Samantha H.
Durango, CO
certified professional dog trainer
Pet care experience
Adventuring locally or going out of town? I'll keep your furry companion loved, save, and cared for while you are out. Pet care is my full-time passion and business- making your pet's needs and happiness my top priority. I have been training dogs professionally for over 16 years and have been pet sitting since my early teens. I have experience with dogs and cats with lots of different needs including aggression/reactivity, separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, puppies, seniors, and special medical needs. I also have experience caring for rabbits, chickens, reptiles, parrots, horses, donkeys, goats, and more. I offer pet care services full-time. For housesitting I model my time with your pet on a typical 9 to 5 workday. I will be at your home from 5:30 pm to 8:30 am to provide companionship, exercise, lots of fun, and meal time routines. Throughout the day I offer drop-in services and dog walking via Rover.com as well as dog training for my Pawsitive Marks clients. My young Standard Poodle, Nouille (French for "noodle"), can accompany me if you have a dog who would appreciate another dog's companionship otherwise he will stay at home with dad and the kids. Your pet's safety is my first priority. As a certified dog trainer I have extensive training on how to prevent dangerous situations and handle emergencies (like dog fights). While your pet is in my care I will always do the following to ensure their safety: - Never leave a dog unattended while they are in a fenced yard (unless specifically told to keep the dog in the yard while I step away). - Never walk your dog without a leash or let them off leash in an unenclosed area. - Never let your dog greet another dog while we are out walking (within my control). If we encounter an off leash dog I will work quickly to keep the situation calm and move your dog away quickly. - Practice extreme caution when exiting your home to prevent your dog or indoor cat from bolting out. - Only feed food/treats that we have communicated about. You may or may not do all of these things yourself, but often pets are stressed when their humans leave and may try things they do not normally do (like hop a fence or bolt out a door). So I err on the side of caution and don't take the risk. We can still have lots of fun while being safe!
Reviews
Samantha was great with my kitty and dog. She went above and beyond, even shoveling show off our porch. She left our house super clean. Most importantly, her love and knowledge of animal care really shines through. I will definitely hire her again!
My husband and I instantly liked Samantha and felt she was a great fit for Coco & Tara! Over a year planning intl.vacation and the pet sitting was now left on our list as we panicked. Samantha via Roover finally put our minds at ease to travel with a reliable pet sitter. We highly recommend Samantha and plan to use her again. Thanks Roover & Thank you Samantha! The Bowen's Bayfield,CO
Another successful and great boarding with Samantha in our home with our boy, Zeus. Samantha knows exactly how Zeus needs a little more attention and love. He's so well behaved with Samantha and always so exited to see us when we get home from our trips.
Sam was absolutely amazing and extremely professional watching my little kitty! She is a great communicator and handled a stressful situation incredibly well. Couldn’t have asked for a better Rover.
About Samantha H.
Communication
Skills
Information Samantha H. would like to know about your pet
When booking let me know your pet's usual routine as well as any special behavioral, medical, or dietary needs. Include info about their favorite toys, activities, and foods that I can use to make play-time and games extra special. If you have a dog, knowing what typically distracts or triggers them on walks can help me ensure a safe and fun experience for all.
A typical day
----------------------------House Sitting-------------------------------- I model my time with your pet on a typical 9 to 5 workday. I will be at your home from 5:30 pm to 8:30 am. I'll provide lots of mental and physical engagement via games, walks/sniffaris in your neighborhood or out on a near-by trail (if appropriate). If your pet enjoys it, I'll teach them something new- like a fun trick (food motivated cats included). I can't help myself if I am with an animal they will likely end up playing fun reward-based training games. While house sitting I am happy to do the following for free: - Brush your dog/cat - Pick up dog poop/clean litter boxes - Water plants - Bring in your mail/packages - Take out and bring in your trash on trash days - Keep up with any other basic household routines like vacuuming up dog hair and more (just ask). ----------------------------Drop In Visits-------------------------------- I am happy to customize drop-in visits to fit your pet's needs. A drop-in can be to give a sick or elderly dog scheduled medication, provide a potty break, and/or to get some energy out via an energetic game of fetch/tug. ----------------------------Dog Walking-------------------------------- On a walk I provide: - Structure via asking for good manners while gearing up, exiting/entering your home, and while we are out and about. I use treats, praise, and play to motivate your dog to have good manners while we are getting ready to leave or are passing others. My goal with structuring walks is to help them keep or improve good leash habits. - Exercise (physically engagement) via the walk itself but also jogging when appropriate. I'll cater my walking style to your dog's fitness level. Like people, a dog who is use to being sedentary will need a more gentle walk in the beginning compared to a dog who has been walking multiple times a day for years. - Sniffing opportunities (mental engagement) by giving them moments to investigate something they are interested in. Since so much of a dog's brain is dedicated to processing smells, sniffing has been shown to help relief stress and enrich their lives by letting them partake in this instinctual behavior.
Services
Samantha can watch in your home
About Samantha H.
Communication
Skills
Information Samantha H. would like to know about your pet
When booking let me know your pet's usual routine as well as any special behavioral, medical, or dietary needs. Include info about their favorite toys, activities, and foods that I can use to make play-time and games extra special. If you have a dog, knowing what typically distracts or triggers them on walks can help me ensure a safe and fun experience for all.
A typical day
----------------------------House Sitting-------------------------------- I model my time with your pet on a typical 9 to 5 workday. I will be at your home from 5:30 pm to 8:30 am. I'll provide lots of mental and physical engagement via games, walks/sniffaris in your neighborhood or out on a near-by trail (if appropriate). If your pet enjoys it, I'll teach them something new- like a fun trick (food motivated cats included). I can't help myself if I am with an animal they will likely end up playing fun reward-based training games. While house sitting I am happy to do the following for free: - Brush your dog/cat - Pick up dog poop/clean litter boxes - Water plants - Bring in your mail/packages - Take out and bring in your trash on trash days - Keep up with any other basic household routines like vacuuming up dog hair and more (just ask). ----------------------------Drop In Visits-------------------------------- I am happy to customize drop-in visits to fit your pet's needs. A drop-in can be to give a sick or elderly dog scheduled medication, provide a potty break, and/or to get some energy out via an energetic game of fetch/tug. ----------------------------Dog Walking-------------------------------- On a walk I provide: - Structure via asking for good manners while gearing up, exiting/entering your home, and while we are out and about. I use treats, praise, and play to motivate your dog to have good manners while we are getting ready to leave or are passing others. My goal with structuring walks is to help them keep or improve good leash habits. - Exercise (physically engagement) via the walk itself but also jogging when appropriate. I'll cater my walking style to your dog's fitness level. Like people, a dog who is use to being sedentary will need a more gentle walk in the beginning compared to a dog who has been walking multiple times a day for years. - Sniffing opportunities (mental engagement) by giving them moments to investigate something they are interested in. Since so much of a dog's brain is dedicated to processing smells, sniffing has been shown to help relief stress and enrich their lives by letting them partake in this instinctual behavior.
Location
Durango, CO
Pets
Samantha H.
Durango, CO