Zehra O.
Zehra O.
Contact for Doggy Day Care
CA$95 total per day
Highlights
Pet care experience
Professional, enriched K9 care
🐶 What Sets Me Apart & My Experience: Hi there! If you're looking for care that goes above and beyond standard sitting, with less stress and more structure than a commercial doggie daycare - I combine structured daily routines and walks, individualized brain games and enrichment, and experienced, skill-based handling for every type of personality - to give your dog an individualized, fulfilling and professional daycare experience in the comfort of a home setting. 🌟 Why Choose Me? * Flexible, On-Site Presence: Working from home means that I can give your pup constant supervision, attention, and companionship throughout the day. * Structured Daily Enrichment: Every daycare guest receives a minimum 1-hour walk/hike and 30 minutes of daily brain games and enrichment activities—plus a summary report and pictures/videos of the day’s activities! * Hands-On Sport & Skills Training: I personally own two small-medium rescue dogs from Mexico who I actively train in several dog sports, as well as to be everyday solid citizens. I bring that same enthusiasm and deep understanding of canine learning to provide individualized care to every daycare guest. * Active Dog Sports & Continuing Education: I regularly take dog sports classes under instructors across the Lower Mainland and dedicate personal time to studying canine behaviour, reinforcement-based training modalities, canine nutrition, and species-specific enrichment. * Tractive GPS Tracked for Peace of Mind: Safety is my top priority. All daycare guests are fitted with an active Tractive GPS tracker during outings, giving you complete peace of mind that extra precautions are always in place. * Add-On Training Services: Looking to brush up on manners or address specific behaviours? This is something we can tackle together for an additional fee! Example behaviours I can strengthen during daycare hours include: recall training, crate/settle training, loose leash walking, confidence building, impulse control, moderate separation anxiety, environmental desensitization, cooperative care, muzzle conditioning, dog sports foundations and more. 🐕 Animal Care Background & Specialized Experience I have 5 recent years of dedicated experience in canine care, supplemented by a 15-year background in the equine industry—including experience as a farmhand, handling performance horses, and farm sitting. Handling large, high-drive animals built my strong foundation in animal body language, safety, and calm, confident handling. My hands-on canine experience covers a wide range of care settings: * Reactive & Quirky Dogs: Experienced in reactivity, trigger management, defensive handling for reactive or fearful dogs, and navigating unique behavioural quirks. I offer safe, low-stress environments tailored to your dog’s comfort level and individual needs. * Group & Private Walks: Skilled in leash handling, walking multiple dogs on leash, off leash group walks of up to 10 dogs, skills-focused training walks, and solo decompression walks. * Multi-Dog Households & Daycare: Experienced in managing multi-dog dynamics, ensuring respectful social etiquette, safe mutual play, and proper rest. * Confidence-Building: Having successfully rehabilitated my own two cautious, fearful, and reactive rescue dogs, I have hands-on experience building agency, problem-solving skills, and optimism in dogs who may feel overwhelmed by the world around them. * Overnight Boarding: I am currently closed to general overnight boarding, but I am open to accommodating occasional boarding requests for regular, recurring daycare clients—schedule permitting. I am currently completing my MBA with plans to pursue professional dog training after graduating—so caring for, understanding, and enriching animals is truly my passion and craft!
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Zehra has a strong understanding of canine body language and a deep affection for all dogs. My main experience with Zehra around dogs was with my old Cattle Dog. Almost as soon as Zehra met my dog they create a lasting bond. Up until my dog passed away she would get excited to be around her and clearly took a lot of comfort from her presence.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
📅 Daily & Weekly Schedule Caring for dogs is fully integrated into my daily routine. My schedule is built around a predictable rhythm of exercise, mental stimulation, and dedicated downtime to keep dogs calm, fulfilled, and well-rested. 🕒 Sample Daily Flow 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM | Start Work Day My dogs sleep in while I start my work day. 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Daycare Pick Up and/or Morning Potty Break A calm start to the day with a stretch and potty break in the yard. Where applicable, daycare guests and I may go out for a 15 to 30-minute leashed walk in the neighbourhood. 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Morning Enrichment & Skill Training I feed my dogs and daycare guests their breakfast through a structured training session and/or food puzzles. Training activities typically include canine conditioning, tricks/skills training and problem-solving games. 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Potty Break & Structured Morning Rest Back out to the yard for a quick break, followed by dedicated quiet downtime so dogs can settle and recharge after morning activities. 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Mid-Day Enrichment & Potty Break A quick brain-game session during lunch breaks can feature any combination of scent work, targeted skills training, playtime, and/or nutritional enrichment (puzzle toys, Toppls, LickiMats, or chews). 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Afternoon Down Time All dogs settle in for an afternoon snooze while I lock in to finish my work day. 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Main Exercise (Walk or Hike) The primary outdoor adventure of the day! Every daycare guest gets a minimum 1-hour trail hike or walk, on or off leash, to explore and burn energy. This can take place with, or without, my personal dogs - depending on your dog's individual walking needs. 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Daycare Drop-off and/or Post-Hike Decompression & Rest Relaxation time to unwind after physical exercise before heading home or wrapping up the evening. 💡 Why Owners Love This Routine: * Balanced Energy & Recovery: Alternating physical activity and mental exercises with forced rest prevents over-arousal and keeps dogs in a calm, confident state of mind. * Continuous Supervision: Working from home allows for constant safety monitoring, custom potty routines, and smooth transition management throughout the day.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
🛡️ Safety, Trust & Environment Safety and clear management are the absolute top priorities in my home. I approach environment management with proactive structure, safe handling, and strict safety measures. 🏡 Environment & Setup in My Home * Dedicated Management & Containment: My home is set up to safely manage multi-dog dynamics. We use baby gates, crates and room separations to ensure safe, supervised interactions, peaceful meal times, and stress-free rest periods. * Secure Outdoor Space: Outdoor time in the yard is always supervised to prevent escape attempts, over-arousal, or fence-line frustration. 🔒 Safety Protocols & Handling * Proactive Trigger Management: When out on walks or hikes, I maintain strict situational awareness. I give reactive or sensitive dogs plenty of distance from potential triggers (other dogs, bikes, wildlife) and can manage stressful moments using positive reinforcement and defensive handling skills. * Separated Feeding & High-Value Items: Food, high-value toys, and chews are always given separately to prevent resource guarding and ensure every dog feels completely relaxed while enjoying their treat. * Emergency Preparedness: I keep a comprehensive pet first-aid kit on hand (I was previously certified in Pet First Aid in June 2022), maintain quick access to local emergency veterinary clinics, and always keep owner and vet emergency contacts readily available.
Pets
A typical day
🐕 A Typical Day & Fun Activities Every dog in my care receives individualized attention based on what brings them joy! Enrichment is key, but it’s never one-size-fits-all. Whether your pup is an active player who loves interactive games, a curious explorer who thrives on sniff-heavy walks, or a sensitive soul who prefers confidence-building activities, I tailor the day's agenda to match their unique personality, energy levels, and behavioural needs. 🎯 Fun & Enrichment Activities Include: * Sniffaris & Decompression Walks: For the dogs who love to explore, we take dedicated time during our daily hikes/walks to let them follow their nose, engage with their environment, and decompress. * Brain Games & Scent Work: Custom-tailored mental workouts using puzzle toys, Toppls, LickiMats, long-lasting chews, or fun nose-work games to keep minds sharp and stimulated. * Canine Conditioning & Skills/Trick Training: Quick, positive-reinforcement sessions focused on fun tricks, body awareness, confidence building, or reinforcing basic manners. * Playtime & Active Engagement: Structured fetch, tug, or movement games tailored to your dog’s play style and drive—always monitored for safe arousal levels. * Individualized Rest & Downtime: Tailored decompression zones with quiet, cozy spots where dogs can safely chew, unwind, and rest after an active session. At the end of each day, you’ll receive a detailed pet report card complete with updates and photos showing all the fun, learning, and relaxation your dog enjoyed!