Ryan H.
Fort Totten-Upper Northeast, DC
Literal Wolf Researcher
Pet care experience
My grandfather bred Great Danes to guard his farm and they’ve been my family's breed ever since! I've learned to love small dogs on a case-by-case basis, but I'm a gentle giant guy at heart, so any animal will be burdened with my constant cuddles, kisses, and belly rubs. Not only did I grow up with dogs, I've also dog sat for friends over the years and worked as a dog walker. I’m actually a scientist with significant experience handling all sorts of weird and difficult animals (elephant seals, leopard sharks, sloths, etc.). Right now, I'm working to complete my Ph.D. (part of which involves wolf research at Yellowstone), and my wife works at The Smithsonian––so that's why we’re in D.C. We're an animal power couple, just without animals of our own at the moment, more than ready to take on pups of all shapes and sizes in our home to get our puppy fix. She is super affectionate with dogs and just loves having them around. Her superpower is to find the cutest thing about any dog she encounters. We hope to get a pup of our own soon, but for now we’d love to be surrogates for a bit. I'm big enough to not be intimidated by larger dogs and they are more than welcome of course, but I do prefer doggos who like to snuggle while I write my dissertation. It’s not the most exciting, so a little adorable company will go a long way. The motto in our home is: Belly rubs for all!! We currently live in a one-bedroom apartment so we're looking to board dogs to get a sense of what size of dog we might be able to get ourselves. Plus, I work from home so it'll be nice to have a buddy around to hang out with me during the day. This also means I’m super flexible and I will need a regular reason to go outside and be human. In these troubling times, we could all use a little more canine companionship. It’s scientifically proven that pets help people live longer and find more meaning to their lives because they reduce stress by showing us unconditional love, affection, loyalty, and joy. Well, if you still believe in science. I probably know more about the evolutionary history and transition from wolves to dogs than anyone else you'd likely get as a sitter. I've even done research on the wolves that were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. Good times will be had by all.
Reviews
Ryan took excellent care of our dog. He’s got a great eye for detail, sent us a short update and a picture each day, and was very flexible with pickups & drop offs. As great as he is with the human part of this equation, he’s probably even better with the dog part. Our dog was Velcroed to him (and his wife Juli) immediately, and I know she got all of the love and attention she could handle. If I could give them six stars, I would!
Another great stay. Ryan was responsive, sent pictures, and most important Macy had a blast.
Ryan and Juli were great! Ryan was very responsive and easy to work with. From all the pictures sent, we could tell Solomon was having a great time with them and being well taken care of. We will definitely use them again!
Ryan was amazing. He sent lots of updates and was so accommodating when our flight was delayed. Weebay seemed to have a great time and we would use Ryan and his wife again anytime to watch our little guy.
About Ryan H.
Communication
Skills
Home
Information Ryan H. would like to know about your pet
I think a meet and greet will be a great idea so you and your pup feels comfortable in our place. I promise I’ll try to smell nice when your pup sniffs me. I really want you to feel at ease knowing where your beloved pet will be staying, and have peace of mind. I’ll want the full lowdown on your pup’s needs, habits, routines, and quirks. The more information I have, the better care I can provide. I’m great with lists, so please feel free to write down everything, and you have my word your pup will be adored and kept safe, happy. My wife and I will love them to no end––we might have a hard time saying goodbye. But we really hope to build a community, so hopefully it won’t be a goodbye but a see you soon! I’m home most of the day working on my computer or reading, but I welcome your wonderful dog’s company more than anything else. I’ll send you regular updates and please feel free to contact me anytime, day or night!
A typical day
We live in a building called Sherman Manor in the Petworth neighborhood. The building has a fenced in well-maintained grass yard, and just across the street is a small green space and traffic circle (technically a National Park, I think––D.C. is weird). It's easy to go for short walks where there's lots of grass to do their business. When my nose isn’t buried in a book, I enjoy hiking, biking, and other outdoorsy things––so your pup and I will go on some long walks or runs, if they’re up for it. When I'm home I like to watch movies with my wife, read comics, and work on my podcast. Yes, I’m a nerd. Once my wife gets home from work, belly rubs are expected to double in frequency. Our neighbors are very friendly, the kind of place people still say hello to each other when you see them around, which provides a great feeling of community. Please come by and say hello!
Services
Ryan can host
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About Ryan H.
Communication
Skills
Home
Information Ryan H. would like to know about your pet
I think a meet and greet will be a great idea so you and your pup feels comfortable in our place. I promise I’ll try to smell nice when your pup sniffs me. I really want you to feel at ease knowing where your beloved pet will be staying, and have peace of mind. I’ll want the full lowdown on your pup’s needs, habits, routines, and quirks. The more information I have, the better care I can provide. I’m great with lists, so please feel free to write down everything, and you have my word your pup will be adored and kept safe, happy. My wife and I will love them to no end––we might have a hard time saying goodbye. But we really hope to build a community, so hopefully it won’t be a goodbye but a see you soon! I’m home most of the day working on my computer or reading, but I welcome your wonderful dog’s company more than anything else. I’ll send you regular updates and please feel free to contact me anytime, day or night!
A typical day
We live in a building called Sherman Manor in the Petworth neighborhood. The building has a fenced in well-maintained grass yard, and just across the street is a small green space and traffic circle (technically a National Park, I think––D.C. is weird). It's easy to go for short walks where there's lots of grass to do their business. When my nose isn’t buried in a book, I enjoy hiking, biking, and other outdoorsy things––so your pup and I will go on some long walks or runs, if they’re up for it. When I'm home I like to watch movies with my wife, read comics, and work on my podcast. Yes, I’m a nerd. Once my wife gets home from work, belly rubs are expected to double in frequency. Our neighbors are very friendly, the kind of place people still say hello to each other when you see them around, which provides a great feeling of community. Please come by and say hello!
Location
Washington, DC
Pets
Ryan H.
Fort Totten-Upper Northeast, DC