Stephanie M.
Stephanie M.
Contact for Drop-In Visits
CA$23 total per visit
Highlights
Pet care experience
Stop & smell the roses...then pee!
What sets me apart? I am confident with large dogs, including farm and guard dogs! I discovered a love for big dogs when my mum adopted a hound mix who grew to be a 120lb wrecking ball of dopey energy. I've had a soft spot for the big ones ever since, and take particular pleasure in befriending them. I believe communication between human and dog is critical. A person's body language and tone of voice can say more to a dog than words ever could. That means I physically get down onto their level for affection, I use positive reinforcement consistently, I talk with them throughout walks, and I keep an eye on their body language as well for signs of happiness, fear, apprehension, etc. I'm confident walking on city streets, in forests/on trails, and in off-leash zones. I just need to know what your pup is most comfortable with and we'll go from there!
Qualifications
Pets
Safety, trust & environment
I am keen to operate within the parameters and routines you've established inside and outside your home, in order to maintain continuity for your pet. This includes checking in with you for specific command words, encouraged and discouraged behaviours and their corresponding rewards/corrections, social situations to work on or avoid, favourite routes, etc. Personally, my pet cat receives as much attention as I can give him. He is highly affectionate, so is usually parked on my lap or somewhere nearby. I used treats/positive reinforcement to train him to shake a paw and sit down. My great fear for my little guy, and for all pets, really, is that he is bored, understimulated, or lonely. Because of this, I pay special attention to making sure that he is being physically and mentally stimulated in addition to affection. That means exercise and puzzles! I love to find simple games whether we're outside or inside - find-the-thing, makeshift tunnels to run through (if you're brave), seeking out tiny forest creatures to discover, etc. I'm always looking for new brain games for dogs, so if you have a favourite, let me know!
Ratings and reviews
Stephanie is great! She took great care of our 3 cats and the house was clean and tidy on our return. Recommend her 100% without hesitation or reservation. Great communication skills and she went above and beyond expected duties. Best of all our fur babies were happy and relaxed!
Steph is truly the best cat sitter we could have asked for! We were away for two months, and she visited our cat, Tequila, every two days. She consistently went above and beyond, collecting our mail, watering our plants, and often spending extra time with Tequila, all without ever asking for a higher rate. What made the experience even more special was coming home to a thoughtful welcome-home note, fresh bananas, and croissants. It was such a lovely surprise and the perfect way to end our trip! Steph exceeded all of our expectations and gave us complete peace of mind while we were away. Knowing that Tequila and our home were in such caring and reliable hands meant so much to us. We would absolutely recommend Steph to anyone looking for someone trustworthy, thoughtful, and genuinely caring. We couldn’t have asked for anyone better!
Stephanie was great! I have a big dog full of beans and she seemed to have no issue handling him. Stephanie was very flexible with schedule changes, she was always on time, kept in communication and kept me updated. If I hadn’t moved, I would keep Stephanie as my dog walker! She really helped keep my boy tired and happy! I would recommend her to anyone!
Stephanie was a loving, gentle and diligent caregiver for my geriatric lab Cruiser. Cruiser would “run” (she struggled to move fast) to Steph whenever she saw her, and Steph had the softest approach with Cruz. Cruiser had many special needs, dealing with both medication and incontinence, and everything was looked after and kept in order whenever Stephanie looked after a Cruz. Steph was always on time, communicative and all around responsible. It can sometimes be difficult finding someone who feels safe and trustworthy, and if she was still in my jurisdiction, she would be my go to person for pet care. Nothing but great experiences and confidence with leaving my fur babies n Steph’s care.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
APRIL 1 - NOV 1 availability Mon - 12:30pm to 8:00pm Tues - 12:30pm to 8:00pm Weds - unavailable Thurs - 12:30pm to 8:00pm Fri - 12:30pm to 8:00pm Sat - 12:30pm to 8:00pm Sun - 6:00am to 8:00pm I work at my job most mornings so will generally not be able to accommodate morning requests.