldn't climb the steps. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P. S. There is a question or checkmark on my Rover profile for me to answer as to whether anyone smokes in the home. The question is a little but unclear, and I marked mine as no smoking in the home. So, I would like to clarify that I am a smoker, but I don't smoke in my home.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Michelle was super, especially taking Ghost on such short notice. She had a nice fenced in yard for Ghost to ramble. She sent a lot of great photos and took such good care of Ghost with plenty of toys for Ghost to play with. Would definitely use her again. OH, and Michelle, I keep on forgetting to text you but I still have your spare key...

Michelle watched Albert for the first time over the Labor Day weekend and he had a great time! She sent us videos and pictures and we could tell he was having fun and in good hands. We’ve already booked Michelle for another boarding and would highly recommend her.

Michelle is simply AMAZING! She is beyond accommodating, kind and loving. Communicating with her was such a breeze. Our Zoey is a bit timid, but with Michelle's help and genuine care, she warmed up to her in no time. Michelle kept updating us throughout the day and sent pictures and videos. You can definitely tell she has the biggest heart for dogs!

Michelle was great! Treated William like he was her own. Lots of updates. Definitely recommend!

Did Great! my dogs had such a great time! Definitely would recommend Michelle to take of your pets. She sends updates and lets you know how your pets are doing.


Michelle is genuinely and totally awesome! She graciously agreed to board my Bear for over a month and care for him until I was able to rehome him. Please read through this review if you’re looking for a truly trustworthy, sincere, loving and caring dog-sitter... Upon our initial meet n’ greet Michelle was professional yet really down-to-earth which helped to make me feel like I was leaving Bear with a dear friend. Her love for dogs was obvious from the first meet. It was raining on the day we met and Michelle without hesitation sat on the ground to greet Bear and he took a liking to her immediately! Throughout Bear’s stay Michelle took Bear everywhere. He enjoyed his long walks in the park and trips to friends. Each time I visited I was excited to see how comfortable and relaxed Bear’s temperament was and how much he had grown. You’ll understand in the next few paragraphs.... I am so grateful for Michelle for many things yet, there are three things I’d like to mention here that meant the world to me which is why I would highly recommend anyone looking for a caring, loving, genuine, dog-mom to consider Michelle. Firstly, I informed Michelle early on that I hadn’t socialized Bear very much at all in the past. This was somewhat of a concern for me as I was rehoming Bear and having him feel more comfortable with strangers and other dogs would help him. Michelle willing and successfully socialized Bear with strangers and other dogs as well as provided me with regular updates on his progress. She’s done amazing work with Bear which I will be forever grateful for! And, Bear’s a happier dog because of it!!!! Secondly, having to rehome Bear was and is truly a difficult decision. Bear recently loss his dog companion brother of 7 years to cancer, separated from his dog-father and he had to relocate to another state. So Bear has experienced much loss and changes over the past few months. However, with Michelle boarding Bear until his adoption was complete helped to provide Bear with stability - one-loving-home-to-stay. She cared for his every need, played with him, kissed and hugged him, and really really spoiled him! :) Lastly, during the rehome process Michelle willing participated in the meet n’ greets and offered her experiences with Bear with potential adoptees. She both traveled and welcomed them into her home. Most, most. most importantly is how instrumental she was in helping me to get Bear adopted. She without my asking created amazing n’ adorable YouTube adoption videos of Bear for me to upload on Bear’s online adoption profiles. I also uploaded some of the pics she took of Bear during his stay. As of this review, Bear has an awesome new dog-mommy and I give much of the credit to Michelle, most definitely!!!! Michelle was-is a life-saver for both me and Bear. And, on top of everything I made a great friend....Thank you Michelle!!!!!

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Schedule
I'm currently home all the time so I have lots of time to give love and attention. My mother also lives with me so there's two people to get attention from.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
I have a small fenced in yard, but frequently take my dog for a walk or the dog park, or at least somewhere to get them out of the house on a rainy day (i.e. Bass Pro Shops)
Pets
A typical day
I will always spend an hour giving my dog (and any visiting dogs) exercise, or if a rainy day, another outing like a trip to Bass Pro Shops, etc.
