Sarah V.
Minneapolis, MN
Experienced Pet Sitter/Dog Walker
Pet care experience
Hi, I'm Sarah I recently moved to the Minneapolis area from New Hampshire, where I had a thriving dog walking and pet sitting business, Super Pups Dog Walking. I'm looking to rebuild here in the Twin Cities with a new Super Pups pack! I've been around animals my whole life. As a kid I had two dogs and anywhere from two to four cats. As an adult I went through a brief stint of having two cats and no dog, and then I found my boy, Chance who was part of an abandoned litter of 7 week old puppies dumped in a box on a street in Detroit. Thankfully they were found and fostered and I got to adopt him when he was 12 weeks old (and the fattest of the litter). Chance is one of the sweetest, goofiest, and most expressive dogs I've ever encountered and he's given meaning to my life when I wasn't sure there was any. But because of his American Bulldog heritage and some trauma when he was a puppy, he comes with his own baggage, just like we all do. ​The reason I started Super Pups is not just so I can play with animals all day, although if I'm honest that's a pretty huge factor, but also to give all dogs the same chance and opportunity to thrive. I understand the difficulties of not being able to have access to the same resources as other dog owners because of your dog's breed, or because you just can't trust anyone else to handle your dog's issues. I've worked with and helped train many different types of dogs, for example: dogs who just need the basics, dogs with the basics down who can handle more advanced training, dogs who need muzzle training because they could be a bite risk, or just like to eat everything they encounter. I've also worked with dogs who are dominant, shy, fearful, anxious, and happy-go-lucky-love-absolutely-everything, just to name a few. If you are a dog owner and are in need of a dog walker or a pet sitter, please don't hesitate to contact me to discuss what options are available for you and your pet!
Reviews
Sarah was great! Confident and kind, excellent communication. Our dog loved her.
Sarah has been a pet sitter and dog walker for our dog Belle for over the past 2+ years. She is very prompt, trustworthy and an excellent fit for us and for Belle. Sarah consistently goes above and beyond and also takes the time to send absolutely beautiful photos of our dog! My husband and I strongly recommend Sarah for your clients. She truly loves her fur babies!! Maria Dunn
Sarah is a responsible and loving pet caregiver. My dogs were instantly drawn to her despite their usual shyness around new people. She tailored each of my dogs’ care to their specific needs. I received updates daily and had a stress free vacation knowing they were in her care. Highly recommend.
Sarah was extremely flexible and responsive when it came to the needs of our pup (Hazel) and family. There were many last minute specific requests to be done during the walk, involving feeding, detailed potty time descriptions, and checking on Hazels overall well being when Hazels allergies were acting up. Sarah always stepped up in accommodating all of our crazy dog parent requests and questions. At the conclusion of every walk Sarah would send us pictures of Hazel. The pictures were not ordinary dog walker photos though. They were high quality action shots that really caught the personality of Hazel and displayed the efforts Sarah went to in order to make every visit great for Hazel. I will add that Hazel is an EXTREMELY high energy dog and not the easiest to work with especially when there's a lot of distractions. When the time came to say goodbye to Sarah, she made it a point to come and visit Hazel. Seeing how happy Hazel was with Sarah and how much she loved her, brining all of her toys and giving her all the love, it was really eye opening to see the bond that they had formed. Based off of previous experience with other dog walkers Sarah was definitely the best. We could not have asked for a more caring and trustworthy person to watch over Hazel.
About Sarah V.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I care for pets based on my client's home setup and instructions. I always use positive reinforcement when training. For clients without a fenced in yard, dogs will always remain on leash as a safety precaution. I love playing with animals, so playtime is a big part of what I do as a pet sitter and even a dog walker. Play engages your pet, makes them happy, burns of some energy, and teaches them how to trust me which is the most important part of taking care of animals.
Information Sarah V. would like to know about your pet
It's always important to provide information on dog allergies, vaccinations, if they are fixed, and any foods they can or can't have. While this can be a touchy subject, it's imperative to know if your dog has a history of biting or if they have any issues like separation anxiety or if they react to other animals/people on walks. (None of this is a deterrent, but it's critical information that needs to be provided in order to provide the best and safest environment for your pet.) I also like to know what a dog's favorite treats and toys are, as well as what motivates them (food, toys, praise, etc.) If your pup has any training or knows any commands, I always like to get that info too because everyone has a different technique they use with their pets and I try to remain as consistent as I can to assist in reinforcing their training.
A typical day
The most important part of pet sitting and dog walking is trust. Trust is a critical ingredient to the success of both your dog and your dog walker. For me, a big part of building that trust is to incorporate playtime into all of my visits. Typically I will walk the dog around your neighborhood and then take some time with your dog to find out what stimulates them the best for play. I generally avoid dog parks but am happy to take your pup there for socializing if they are used to being in a one. I also work on some training (upon request) to help with heeling when walking or learning how to be less toy aggressive, or as a trust exercise, just to name a few.
Services
Sarah can watch in your home
Availability
My goal is to start up my business again, so pet care is my full time endeavor. I have wide availability for all types of clients.
About Sarah V.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I care for pets based on my client's home setup and instructions. I always use positive reinforcement when training. For clients without a fenced in yard, dogs will always remain on leash as a safety precaution. I love playing with animals, so playtime is a big part of what I do as a pet sitter and even a dog walker. Play engages your pet, makes them happy, burns of some energy, and teaches them how to trust me which is the most important part of taking care of animals.
Information Sarah V. would like to know about your pet
It's always important to provide information on dog allergies, vaccinations, if they are fixed, and any foods they can or can't have. While this can be a touchy subject, it's imperative to know if your dog has a history of biting or if they have any issues like separation anxiety or if they react to other animals/people on walks. (None of this is a deterrent, but it's critical information that needs to be provided in order to provide the best and safest environment for your pet.) I also like to know what a dog's favorite treats and toys are, as well as what motivates them (food, toys, praise, etc.) If your pup has any training or knows any commands, I always like to get that info too because everyone has a different technique they use with their pets and I try to remain as consistent as I can to assist in reinforcing their training.
A typical day
The most important part of pet sitting and dog walking is trust. Trust is a critical ingredient to the success of both your dog and your dog walker. For me, a big part of building that trust is to incorporate playtime into all of my visits. Typically I will walk the dog around your neighborhood and then take some time with your dog to find out what stimulates them the best for play. I generally avoid dog parks but am happy to take your pup there for socializing if they are used to being in a one. I also work on some training (upon request) to help with heeling when walking or learning how to be less toy aggressive, or as a trust exercise, just to name a few.
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Pets
Sarah V.
Minneapolis, MN