Michelle & Nathan S.
Alexandria, VA
Home full-time, active dog family!
Pet care experience
I personally have experience caring for animals of all kinds, but have cared for dogs specifically for 17 years. While I am the primary dog caregiver, my whole family has a hand in ensuring that dogs in our care get a ton of attention, love, and exercise. Our adult daughter is an experienced Rover sitter, and our two younger children (11 and 9) are experienced in caring for all different animals from previously living on a homestead and fostering for an animal rescue. They understand the importance of reading animal behavior and respecting animals. All three adults in our house have been background checked by Rover. My husband is also an endurance runner and can accommodate long runs for dogs who are overnight boarding, if requested. For the pups who would rather lounge around, we have a number of dog hammock beds that are easy on the joints. Or your dog can find a spot in our fenced backyard to sunbathe. We can care for any age dog. We welcome and enjoy puppies and senior dogs.
Reviews
Our frenchie had another great visit with Michelle and her family. We always feel comfortable with them watching her and we LOVE all of the updates Michelle sends while we are away. Will definitely continue to work with her 😊
Our second time with Michelle and Nathan was just as amazing as the first time!! Our 10 month old puppy is quite high energy and they did an amazing job bringing him to the dog parks, fields and the Del ray farmers market to get his energy out! We got lots of photos and videos every day. Biggie probably gets more attention here than at home haha cannot recommend Michelle and Nathan enough!
This was my dog Tyson’s first time with Michelle and Nathan and the gang – and he can’t wait to go back! The booking was smooth, payment easy (and reasonable), with good communication ahead of time. Michelle was reassuring as I dropped Tyson off (he was a bit clingy in the presence of a larger dog) and had sent me photos of my settled-in pup within the hour. Updates with pictures came every evening – Tyson in the park, Tyson shopping at Petco, Tyson sniffing flowers. Three days later, I picked up a contented dog, and even came away with a treat bag, including a stuffed unicorn (now his favorite toy) and a lovely note from Michelle and other family members who had also welcomed my dog. I’d been looking for a new boarding situation that didn’t involve too many other dogs and too little human attention. This was the perfect combination of good care and good company!
My pup loves staying with Michelle and her family! She has the best time playing fetch with the kids and getting spoiled with all the treats, attention, and adventures! Michelle is great about sharing updates and I know my dog is in great hands while I travel. She can’t wait to go back :)
About Michelle & Nathan S.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
We have a 9 year old Giant Schnauzer that has been around cows, turkeys, chickens, cats, and of course, lots of dogs. She is very good at matching another dog’s energy. She will play when others want to play, or give space to dogs that are more sensitive. We feed all dogs separate from each other during feeding times. We have the ability to crate dogs who are more comfortable in a den setting at night or when alone. Please let us know how your dog does best. We ask you to give us as much info as possible about your dog, but we also accommodate for the fact that your dog is in a new environment and may behave differently than in their own home.
Home
Information Michelle & Nathan S. would like to know about your pet
Some information we’ll need from you is what type of feeding schedule you prefer, how your dog behaves around kids/strangers, how can we help your dog cope best during your absence, and your dog’s exercise requirements. We will go over all of this and more during our doggy meet and greet.
A typical day
Our family is very active and aside from daily walks, we may bring your pup to the very large park near our house, or load up and go to the trails. We have the ability to safely transport your precious cargo in a crate in our van, if you give permission for these activities. We do not visit dog parks in order to protect our boarding dog family from unpredictable or unvaccinated dogs.
Services
Michelle & Nathan can host
Availability
I stay at home and will provide a majority of the care, and there is almost always additional members of our family available for your dog’s needs. There are plenty of us available to let dogs in and out of the yard, take walks, and give lots of love and attention.
About Michelle & Nathan S.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
We have a 9 year old Giant Schnauzer that has been around cows, turkeys, chickens, cats, and of course, lots of dogs. She is very good at matching another dog’s energy. She will play when others want to play, or give space to dogs that are more sensitive. We feed all dogs separate from each other during feeding times. We have the ability to crate dogs who are more comfortable in a den setting at night or when alone. Please let us know how your dog does best. We ask you to give us as much info as possible about your dog, but we also accommodate for the fact that your dog is in a new environment and may behave differently than in their own home.
Home
Information Michelle & Nathan S. would like to know about your pet
Some information we’ll need from you is what type of feeding schedule you prefer, how your dog behaves around kids/strangers, how can we help your dog cope best during your absence, and your dog’s exercise requirements. We will go over all of this and more during our doggy meet and greet.
A typical day
Our family is very active and aside from daily walks, we may bring your pup to the very large park near our house, or load up and go to the trails. We have the ability to safely transport your precious cargo in a crate in our van, if you give permission for these activities. We do not visit dog parks in order to protect our boarding dog family from unpredictable or unvaccinated dogs.
Location
Alexandria, VA
Pets
Michelle & Nathan S.
Alexandria, VA