Olivia L.
Lyndhurst, NJ
I will love your kid like my own <3
Pet care experience
The short version: - I work hybrid flexible (aka I will be home almost all of the time to care for your kid) - I enjoy interacting with animals however they prefer; if your kid likes walks/hikes/dog parks/staying in/snuggling/puzzle toys I will do whatever they enjoy to make them most comfortable :) - I have pet cam for when I step out for grocery runs - I have a kitten named Kyllian - Let’s chat and do a meet & greet to make sure we are a good fit before booking The long version: I absolutely adore animals. I love discovering how they prefer to play and engage with their humans, I love learning their communication style, and I love the satisfaction and excitement that comes along with teaching a new trick. Oh, and the snuggles are a bonus, too :). I recently had to part with my little pup Kato (in my gallery!) due to my recent move to NJ. I saw Kato as my kid, and since my home is not the same without him, I am eager to give another pup attention and love. That is where you and I come together. Your pup (or cat!) may have some quirks. Maybe they need to use the restroom every hour. Maybe they won't be able to sleep unless the room is set to 72.3*F. Maybe they need some help understanding which items are toys and which items are actually expensive furniture. Or maybe the only way to get them to eat their dinner is through song and dance. Whatever it is, I'm all over it. I want to give your kid the care they deserve. They deserve a home away from home. About me: I live in an apartment two blocks from dog parks, sidewalks and gardens along the water, and not too far from quite a few on-leash hikes. I am very active myself, so I'm able to accommodate a high energy kid, of any age. There are hours where the dog park is busy with other dogs and there are hours where it is not. I plan walks and exercise in accordance to your kid's social abilities and needs. If your kid is more of a homebody, I have no problem going back to my roots with a recharging weekend staying in. Before we agree that we are the right fit, I would like to get to know your kid's personality, what your daily schedule is like, and how to best make your pup feel comfortable in my home. I have confidently taken care of fearful pups in the past, however only in their own homes. Since I am now in an apartment building I need to be respectful of the people in my building and am not able to take on a particularly nervous pup. Additionally, I don't want to add to a pup's fear by displacing them from their home. So let's get to know each other and see if we're a good fit :) Feel free to contact me with any questions; I can't wait to meet your kid!
Reviews
Cody had the best time with Olivia! From the minute he walked in the door you could tell he would be treated like family. She even bought him a special type of bone that I told her he liked. It was obvious that he felt completely comfortable with her and I would definitely recommend her to anyone whose dog likes a little TLC!
About Olivia L.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
It's cliche to say this, but I truly will treat your kid like my own. They will have free roam of the place if they are older than a few months old. If they are still learning how to use the restroom outside I am prepared to keep a closer eye on them if needed. If your pup feels most comfortable in a crate at night or if I need to step out to pick up groceries, I will follow their lead. If not, they are more than welcome to find the coziest corner to take a nap. When you first drop off your kid I will give them space. It is scary going to a new home without your humans, with new smells, new sounds, and new furniture. The older the pup, the more nervous they can be. I give kids their space to get acclimated so they start to build trust with me. I want them to know that they have the freedom and space to explore and get themselves comfortable. Kids approach me when they are ready, and I find it sets a good foundation for a strong relationship down the line. I have a pet camera that will alert me if your kid is expressing concern if I need to step out to get groceries or run to the nearby deli. I will get alerts if your kid is calling out or pacing around and will run home asap to make sure they feel comfortable again. More about my home: I have a kitten named Kyllian who just turned 4 months old. He is comfortable with dogs and other cats but if your kid is a bit weary of kittens, I have no problem separating the two. Kyllian is very easy going, as am I.
Home
Information Olivia L. would like to know about your pet
As I mentioned before, I have confidently taken care of fearful pups in the past, however only in their own homes. I am now in an apartment building so I am not able to take care of fearful dogs, since I need to be respectful of the people in my building. Additionally, I don't want to add to a pup's fear by displacing them from their home. So let's get to know each other and see if we're a good fit :)
A typical day
My mornings start off fairly early; I get up around 6:30 / 7:00am. I tend to take a walk by the water and would love to bring your kid along if they are comfortable waking up that early. If not, I'll be back around 7:30 / 8:00am for breakfast and a morning stroll before I sit down for my first call at 9:30am. My days are flexible, and I'd love to structure them around your kid and what they're most comfortable with. If they are social and would thrive at a dog park or with a pup playdate within the building, I would love to do one of those daily. If they prefer to go on solo walks or hikes, I am all for that as well. I focus on mental stimulation above all, as I think this benefits kids' quality of life just as much, if not more than, physical exercise. I have plenty of puzzle toys, DIY sniff toys, "chores" to train your pup to do around the house, and more. I will engage with them periodically throughout the day in 10-20min pockets, as they tend to tire out quickly with these exercises. They then typically take a long nap, which allows me to get a chunk of work done for 2-3 hours :) I am in my mid 20s and most of my friends have dogs, so a lot of my social activities will revolve around pups, too. If we want to get a coffee, we'll find a dog friendly place. If we want to hit happy hour, we'll find a dog friendly brewery. Of course, these will only take place if your pup enjoys being social with other dogs and humans.
Services
Olivia can host
Olivia can watch in your home
Availability
I am a software engineer and I work from home. Occasionally I go into the office one day a week, but this is flexible and not required by my work. I take a walk by the water every morning with or without a pup by my side. I enjoy longer walks in the afternoons when I can sneak away, and hikes on the weekends. I think mental stimulation is absolutely vital to a pup's health and happiness, so I intersperse training sessions in between my calls and throughout the day. I find that when kids engage in mental stimulation exercises and have a chance to put their primal instincts to use (through sniffing challenges, puzzles, hide and seek, etc), they are more at ease throughout the day.
About Olivia L.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
It's cliche to say this, but I truly will treat your kid like my own. They will have free roam of the place if they are older than a few months old. If they are still learning how to use the restroom outside I am prepared to keep a closer eye on them if needed. If your pup feels most comfortable in a crate at night or if I need to step out to pick up groceries, I will follow their lead. If not, they are more than welcome to find the coziest corner to take a nap. When you first drop off your kid I will give them space. It is scary going to a new home without your humans, with new smells, new sounds, and new furniture. The older the pup, the more nervous they can be. I give kids their space to get acclimated so they start to build trust with me. I want them to know that they have the freedom and space to explore and get themselves comfortable. Kids approach me when they are ready, and I find it sets a good foundation for a strong relationship down the line. I have a pet camera that will alert me if your kid is expressing concern if I need to step out to get groceries or run to the nearby deli. I will get alerts if your kid is calling out or pacing around and will run home asap to make sure they feel comfortable again. More about my home: I have a kitten named Kyllian who just turned 4 months old. He is comfortable with dogs and other cats but if your kid is a bit weary of kittens, I have no problem separating the two. Kyllian is very easy going, as am I.
Home
Information Olivia L. would like to know about your pet
As I mentioned before, I have confidently taken care of fearful pups in the past, however only in their own homes. I am now in an apartment building so I am not able to take care of fearful dogs, since I need to be respectful of the people in my building. Additionally, I don't want to add to a pup's fear by displacing them from their home. So let's get to know each other and see if we're a good fit :)
A typical day
My mornings start off fairly early; I get up around 6:30 / 7:00am. I tend to take a walk by the water and would love to bring your kid along if they are comfortable waking up that early. If not, I'll be back around 7:30 / 8:00am for breakfast and a morning stroll before I sit down for my first call at 9:30am. My days are flexible, and I'd love to structure them around your kid and what they're most comfortable with. If they are social and would thrive at a dog park or with a pup playdate within the building, I would love to do one of those daily. If they prefer to go on solo walks or hikes, I am all for that as well. I focus on mental stimulation above all, as I think this benefits kids' quality of life just as much, if not more than, physical exercise. I have plenty of puzzle toys, DIY sniff toys, "chores" to train your pup to do around the house, and more. I will engage with them periodically throughout the day in 10-20min pockets, as they tend to tire out quickly with these exercises. They then typically take a long nap, which allows me to get a chunk of work done for 2-3 hours :) I am in my mid 20s and most of my friends have dogs, so a lot of my social activities will revolve around pups, too. If we want to get a coffee, we'll find a dog friendly place. If we want to hit happy hour, we'll find a dog friendly brewery. Of course, these will only take place if your pup enjoys being social with other dogs and humans.
Location
Lyndhurst, NJ
Pets
Olivia L.
Lyndhurst, NJ