Dogs have been a BIG part of my life (my father raised Great Danes) and I can't imagine what my life would be like without them. I have always had dogs (and cats, birds, rabbits and fish) with most of them choosing me as their forever Mom. Winston Churchill, my German Shepherd Dog, followed me from the grocery store parking lot into the bread section of the grocery store, sat down on my feet and refused to move. I had no choice but to pick up the little puppy who had been wandering around the parking lot for three days and it was love at first sight! He came home with me along with a loaf of bread and a huge bag of puppy food - a gift from the store manager. Many years later my current dogs are also rescue dogs - Roxy, an Alaskan Malamute and Maxi, a mini American Eskimo Dog. They were rescued in Arizona and are happy to be residing in beautiful (and cooler) San Diego. I have never had good luck in boarding my dogs, cats or birds in formal boarding facilities. They would come home sick or upset because they were not used to staying in kennels or cages with very little personal contact and attention. They seemed to think that they were being punished and it took days for them to get back to their normal playful and trusting selves. I do support the idea that there is "no place like home" in pet care. Being able to stay in familiar surroundings with someone who will give them undivided attention makes all the difference. Its difficult enough that their person or people have gone away for a few hours or a few days. I have had lots of experience working with puppies as well as elderly dogs along with those recovering from various ailments and requiring medication on a regular basis. I also work with cats, birds, rabbits and fish, so no worries if they happen to be part of your pet family. I currently have two parrots and a bunny as part of my own family and they get on famously with my two dogs. Hand feeding kittens and parrots is also something I have experience with (every few hours - whew!). Communication is essential and letting me know all about your pet(s) makes all the difference. Everything about their likes and dislikes with food and treats along with what they enjoy on their walks and what makes them uneasy. Information about your neighborhood (a favorite route and places to avoid) and homeowner association requirements regarding your pets is essential to a successful and fun outing. If you are using special words and commands in their training is also important to share with me so that your dogs won't be confused and will provide continuity in their education. I look forward to meeting you and putting both you and your pet/s at ease while assisting in making your dog's day interesting. I do walks during DAYLIGHT HOURS ONLY for the safety of both myself and your pet. As we go into Fall, I do walks up until 7 PM at the latest. For drop in visits, please let me know if you have coyotes and owls around your yard at night so that I can be aware of any possible dangers. I do ask that if you do not have a body vest/harness that you might consider investing in one. I have had a number of dogs slip their collars during a walk and, because I am a stranger to them (not their familiar person), it can be more difficult to get them close enough to put the collar back on. As they say, "When mom and dad is away, the kids will try to get away with everything they can think of." It is the same for our fur babies.