River J.
River J.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Lifelong animal lover & pet carer
I've had my own dogs for over 20 years, and they have always been a vital part of my life. I have 15 years of experience with dog sitting and boarding, and have a great knowledge of how to handle dogs of all shapes and sizes, including senior dogs, puppies, and rescues. I'm confident with what to do in an emergency, and you can guarantee that your dogs will be loved intensely when I'm around! I love spending time playing, doing training sessions, going for short walks or just snuggling. I also have experience with a variety of other smaller pets, including caged pets, parrots, fish, reptiles and amphibians - I would be happy to arrange an extra fee to care for any other smaller pets you may have while I do housesitting or drop-ins for your dog or cat!
Cat care experience
River also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
River was a great house and pet sitter for my 3 pets. They made sure I was kept up to date with photos and messages every day and was very flexible when our plans changed without much notice. I would highly recommend River to look after you cats and dogs!
River is honestly such a lovely sitter. She goes the extra mile to make sure Poppy is comfortable and happy! She accommodated a time shift with kindness and patience during our last sit. Out Poppy runs to her place when we’re dropping her off because she loved being there so much!
Second time we’ve used River and will continue to do so. I would highly recommend River, especially for senior/ additional needs dogs!
River is an amazing sitter. Communicates often and our Poppy absolutely loves River and the family! River really cares about the pups she looks after and is great with them. So much so, our pup runs to her front door when we’re dropping her out of excitement!
River is fantastic with Douglas, out 8 year old English bulldog. Lots of photos and updates which is massively appreciated. I have already rebook and River will be my first choice moving forward
Absolutely great care from River First time i left my puppy and she was so loved and cared for Definitely recommend River first any service such a nice dog sitter
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
I'm self-employed, and I can arrange my work around any pet sitting I do - when I'm with your pet, they will be my sole focus and number one priority. If I'm staying for longer than 3-4 days, I may need to arrange to nip home for an hour or so to look after my other pets - they're all reptiles/amphibians, so only need feeding twice a week! I will work with you to make sure your pet is happy, either by bringing them with me in the car, or making sure they're content being left for an hour.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
I work with you, the owner, in terms of safety, to determine what your pet's requirements are. I'm happy to maintain their usual day-to-day schedules regarding feeding times, play and rest, and toilet breaks. I currently have a sprained ankle that means I can't take dogs for walks longer than about 20 minutes, which is why I'm only available to sit small dogs that would be content with getting most of their exercise and stimulation by way of playing, inside or in the garden. For your peace of mind, I have a Pet First Aid Level 2 certification and an Enhanced DBS Check. I always bring a fully stocked pet-specific first aid kit with me to every booking, and also make sure to carry it with me on every walk, so I'm prepared for any event that may happen, however unlikely it may be.
Pets
A typical day
I love playing with pets I look after, whether it's tug of war, fetch, playing chase in the garden, or giving them lick mats or treat puzzles to solve. I always make sure to give your dogs a good mix of play, training sessions, and cuddles and attention during a day, to make sure they're happy and healthy, both in terms of mental and physical stimulation. I'm a very affectionate person with dogs, I absolutely love giving them all the attention and fuss they deserve!
- 0 to 7 kg7 to 18 kgTakes only 1 client at a timeRiver can host up to 2 pets per night
- I always like to know as much as possible about your pets before I look after them. I prefer to have a meeting before the time of booking, to make sure they know me and are comfortable before I'm in their safe space. I want to be able to provide them with a routine that matches their usual routine as best I can - I like to know feeding schedules and needs (likes, dislikes, allergies), any training activities, favourite treats and toys, whether they're cuddly and friendly or prefer to keep to themselves, whether they're friendly with other dogs they may meet on walks, and anything else you think is important about what your pet is like. It's also useful to know what vet they're registered with, and any medical history they may have, so I can know look out for any issues that may have come up in the past.