Hi - I'm Sylvia! I am currently doing mostly visits for cat owners because of my regular work schedule. I strive to accomodate the preferences and needs of my clients and their pets and am happy to do extra things like water plants, or bring in mail, for example. I have some experience giving medication to my and a few other cats but I'm not very good at getting pills in them! I'm better at using a syringe. I always play with the cats unless they are frightened of me; in which case, I stay quiet and try not to further intimidate them. When walking dogs ( or previously when I was able to board dogs at my home ) I do my best to adapt to your dog's needs. If they are used to sleeping with their human, for example, then they get to sleep with me; if they don't do well with other dogs on walks, we spend more time in my big back yard or play in the house; if they chase cats, then I put up see-through gates on doorways as necessary so they stay in a different part of the house than my cat does; if they are used to eating at a certain time, I try to stay close to their schedule; if they are social and need lots of exercise, then we go on walks around the neighborhood, to the off-leash areas near my home such as Parley's gulch and Fairmont park, and possibly hikes in Millcreek canyon on off-leash days. I've been with Rover since 2016. My background with dogs, prior to becoming a Rover sitter is as follows: We had a family dog from the time I was 8 to about age 20. I considered him my dog because I was the one who played with and walked him most often. He was a mixed breed - Springer spaniel and German shepherd - and so cute and full of personality. I have always been a dog lover though I haven't had one of my own since reaching adulthood. I take cared for my sister's dogs when she and her family went away. One dog had complex medical issues and ate a special diet, oral meds, and eye drops. I also house sat a Great Pyrenees on three occasions over a couple of years. She was aggressive with all other dogs except her own mother so she needed one on one care and extra caution while out on walks. With people and cats, she was calm and sweet. The longest I had her was 2 1/2 weeks and I loved it. For this same friend I also took care of her blind and deaf rescued Boston Terrier. I kept this little dog in one room, big enough so she could wander but small enough and with as few obstacles as possible. A few years ago I also had a neighbor just through the block and I did drop in visits for her two shelties. I took them for walks as well as checking on them and just keeping them company.