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Yes to all three!

I gladly accept Cash, Check, and Venmo.  

Our cancellation policies are as follows:

• Cancellations of “walks” may be made up to 24 hours in advance of the scheduled walk with no cancellation fee. Cancellations of less than 24 hours are due in full. If we arrive at your house on the scheduled day and you forgot to cancel, we will charge for that visit whether we walk the dog or not.

• Cancellations of “training” may be made up to 36 hours in advance of the scheduled session with no cancellation fee. Cancellations of less than 36 hours are due in full. If we arrive at your house on the scheduled day and you forgot to cancel, we will charge for that visit whether we train or not.

• Cancellations of our “drop-in” and “in-home” vacation sittings may be made up to twenty-one (21) days before the first scheduled day of the visit. Cancellations of less than twenty-one (21) days will be charged 50% of the services. No credits will be given for visits canceled due to a client’s early return home. Clients returning home early must pay for the reserved number of visits. 

• Cancellation of our “drop-in” and “in-home” vacation sitting during November, December, and January may be made up to thirty (30) days in advance of the first scheduled sit. Cancellations of less than thirty (30) days are due in full. Please understand that pet-sitting and boarding services receive more requests for reservations than they can handle during the holiday period. We may have turned away other clients because we reserved time for you during a busy season. No credits will be given for visits canceled due to a client’s early return home. Clients returning home early must pay for the reserved number of visits 

I understand that life happens and schedules change.  I typically give everyone one free pass.  

Nope, I like all breeds, large and small. 

I will work with you before the in-person consultation to discuss your dog's unique situation. Your dog's comfort and safety is my top priority. 

***Dogs who require special handling or attention may require an additional charge.  

I have leashes, harnesses, poop bags, and treats. A collar with updated tags is it for most clients. If you need to send your dog out with specific treats for dietary reasons, that can be arranged. 

All pets need to be up-to-date on vaccinations, including rabies and flea treatments. If your pet is sick or contagious, please advise me if services can be performed and if any special arrangements need to be made. Please understand these requests are made in the best interest of your pet and other pets we may care for or encounter. 

Yes. I have a hand-to-hand policy for the safety of your home. Keeping your keys on file so I can visit your pet(s) with much shorter notice, and you are not inconvenienced with meetings for key return, and key pick up, which are $15 per occurrence. If you do not wish to keep your keys on file, a meeting will be scheduled to return your keys once you have returned home. 

Most of my walks are individual. I am happy to walk pups with a buddy or two as long as they are of similar size and temperament and with parents' permission. 

Absolutely! I know life happens, and sometimes you get in a pinch and need help. Should you have a last-minute request, please try and let me know before the office closes so I can do my best to make it happen. The more notice you can give, the better. My office hours are 7 am-10 pm Monday - Sunday. If you catch me outside of these hours, I will respond to your request first thing the next business day. 

Yes! When young puppies first come home, it's a transition process to begin walking outside (whether pre-vaccinations, the big city's scary bustle, or a combination of both).  I will come to your home for 30 minutes to play and focus on socialization, practice puppy basics, offer tons of positive reinforcement and love, and clean up/replace wee pads. 

Positive reinforcement in dog training can go by many valid and worthy names: reward-based training, science-based training, force-free or pain-free training, etc. Regardless of the terminology, the general theory behind this line of thinking remains the same. I use only positive-based training and reinforcement.

Positive-reinforcement teaching techniques use non-confrontational methods to work a dog’s brain – rewarding positive behavior, establishing rituals and training actions that are incompatible with negative behavior and lessening a dog’s anger and frustration – all while enabling the dog to feel good inside. If you reinforce a dog’s desirable behaviors, there is less chance that she will indulge in other behaviors you do not like. Decision-making is influenced without the use of force, and the dog’s trust in the owner is not violated through threatening treatment.

Using positive techniques to change undesirable behavior requires you first to determine the cause of the behavior and then figure out how to modify and transform it by giving the dog the ability to learn and feel differently. People learn to connect with their dogs and work through problems humanely – strengthening the relationship by fostering mutual trust, providing affection, and encouraging cooperation. Increasing a dog’s enjoyment of social interaction gives the dog what she needs to deal with the pressures of domestic life. Dogs taught using positive reinforcement methods are more tolerant, self-controlled and behave much more predictably in different situations.

It is vitally important that you give your dog the opportunities and tools she needs to live successfully in your strange human world. Education brings security, security brings confidence, and a confident dog does not need to show anxiety-based behaviors. A dog given consistent guidance from an early age grows up to be a confident dog. 

Remember how happy you were if your parents gave you a dollar for every A on your report card? They made you want to do it again, right? That’s positive reinforcement.

You bet! It's essential to maintain the routines your dog is accustomed to. The best and most effective training is rooted in Positive Reinforcement. What does that mean? Positive Reinforcement in its pure form means we reward the behaviors we want, so they continue to be offered by the dog. My rewards include treats, toys, verbal praise, balls, eye contact, belly rubs, and lots and LOTS of pets. I make training FUN to ensure those lessons' stick' when it comes to the training process. 

Yes! Your pet is part of your family, and I know how important it is to have someone you know and trust in your home caring for your pet.  

My training services vary considerably from dog to dog. They vary in the structure, layout, and the cost and duration of the training. My training services are custom-tailored to the specific situation. I evaluate several factors before building a training plan for you, such as your dog’s age, temperament, previous training, and the desired goals of the guardian. What will work for one dog and guardian won’t necessarily fit well with another. Because of these factors, we offer a 30-45-minute consultation as an opportunity to meet with your family as well as your dog to gain insight into the unique circumstances that affect your dog’s training. I will evaluate the factors during the consultation and develop a training plan for your dog and family. From the training plan, I will be able to give you an accurate idea of the cost of accomplishing your goals. There consultation fee is $20. 

Absolutely! I love small critters! Count on me to check on them too. 

Many cats are shy, especially with new people. I will search your house for your cat to make sure she is only hiding and not injured. If your cat hides, I will ask you to show me their favorite hiding places. Even if your cat hides, I will spend the full visit time at your house. Often a cat that hides on the first visit will come out of hiding and get attention on the second visit. Some cats hide very well. As a result, I may not be able to find them. I will use other evidence to ascertain that your cat is doing well when this happens. Evidence includes seeing if food is being eaten and if the litter box is being used. 

I believe in taking care of you and your pets. You and your dog’s safety is our #1 priority. Below you will find the protocols I take with each visit.

• I will be equipped with safety equipment, including face masks, hand sanitizer, and company-approved leashes. I will always practice social distancing.

• Dogs may wear their harnesses and flat collars; however, I will be equipped with a company-approved leash to clip to the existing gear.

• I will have a mask, which will be worn inside buildings, homes, and anytime I am close to other people.

• I will use hand sanitizer. It should be used after touching any surface or coming into contact with anyone. Hand sanitizer will be used before arriving at each scheduled appointment.

• I will always stay 6+ feet away from people while on a walk and avoid crowded places.

• I will not allow other people or dogs to touch the dog I am walking.

In addition to the safety measures above, I will ask all our clients to practice safety precautions and social distancing when using our services.

How can you, the client, help:

• I ask that all dog equipment be left near the front door for easy access.

• Please leave the collar and/or harness on your dog, so they are ready to be clipped in.

• Practice social distancing when I pick up/drop off your dog.

• If you or a family member are feeling ill, please notify me to take proper precautions or cancel the scheduled walk.

• Please consider bringing your dog out to the porch and handing the dog off outside if you are home.

• Please disinfect commonly used areas such as doorknobs, entrance table, etc.

• Help me limit my  time in your home by placing food and any needed supplies in plain sight with easy access.

I will continue to follow guidelines from state, local, and health officials and keep my policies up to date.

If you have any feedback or additional steps which would help you feel more comfortable, please get in touch, and I'll do our best to accommodate.