I've always had dogs in my life; I can't imagine a day without them. Their empathy, warmth, and deep, lasting love is invaluable. In fact, my dogs were my greatest allies on the path to recovery after my car accident a couple of years ago. Charlie and Hank saw me through each challenge as I shifted career paths and became an artist: illustrating children's books, painting wildlife, and creating pet portraits. Love, communication, and unconditional support are the tenets of my care philosophy. I’ve been working with dogs since I was young, and understand and appreciate them on a deep, instinctual level. My dogs were ecstatic that I work from home now and spend all day with them, but I felt like I needed something more. Dog-sitting is the perfect solution! Hank is very social, and loves having other dogs over to play--and I love getting outside and playing with them, too. It’s been the perfect way to transform hardship into a blessing. Charlie passed away over the summer from cancer. Michael is Hank's new companion and he wouldn't survive a day without a group of friends to wrestle and chase. I own a small, dog-friendly house with a fenced-in yard and a great deck out back. It’s a wonderful place for pups to play! There's a dog swingset with toys hanging instead of swings, perfect for serious games of tug-of-war. I put out small pools in the summer which are Michael's prefered nap spots. My neighbors and their kids are dog lovers who are incredibly friendly and supportive. One neighbor is on call for emergencies, and stops by daily at the fence to give Hank his ear scratches! I live near the North Mississippi Trail, which Hank loves to explore with me. We stop along the way to let him lay in the river and swim after a stick. The area is gorgeous, with favorite places to walk like Webber Park and Victory Memorial Parkway. I’m located close to the Dowling exit on 94, so my place is easily reached for dropoff and pickup. Hank, a Royal Poodle, is four. He’s tall, active, and exuberant. There isn’t a moment that his tail isn’t wagging, and he loves to follow me everywhere. He can be very mellow in the house and enjoys being around cats, people, and especially other dogs of all sizes! He has a fear of loud noises, thunderstorms, fireworks, and anything that in any way might sound like those. He has food allergies so we use carrots, cucumbers, apples, and broccoli for treats. His companion Charlie recently passed away, so he draws comfort from having new playmates. Michael is two and could run all day. The best guess is that he is a dachshund mixed with some type of water-loving retriever. His favorite things are wrestling friends, chasing and being chased, and a good game of tug-of-war with another dog. He naps in the highest spots he can climb to and takes every oppotunity to get piggyback rides from people. With a weak bladder, Michael goes outside ever 1-2 hours and we take each oppotunity to play as much as we can! I started caring for pups professionally at the age of twelve. I started with dog-sitting, then dog-walking, and competed in obedience and junior showmanship with my Basset Hound at the same time. I had her through my twenties, and I saw her through numerous slipped discs as well as ulcers and stomach cancer. Then, I adopted a Cocker Spaniel from a wonderful rescue group. He was albino and born deaf and I taught him hand signals, which he loved, until he also went blind--and then I taught him touch signals. I've administered medications, worked with dogs with limited mobility, and even used doggie diapers and monitored seizures. My last dog Charlie was a rescue with severe separation anxiety. I’m incredibly passionate about providing excellent care, and giving unconditional love to pups in need. Michael has a weak bladder and seperation anxiety. My patience, warmth, and dedication are unparalleled. With years and years of experience, I’m the ideal sitter both for an elderly dog that’s slowing down and a young pup with boundless energy. I’m flexible, and since I work from home, I’m able to devote lots of one-on-one time to your dog! I do my best to make sure that everyone is going to have a good time every day--my dogs included. I’m attentive to everyone’s needs, and there’s plenty of love and playtime to go around. Having all these adorable dogs running around, I can't resist doing drawings and paintings of them. So, if you’re interested, I’ll do a pet portrait when I need a break from current projects!