Pete H.
St. Petersburg, FL
Flexible schedule for your dogs
Pet care experience
Humans and dogs want to receive love and acceptance--the bond that we have forged over the millennia provides us that in spades. I guess it's difficult to point to the one thing that I love most about dogs, but if I had to, I would say it's their eternal spirit and ceaseless optimism (okay, that's actually two things!). You can find a dog that's been starved, mistreated and neglected and show it the power of love and a gentle touch and he will be eternally grateful. That’s what excites me the most about dog sitting: the chance to form a wonderful connection with an equally wonderful pup! I do have two dogs of my own, Harry and Lloyd. They are special boys and I love them completely. In addition to being a dog owner, I have an extensive history of working with dogs. I was a volunteer with The Humane Society for many years, helping with adoptions, delivering dog food to people who couldn't afford it, and helping keep the kennels clean and orderly. Also, I trained and worked as a dog groomer. My favorite part of the job was getting to spend my days being around all of those wonderful dogs. I’m always happy to take care of dogs of any walk of life, and your pup will be in good hands with me no matter what. I typically prefer to schedule meet-and-greets with new pups, because it allows us a great opportunity to chat and make sure that we’re all a good fit for one another. When I meet your pooch, I would prefer to do it on their terms. I want them to be able to smell me to determine if I'm a good guy. If it’s okay with the owners, I’d like to help the process along with some scratches or maybe a treat or two. I have no breed preferences, as I love pups of all shapes and sizes. I also use the meet as a time to collect as much information about your pup and their needs as possible, such as their daily schedule, meal requirements, and any behavioral issues. During a stay, I try to provide excellent customer service, which to me means exceeding expectations. That means following your pup’s schedule to a “T” and keeping owners informed of their pup’s behavior and progress. If it’s okay with the owners, I’m always happy to provide some of my homemade treats, which are from 100% grass-fed organic beef. However, we’ll make sure to make our time together look just like our time at home.
Reviews
We had Pete do an overnight at our house with Piper, our 14 year old Rat Terrier, and felt very comfortable knowing how calm and gentle his demeanor is with dogs. He also did several walks with her. There was an initial meet n' greet that was helpful to have Piper get somewhat familiar with him. Pip is typically a little slow to warm up to new people but he received a lick at that first meeting--a good sign! His communication was timely, included pictures of them out and about and set my mind at ease. I would highly recommend Pete.
I cannot recommend Pete highly enough for this type of work. He is my husband. I can honestly say that part of why I fell in love with him is the way he is with animals. When I met him I had a Shar Pei - a breed not known for being friendly to strangers. Lucy was attached to me at the time and pretty nasty to everybody else. He took care of her for me when I went out of town and she grew to trust and bond with him in a way I didn't think was possible. On one occasion, I was walking Lucy with Pete and she was attacked by another dog that had gotten out of its yard. Pete remained calm and separated the dogs quickly and gently. I was really grateful he was there. He is one of those people who seems to have an innate skill when it comes to animals. Pete has training as a dog groomer also. He is kind, trustworthy and conscientious. Caring for someone's pets is a very important job in my opinion and requires a great deal of trust on behalf of the pet owners. Pete would undoubtedly treat this type of work with the seriousness it deserves.
Pete watched our two dogs, Daisy and Peanut, for several days while we were on vacation. He took great care of them and was able to win over Peanut - who can be wary of strangers - with lots of love and affection. Pete has an affinity for dogs that is difficult to miss. We would definitely use him again to take care of our girls.
About Pete H.
Communication
Skills
Information Pete H. would like to know about your pet
Some things I like to learn ahead of time: Would you like to schedule a meet-and-greet before the stay? What’s your preferred method of communication? Does your pup have any health issues that need to be tended to? For instance, dietary restrictions, medicine, or behavior triggers? Do you have a vet nearby that you trust? Is your dog spayed/neutered? Does your pup like to stick to a given schedule, like regular walks in the morning and evening? What does your pup do well around? What does your pup try to avoid? What’s the best way to spoil your pup?
A typical day
Your pup’s schedule will always come first, but I like to have a general frame for what a typical day would look like. First, I would make sure your pup had their first meal of the day in the morning. Next, we would definitely go for a nice walk and maybe go to the dog park (if allowed) or play in the yard (if fenced). Later in the day I would make sure they had their afternoon/evening meal on schedule and their second or third walk. I’m happy to get playtime in whenever your pup is ready for it! There are tons of great places to see around town, so we’d make sure to visit all the dog parks and grassy areas together! In my free time I like to go to the gym and you are welcome to come along. I also like to go to a couple of dog-friendly coffee shops where you can meet all kinds of nice people and maybe some other dogs. My wife and I like to go for walks in different parts of town and she loves dogs as much as I do.
Services
Pete can watch in your home
About Pete H.
Communication
Skills
Information Pete H. would like to know about your pet
Some things I like to learn ahead of time: Would you like to schedule a meet-and-greet before the stay? What’s your preferred method of communication? Does your pup have any health issues that need to be tended to? For instance, dietary restrictions, medicine, or behavior triggers? Do you have a vet nearby that you trust? Is your dog spayed/neutered? Does your pup like to stick to a given schedule, like regular walks in the morning and evening? What does your pup do well around? What does your pup try to avoid? What’s the best way to spoil your pup?
A typical day
Your pup’s schedule will always come first, but I like to have a general frame for what a typical day would look like. First, I would make sure your pup had their first meal of the day in the morning. Next, we would definitely go for a nice walk and maybe go to the dog park (if allowed) or play in the yard (if fenced). Later in the day I would make sure they had their afternoon/evening meal on schedule and their second or third walk. I’m happy to get playtime in whenever your pup is ready for it! There are tons of great places to see around town, so we’d make sure to visit all the dog parks and grassy areas together! In my free time I like to go to the gym and you are welcome to come along. I also like to go to a couple of dog-friendly coffee shops where you can meet all kinds of nice people and maybe some other dogs. My wife and I like to go for walks in different parts of town and she loves dogs as much as I do.
Location
St. Petersburg, FL
Pets
Pete H.
St. Petersburg, FL