Hi! My name is Zoey, and I am a 21-year-old looking for opportunities to make sure your dog gets what they need while you are away! I've taken care of dogs for many years, but have taken more official paid positions in the last 4. Recently, I have worked to board dogs for families around my college town for periods of up to 6 hours to allow these families to go out for dinners, to the movies, and more without the need to worry about their dogs at home. I have walked dogs for local families regularly, helped take care of special needs dogs on check-ins (such as those with neurogenic bladder), and have dropped by houses to feed, play, and give love and affection to their dogs. When I was 12 years old, my sister and I took it upon ourselves to train our neighbor's golden retriever, Sandy Cheeks, to heel so that we could take her on walks and she would be easier to handle. We successfully managed to teach her, not just how to heel, but also how to come when called, shake, and roll over (quite a feat since many goldens don't love to learn how to roll over). Since then, I have loved learning how to handle dogs of all types, working with slightly reactive dogs, to energetic dogs that don't know their own strength. I am a dog enthusiast! All my life, I have loved dogs so much, but my parents were allergic and refused to get a pet. Finally, in my senior year of high school, my parents got a medium-sized golden doodle and surprised my sister and me. I cried. I can not express the level of joy I experience around dogs. Many of my friends could attest to the connection I have with dogs when I meet them. They are shocked by how much their dogs love me right away. What they don’t know is that I have carefully researched ways to approach dogs and read their body language to determine how they would like to be interacted with. I am a researcher at heart. I am an undergrad in college who has worked on multiple graduate-level research projects in the fields of neuroscience, psychology, biology, and sports studies. When I fell in love with animals, I made it a mission to know how to handle them and treat them with the care they deserve. Where to pet the dog, how to walk up to a dog, what sort of eye contact to make with the dog; these are all examples of how I have learned to pay attention to dogs and respect their boundaries in order to create deep bonds. I am my dog's safe place; she will come and sit between my legs when overwhelmed because she trusts me to protect her and not to treat her the way she needs to be treated at that moment. I would bring this level of care, passion, and enthusiasm to every workday and hope to strengthen the care and play experience of all dogs. I have worked with dogs of many breeds and many ages with many different needs. I have experience with nervous dogs, hyperactive dogs, reactive dogs, super intelligent dogs, stubborn dogs, and hypoallergenic dogs. I am an athlete, and my athletic and strength training have allowed me to handle strong dogs on lead, heavy dogs, and aggressive dogs that pull or suddenly jerk. My athleticism is particularly handy with highly energetic breeds. My own dog's favorite hobby is getting chased around by me or chasing after me. I have also been known to take dogs on runs with me or hikes. If your dog has a particular routine that involves going for a morning run, I would be the perfect candidate to keep that habit up while you're away! I have held many part-time jobs, and I am consistent and reliable. I am a great candidate to take care of your dog in any way. Consider me for all your pet care needs!