Hello! Just a bit about myself! I have been caring for dogs my entire life. When I was little, I grew up on a farm and we had cows, horses, cats, and dogs. Since being out on my own, I have adopted 2 rescue working-line German Shepherd Dogs and I consider them to be my children. One of my babies, Buddy (although at 96 lbs, he's not much of a baby!) had his tongue cut out prior to being rescued and is considered special needs. Caring for him takes a lot of planning and patience but it's all worth it to provide him with the safe and secure home he deserves. In working with Buddy, I have experience with addressing a variety of issues, including fear and leash aggression, submissive urination, positive behavior training, medication administration, modifications to eating/drinking routines, pack order, and so much more! My other dog, Jynx, is also a rescue but she has never experienced any sort of abuse. I adopted her to be a companion for Buddy. She is high spirited, playful, and submissive - Buddy's perfect pack mate! Experience I have gained from her is to always keep an eye on my shoes. ;) Jynx loves to play in the water and we have spent countless hot summer days spraying her with a water hose and letting her "catch" the water. I absolutely love all animals, dogs especially. I have a passion in working with dogs that most people would consider "a lost cause" and in animal rescue. I spoil my own dogs with lots of attention and would do the same with yours! They are our 4 legged children, after all. I own my house and have an acre of land with a 6 foot privacy fence in the back yard - perfect for your dog to run and play in! Due to Buddy's condition, he cannot run and play outside when it's over 70 degrees, but Jynx would be the perfect outside playmate if I were boarding your dog! However, if your dog is more of a couch potato like Buddy, no problem! I have plenty of comfy pillows and couches, as well as frozen Kongs stuffed with treats to keep them occupied. I know how important it is to keep dogs occupied - both physically AND mentally. A bored dog is a destructive dog! I keep my dogs on a pretty regimented feeding schedule because, as with a lot of German Shepherds, they have sensitive stomachs and will get sick if they go too long without eating. Also, most dogs thrive on a routine, so that is something I would be able to provide for your dog while you're entrusting their care to me. I CANNOT do an open feeding within my own home but am open to it if house sitting. Generally meals when boarding are 2x/day (morning and evening), with an afternoon snack (I make my dogs peanut butter oatmeal muffins but can do whatever you would prefer). I am able to accommodate any feeding schedule from 2-3x/day. I go for a run every day and have tried taking both of my dogs, but neither appreciate running unless they are chasing something. ;) I would be more than happy to incorporate my run with your dog's daily exercise if that is something that they would enjoy. I am comfortable using a regular collar, a harness, and/or a prong collar, all depending on your dog's needs. If staying in your home, I am more than happy to do light housekeeping at no additional charge, because as I know with my "German Shedders," floors need to be swept and cleaned frequently! I ask that all dogs boarded at my house be medium to large size, preferably no bigger than Buddy. This is only due to Buddy's own comfort level with other dogs - too small and he is a little TOO interested in them and too big and he is intimidated. I am more than happy to care for any size pet at your own home, however. I am also open to boarding puppies at my house and dogs that are not quite potty trained. Look forward to meeting you!