Natalie B.
Near Northwest, IN
Love walking and hiking with dogs!
Pet care experience
I have been a pet owner my whole life. I helped my dad raise his (now four year old) extremely energetic vizsla puppy. More recently, my fiance and I have adopted two dogs from shelters in the past couple of years. We have a three year old heeler/shepherd mix named Nellie, and a two year old German shepherd/golden retriever mix named Murphy. Murphy has had several medical conditions that we have dealt with in her short life so far. She has had two knee surgeries, has anxiety issues for which she takes medication as needed, and has worked through a weak bladder and scared/excited pee issues. This has given me good experience with a few different special needs that a dog may have. I am patient and good at reading the body language of dogs (especially ones who are nervous or shy!). I also have had cats my whole life. We currently have two rescue cats who are very playful. I absolutely love both cats and dogs, and am comfortable with them both! I love hiking and walking with dogs and have experience with relaxed walkers as well as energetic walkers. I am familiar with various breeds, as my family has owned a vizsla, springer spaniel, labrador retriever, pointing griffon, terrier mix, and a golden retriever. In addition to personal experience with owning dogs, I took my dad's vizsla puppy to a 10 week obedience training course. I learned proper dog walking techniques, positive reinforcement skills, and other various behavior management skills. I have been able to practice implementing these skills with the vizsla as well as with my current dogs. I absolutely love walking dogs because I enjoy the exercise myself and love seeing the joy the dogs get out of being outside to release their energy. I understand the importance of keeping your dog safe and happy by implementing proper dog walking techniques to ensure they have a great time and get the exercise they need! I would love to help you with any care you need for your cats or dogs, from dropping in to give snuggles while you’re away, to hikes for your energetic pup!
Reviews
Natalie is fantastic! Great communication, very informative and takes great care of our pups. I love her pics and updates.
Natalie was phenomenal. We didn’t worry at all. She followed all our instructions, kept us informed with pics and updates and our home was left as she found it. She definitely provided the peace of mind needed so we could enjoy our trip. Hope to use her services again!!
Natalie was awesome. We were gone for 2 weeks and she stayed at our house during the day to be with the dogs, take care of the mail, and water the plants. She provided daily morning updates and was super easy to reach via Rover. Would highly recommend her and will definitely use her again for our pups!
Natalie was really great with all of our pets! We felt so comfortable leaving them in her hands. We appreciated the daily photos and updates. Our dog and cats were so relaxed and happy when we returned home after being gone for a week. We highly recommend Natalie and know our pets will be happy to see her again for future stays.
About Natalie B.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I have experience walking dogs with proper technique and can use a harness if that is what you prefer (I always walk my own with a harness on to give better control and keep them secure). I never let dogs off-leash in an area where they would be unsafe (i.e. not a dog park or fenced yard). I can follow any additional care instructions regarding your dogs that you would like (i.e. discouraging your dog from jumping up on people, avoiding interactions with other dogs, walking calmly alongside me, etc.). At your home, I can be quiet and patient with any pets that are shy around new people. I am comfortable giving oral medication, like a pill, to a dog if needed (my own dog gets daily pills.) I brush my own long-haired cats daily and clean their litter boxes daily, and so I can also do those things for your cats if needed.
Information Natalie B. would like to know about your pet
It is important for me to know if your dog has any dietary restrictions or medical issues. It is also very important to know honestly how your dog does with other people and other animals. I am comfortable working with your dog even if they have some quirks, but I need to know up front so I can be prepared and we can get off on the right foot! Here are some things to consider: Does your dog lunge at other dogs or animals on walks? How does your dog express discomfort? Does your dog play rough or are they more submissive during playtime? Is your dog food-motived or not? Are there areas on your dog's body that they do not like to be touched (i.e. feet, tail, mouth)?
A typical day
I regularly walk my own dogs all around South Bend, as well as frequently go to the dog parks in the area. I can take your dog to the park if they are comfortable with that and can handle the trip (i.e. are not aggressive or overly scared of other dogs). I can also walk your dog in your neighborhood and/or play with them in your house and yard. For cats, I can play with them, brush them, pet them, etc. Whatever they are comfortable with!
Services
Natalie can watch in your home
Availability
I am currently a graduate student at Notre Dame, and so I have a fairly flexible schedule. While I am busy with work and my own pets, I am able to take off during the day to stop by and check in on your pets or give them a mid-day walk. For the most part, I work from home and do not hold traditional 9-5 hours, so my schedule is flexible. I can also care for your pets on the weekends or weeknights, too!
About Natalie B.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I have experience walking dogs with proper technique and can use a harness if that is what you prefer (I always walk my own with a harness on to give better control and keep them secure). I never let dogs off-leash in an area where they would be unsafe (i.e. not a dog park or fenced yard). I can follow any additional care instructions regarding your dogs that you would like (i.e. discouraging your dog from jumping up on people, avoiding interactions with other dogs, walking calmly alongside me, etc.). At your home, I can be quiet and patient with any pets that are shy around new people. I am comfortable giving oral medication, like a pill, to a dog if needed (my own dog gets daily pills.) I brush my own long-haired cats daily and clean their litter boxes daily, and so I can also do those things for your cats if needed.
Information Natalie B. would like to know about your pet
It is important for me to know if your dog has any dietary restrictions or medical issues. It is also very important to know honestly how your dog does with other people and other animals. I am comfortable working with your dog even if they have some quirks, but I need to know up front so I can be prepared and we can get off on the right foot! Here are some things to consider: Does your dog lunge at other dogs or animals on walks? How does your dog express discomfort? Does your dog play rough or are they more submissive during playtime? Is your dog food-motived or not? Are there areas on your dog's body that they do not like to be touched (i.e. feet, tail, mouth)?
A typical day
I regularly walk my own dogs all around South Bend, as well as frequently go to the dog parks in the area. I can take your dog to the park if they are comfortable with that and can handle the trip (i.e. are not aggressive or overly scared of other dogs). I can also walk your dog in your neighborhood and/or play with them in your house and yard. For cats, I can play with them, brush them, pet them, etc. Whatever they are comfortable with!
Location
South Bend, IN
Pets
Natalie B.
Near Northwest, IN