Vanessa R.
Vanessa R.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Your doggo is in good paws with me!
My name is Vanessa, and I have grown up raising, training, and loving(!) dogs with my parents my whole life. I don't have any siblings, so, while my human "pack" has always been quite small, I've always loved and cared for our dogs like they are our family (and they are!). I am currently pursuing my doctorate in clinical psychology and am saving up for a fur baby of my own once I become a licensed psychologist in a couple of years (when I have more time and resources to dedicate to a pet full-time). Occasionally, I also work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) part-time. So, while I have taken steps to be considered qualified to provide professional (therapeutic and medical) services to humans, I am no certified dog trainer (not yet, anyway!). This being said, I have volunteered for the Humane Society of Silicon Valley and Muttville and have had a lot of success training (e.g., potty, discipline, behavioral, tricks) all of our family's puppies and dogs, as well as helping train the puppies and dogs of many close family members and friends. I am familiar with safety and care best practices and effective training methods, as I do a lot of my own research and have added my own flavor to and built on what I learned from the puppy-training courses my family took one of our first dogs years ago. At the risk of sounding too cheesy, I truly do believe that all of these experiences, combined, have taught me how important it is to see each person (or pet) as individuals with different experiences and needs, the value of understanding all of the ways that a relationship (with anyone—human or pet) is a two-way street, the impact of trust and how to effectively build it in a relationship, and so, so much patience. I understand that the most important thing always comes back to recognizing that these pets of ours are family and that they should be treated with respect, care, and love that matches (as best as we can manage) their unconditional love for us.
Qualifications
Safety, trust & environment
I live in a spacious house (with a modest backyard—just enough for fetch!) in a suburban part of the Northern Bay Area, a short walk away from a dog-friendly park and multiple walking paths.
Ratings and reviews
Vanessa has been awesome walking our dog during the week for us. She is extremely communicative and reliable. Highly recommended!
Vanessa has been awesome with care of my dog. She has been great with communication and very thorough. I would highly recommend her for care of your pets!
Vanessa is great with my dog; he loves his walks with her. She's very sweet, bubbly, and pleasant. She's been flexible with scheduling, prompt and reliable. It's been a great help to me during a time of crisis when I am not able to give the attention my dog needs.
My dog warmed to Vanessa immediately. He can be reactive and difficult, but she handled him well and had no problems with him. He had a great time with her and it was a relief to know that he was getting exercise and stimulation during a difficult time when I was unable to walk him.
I was beyond excited to hear Vanessa wanted to become a dog caregiver for Rover. She is, without a doubt, one of the best people you can find to take care of your fur baby. She has a dog herself, and I can say with great confidence, that she is an amazing dog mom. Her love for dogs is unparalleled and paired with her personal experience as a dog mom, she provides such a playful and comforting environment for everyone. She’s very passionate about pet care and keeps up with best practices by doing research and communicating with professionals and community members. As a bonus, she handles stressful situations with grace. This has proven to be especially helpful when dealing with unforeseen circumstances. She is dependable, fun, and is overall the perfect person to take care of your fur baby. She’s my favorite dog sitter and I wouldn’t be surprised if she becomes yours, too! You won’t regret it.
Vanessa’s passion for dogs is second to none! Before she got her first pup, Moon Moon, she did tons of research and was super prepared. She put together an amazingly detailed puppy plan and shared it with me and my wife to help us with our new pup, and it really helped us feel more confident. Whenever my wife and I go out of town and need help with our little ones, Vanessa is always more than happy to help. Our dogs love spending time with her and we never have anything to worry about when it we put their care in her hands. If I had a will, Vanessa is the first person I know I can count on to provide a loving home for my dogs. She’s friendly, caring, responsible, treats my pups like her own, and I’m sure she’d take care of your pups the same way :)
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
I am currently in between training rotations for my doctorate program and have largely flexible availability up through August. My schedule, while not always the same, is set at least a couple of weeks in advance to ensure that I am able to prioritize your fur baby!