About Me: I grew up in Illinois in a home where the animals outnumbered the six kids. My earliest memories are when all of my siblings were at school as I stayed home with my mom and my dog. I was so curious about him; what is he chasing in his dreams, what is he thinking as he stare out the window, does kibble actually taste that good? I was impressed how he would gently sniff my scabs and understood that he liked caring for me as much as I liked caring for him. My family would spend our time together going on hikes, fossil hunting, canoeing, all things outdoors. This sparked my interest at a very early age to learn how to care for all living things; animals, nature, and people. About Me and My Family Dogs: I'm great at understanding and communicating with my dogs, Ash and Gus, who live with my parents in Illinois. I currently have no dogs. I taught Ash, the family Great Pyrenees/Bluetick Coonhound, impressive games and tricks. He loves to play hide and seek and getting praise when he opens and closes the door. When I stay at my parents, Ash will come to my bed and wake me up in the morning for our daily walk. Gus, our special needs Coonhound mix, prefers gentle cuddles. I give him special baths for his skin condition and spend extra time cleaning his sensitive ear. His health has been slipping him over the years, so one day on a walk, I let him do something I would never do. We chased away a flock of geese and he was just beaming! Education: I graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Madison with a B.A. in Psychology, certificate in Global Health, and completed Medical School requirements. I selected this coursework because I am passionately caring, for all life. In my coursework, I studied the behavior of dogs in Animal Behavior and Psychology classes. I received direct training from Dr. Addington, a professor at UW and dog behavior specialist in Madison. I also studied Parasitology and Entomology where I gained a comprehensive understanding of rabies, lyme disease, heart worm, and dozens of other diseases and vectors. With this education, I know how to keep your dog and other dogs safe from infection and how to identify and respond to a possible infection. Today: I live near the capitol square in Madison, just 200 yards away from the dog park. I am a retired bartender and now spend my time starting my business. The business supports community development in underprivileged communities here in Madison and Nicaragua. (Public release coming very soon!) I also have been teaching science at Hawthorne Elementary school as a volunteer for the past three years. The program, “Young Science Scholars”, is dedicated to seeing that all children develop confidence and competence in science. The George Lucas Foundation has selected my lesson plans to be included in their curriculum to be used in schools across the US. What is missing from this all is, you. You and your dog, actually. I would love to begin the day by caring for your dog. I offer personalized care and I will do everything I can to make you and your dog(s) happy. For this reason, I've purchased an annual membership to the nearby dog park so your dog can go for free! I have experience caring for all dog types, ages, and special needs dogs. It's my house, but I follow your rules as a commitment to keep your dog(s) comfortable and happy. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I look forward to meeting you soon! Nicole