Steffani D.
North Royalton, OH
Services
Steffani can host
Steffani can care for
Availability
I am a homemaker so I have the flexibility to make sure that I am home when needed. I can alter my errands and chores to accommodate my furry guests. However, I do appreciate when bookings are made in advance as much as possible. Additionally, my husband works from home, so he is typically able to help watch the dogs if I need to leave for a brief time. I have recently increased my prices for drop-in visits. I am happy to help in these special cases, but due to the extra logistics it takes to complete those bookings, I needed to make some adjustments. Obviously, there is the time and gas involved, but more than that, it requires some extra planning to have my husband available to watch our boarding and daycare guests because I try my hardest not to leave them unsupervised. Most of the dogs that come to us are rescues or have some sort of trauma or anxiety. This means I don't use crates except for the few that actually feel comforted by being in one. We are a family of introverted homebodies, so adding friends to our pack doesn't change our day-to-day life much. Feedings typically are around 7:30am and 6pm, but it can vary slightly day-to-day. If your dog eats only once a day at home, I will divide their usual amount in half and feed them twice a day while they are here. This helps to keep everyone on schedule and no one feels left out while others are eating. We wake up and let the dogs out around 5:30am and the last potty break is usually around 9pm. There are tons of chances to go outside during the day, especially when the weather is nice. If possible, I prefer overnight guests to be dropped off no later than 5pm, especially for their first time. This allows for enough time for them to adjust and get acquainted before bedtime. The more anxious the dog, the earlier they should arrive before bedtime so we can establish a bond. There is a discount for extended stays (10 days or more). Please remind me about this if Rover doesn't automatically add the discount.
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
About Steffani D.
Communication
Dog skills
Safety, trust & environment
I have a large, fenced yard that my two big dogs love. Even so, I will monitor your pets outside to ensure their safety. My dogs are not crate-trained, but I do have a small, medium, and large cage available should your pet need them. I will NOT use a crate unless your pet is used to them. I like to do meet and greets with new clients to make sure that everyone feels comfortable before finalizing the booking. I do not allow my guests to join the meet and greets; only my dogs will be present and even then, I do the introduction slowly. Having additional dogs is unnecessarily overwhelming. I will have to reschedule a meet and greet if the weather is not cooperating. While you are more than welcome to come inside during our meeting, we need to mostly stay outside so the dogs don't feel trapped while being overly excited. I try to keep my meet and greets to 30 minutes or less, so I am not away from my current guests for too long. Meet and greets get a bit more challenging in the winter with the shorter days. I don't like meeting when it's dark out because it causes the dogs to be more on edge since they are in a new environment. What to expect for the meet and greet (boarding): 1. We will meet at my home. I will send my address once we agree on a date/time. 2. Message me when you arrive and I will come out the garage. Knocking on the front door sends everyone into a frenzy. 3. We will go to the backyard with your pup/pups and they can have a few minutes alone to meet me and sniff around. 4. I will bring my dogs out on a leash. MOST of the time I recommend your dog being off leash during the meeting because they will feel less confined and intimidated with being able to freely leave if needed. Once everyone meets and seems to be calm, I will release my dogs, one at a time. 5. After a few minutes of everyone being outside together, we can come inside for your pup/pups to meet my cat (she's a super calm cat and rarely has any issues with guests) and sniff around on the main floor. This will also give you an idea of where they will be staying if you decide to move on with the booking. 6. I will ask general questions that I need to know for their care and you are free to ask anything that comes to mind. If everything goes well and I think they'll be a good fit, I will approve the booking request on my end. 7. You're welcome to take a few days to discuss and think about your decision (depending on how much time is available before your requested stay). If you'd like to move forward with the booking, you will confirm it on your end and that will include the full payment. If your pet doesn't like dogs, cats, or children, we will NOT be the right fit for you. For these instances, doing in-home visits would be the best alternative. Additional fees will be added for drop-in visits if you are out of my typical radius (within 5 miles of my home) or if I need to make additional trips for picking up/dropping off keys. Most people have a door code, lockbox, or will leave their key in a hiding place, but for those in apartments, I realize these may not be options for you. We tend to attract owners of large dogs since my dogs are also medium/large and we have a fenced in yard. I have no problem accepting small dogs, but keep in mind that they need to be able to handle being around large dogs without being overly anxious. We've had several small guests, and they all did fine, but they had big personalities, so they weren't scared to join in on the fun. I separate all dogs during feeding times. Being in a new environment can make even the calmest dog feel protective over their food. Plus, some dogs finish super fast and others take their time, so being separated allows them the time they need.
Home
Information Steffani D. would like to know about your pet
Please let me know any details that will make your pet more comfortable or anything that makes them feel uncomfortable and should be avoided. For overnight guests, please bring the following: - enough food to last the entire stay (extra food is always better than not enough), along with written directions (this helps when I have multiple guests at once, plus I don't have the greatest memory!) - treats (quick treats, not long-lasting bones/chews) - collar with ID tag (I haven't had any dogs gets loose, but in the event it happens, we want someone to be able to contact you ASAP) - blanket (optional, but it can be helpful to have something that smells like home for sleeping, especially if your dog is crate trained) - any medications or supplements needed, along with written directions The following items are NOT necessary: - bed (we have several dog beds and I'd rather your bed not get ruined by another guest) - bowls (unless you use a special bowl, such as a slow feeder maze bowl) - brushes (I have several different kinds of brushes and combs to use if needed) - toys (Nugget will destroy any toy that she has access to and toys can cause fights. We have a few here that can be used.) I realize that it's not always possible, but please try your best to give your dog a bath BEFORE their stay. This really helps to keep down the funky dog smells since we have so many guests coming and going. I can provide a bath for an additional fee if your dog will allow me to do so, but this is typically something that doesn't go over well when they are already stressed about being in a new place. If your dog is a heavy shedder, giving them a good brushing before they are dropped off is greatly appreciated. My dogs shed a lot so I realize that it's unavoidable, but being freshly bathed and brushed can really help when we are dealing with multiple dogs at once. Please keep your pet up to date with their vaccinations and heartworm, flea, and tick prevention.
A typical day
I don't walk the dogs that I board since I have a large, fenced yard that allows for plenty of exercise. In the yard, we play fetch and the dogs like to chase each other around. We spend a lot of time outside when the weather allows it. The dogs like hanging out with me while I do yard work. For those that shed a lot, I typically will do a few brushing sessions during their stay. I will send updates and photos/videos to provide peace of mind. I try my hardest to send a message at least once a day, especially for the first few days since that's the most stressful for both pets and parents. Sometimes Rover's stats show that I don't send updates 100% of the time. That's not true. They determine that by having a least 3 photos sent and they don't count videos at all. I send videos more often than photos because I think it helps to give a better idea of how the pups are actually doing during their stay. Our guests typically sleep in our bedroom at night with the door closed. This allows me to make sure that they aren't getting into trouble unsupervised, and I can hear them easier if they are asking to go to the bathroom. They will typically sleep in a crate if they are trained for that, next to our bed, or in the bathroom on the cool tile. We have a few dog beds in the room as well. For dogs that are too anxious or elderly to come upstairs, they can sleep downstairs and I will leave a light on so they can move around easily.
Location
North Royalton, OH
Pets
Steffani D. has Star Sitter status
The Star Sitter program highlights responsive sitters who deliver highly rated care and have a history of listing accurate availability and preferences, making it easier for pet parents to find the best care for their pets.
Home full-time, large fenced yard
Pet care experience
Pets > People (Pets ARE GREATER THAN People) *UPDATES 11/21/25 **I have been doing Rover for over a year now and I'm busier than ever. In order to remain available for my past guests, I am accepting new furry friends sparingly. Please feel free to reach out though! ** For my past/current guests, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE try to schedule your trip in advance as much as possible. Even if you're not completely certain of the dates and times, it's best to get something scheduled and modify it down the road. I really hate having to turn away pups, especially past clients that are relying on me to be available. Since I limit the number of overnight guests, it is very important to get your dates secured asap. This is especially true for long weekends, school breaks, wedding season, holidays, etc. Now to the fun stuff... I have had pets my whole life... they are my favorite kind of people! I realize that in order for you to feel comfortable trusting me with your babies, you need to know a bit about me. I am 38 years old and I have 2 children. My daughter is 12 and my son is 9. Although I am the main one that cares for our Rover guests, it has become a family affair. My husband and children love animals just as much as I do. We have 3 furry and 8 feathered children as well. We have two dogs, Nugget and Domino, and our cat, Poppy. We recently added 8 chickens to our family (no, it's not because of the egg prices lol). I was an elementary school teacher before I had my son. Since then, I have been a stay-at-home mom/homemaker. My husband, Shayn, works from home as a proposal manager (he's been in the field for over 14 years and I still have no clue what he does lol). His schedule is pretty hectic and unpredictable with deadlines, so we've found that it works best for our family for me to be home to deal with sick kids, appts, etc. It turns out that this flexibility has been ideal for caring for our furry guests. I have heard from numerous clients that they have tried various kennels/daycares around and have been very upset with their experiences. I've heard that their dog was in the cage all but 1 hour (sometimes even less) of the day. I've been told about dogs coming home filthy, behaving oddly, and severely sick. And, of course, some dogs have been turned away because they have too much anxiety to be cared for in a large facility or have medical conditions that can't be accommodated in a commercial setting. When your pets are here with us, they are treated just like our own dogs. They get treats and cuddles. They get kisses and I narrate their thoughts for them like any sane pet owner would do. There is no sugar-coating the fact that your pet is going to be scared being in a new place without you, but being somewhere with constant attention and love is the best choice until you return. I can't promise that they won't be sad leaving my house when you pick them up. The dogs do tell me that I'm pretty awesome :)
Reviews
My dog always has a great time!!
Toffee absolutely loves going to Steffani’s home! She’s so well-cared for and I love the updates/videos/photos! Steffani makes me feel 100% comfortable that Toffee is being loved and cared for.
The BEST sitter ever!! Her attention to detail is amazing!! Never worry about our fur baby in her care!!
My girls are always happy when they get to stay with Steffani! I never have to worry about them while we are out of town ! Thanks for taking such good care of our pups !
About Steffani D.
Communication
Dog skills
Safety, trust & environment
I have a large, fenced yard that my two big dogs love. Even so, I will monitor your pets outside to ensure their safety. My dogs are not crate-trained, but I do have a small, medium, and large cage available should your pet need them. I will NOT use a crate unless your pet is used to them. I like to do meet and greets with new clients to make sure that everyone feels comfortable before finalizing the booking. I do not allow my guests to join the meet and greets; only my dogs will be present and even then, I do the introduction slowly. Having additional dogs is unnecessarily overwhelming. I will have to reschedule a meet and greet if the weather is not cooperating. While you are more than welcome to come inside during our meeting, we need to mostly stay outside so the dogs don't feel trapped while being overly excited. I try to keep my meet and greets to 30 minutes or less, so I am not away from my current guests for too long. Meet and greets get a bit more challenging in the winter with the shorter days. I don't like meeting when it's dark out because it causes the dogs to be more on edge since they are in a new environment. What to expect for the meet and greet (boarding): 1. We will meet at my home. I will send my address once we agree on a date/time. 2. Message me when you arrive and I will come out the garage. Knocking on the front door sends everyone into a frenzy. 3. We will go to the backyard with your pup/pups and they can have a few minutes alone to meet me and sniff around. 4. I will bring my dogs out on a leash. MOST of the time I recommend your dog being off leash during the meeting because they will feel less confined and intimidated with being able to freely leave if needed. Once everyone meets and seems to be calm, I will release my dogs, one at a time. 5. After a few minutes of everyone being outside together, we can come inside for your pup/pups to meet my cat (she's a super calm cat and rarely has any issues with guests) and sniff around on the main floor. This will also give you an idea of where they will be staying if you decide to move on with the booking. 6. I will ask general questions that I need to know for their care and you are free to ask anything that comes to mind. If everything goes well and I think they'll be a good fit, I will approve the booking request on my end. 7. You're welcome to take a few days to discuss and think about your decision (depending on how much time is available before your requested stay). If you'd like to move forward with the booking, you will confirm it on your end and that will include the full payment. If your pet doesn't like dogs, cats, or children, we will NOT be the right fit for you. For these instances, doing in-home visits would be the best alternative. Additional fees will be added for drop-in visits if you are out of my typical radius (within 5 miles of my home) or if I need to make additional trips for picking up/dropping off keys. Most people have a door code, lockbox, or will leave their key in a hiding place, but for those in apartments, I realize these may not be options for you. We tend to attract owners of large dogs since my dogs are also medium/large and we have a fenced in yard. I have no problem accepting small dogs, but keep in mind that they need to be able to handle being around large dogs without being overly anxious. We've had several small guests, and they all did fine, but they had big personalities, so they weren't scared to join in on the fun. I separate all dogs during feeding times. Being in a new environment can make even the calmest dog feel protective over their food. Plus, some dogs finish super fast and others take their time, so being separated allows them the time they need.
Home
Information Steffani D. would like to know about your pet
Please let me know any details that will make your pet more comfortable or anything that makes them feel uncomfortable and should be avoided. For overnight guests, please bring the following: - enough food to last the entire stay (extra food is always better than not enough), along with written directions (this helps when I have multiple guests at once, plus I don't have the greatest memory!) - treats (quick treats, not long-lasting bones/chews) - collar with ID tag (I haven't had any dogs gets loose, but in the event it happens, we want someone to be able to contact you ASAP) - blanket (optional, but it can be helpful to have something that smells like home for sleeping, especially if your dog is crate trained) - any medications or supplements needed, along with written directions The following items are NOT necessary: - bed (we have several dog beds and I'd rather your bed not get ruined by another guest) - bowls (unless you use a special bowl, such as a slow feeder maze bowl) - brushes (I have several different kinds of brushes and combs to use if needed) - toys (Nugget will destroy any toy that she has access to and toys can cause fights. We have a few here that can be used.) I realize that it's not always possible, but please try your best to give your dog a bath BEFORE their stay. This really helps to keep down the funky dog smells since we have so many guests coming and going. I can provide a bath for an additional fee if your dog will allow me to do so, but this is typically something that doesn't go over well when they are already stressed about being in a new place. If your dog is a heavy shedder, giving them a good brushing before they are dropped off is greatly appreciated. My dogs shed a lot so I realize that it's unavoidable, but being freshly bathed and brushed can really help when we are dealing with multiple dogs at once. Please keep your pet up to date with their vaccinations and heartworm, flea, and tick prevention.
A typical day
I don't walk the dogs that I board since I have a large, fenced yard that allows for plenty of exercise. In the yard, we play fetch and the dogs like to chase each other around. We spend a lot of time outside when the weather allows it. The dogs like hanging out with me while I do yard work. For those that shed a lot, I typically will do a few brushing sessions during their stay. I will send updates and photos/videos to provide peace of mind. I try my hardest to send a message at least once a day, especially for the first few days since that's the most stressful for both pets and parents. Sometimes Rover's stats show that I don't send updates 100% of the time. That's not true. They determine that by having a least 3 photos sent and they don't count videos at all. I send videos more often than photos because I think it helps to give a better idea of how the pups are actually doing during their stay. Our guests typically sleep in our bedroom at night with the door closed. This allows me to make sure that they aren't getting into trouble unsupervised, and I can hear them easier if they are asking to go to the bathroom. They will typically sleep in a crate if they are trained for that, next to our bed, or in the bathroom on the cool tile. We have a few dog beds in the room as well. For dogs that are too anxious or elderly to come upstairs, they can sleep downstairs and I will leave a light on so they can move around easily.
Steffani D.
North Royalton, OH