Dog Sitting & Dog Grooming By Barb

I have been dog sitting and dog grooming ​​​​for a little over 8 years now and look after a variety of dogs, both small and big. I have a large back yard which is fenced and that is where a majority of the dogs have their exercise. I live across Bunn's Creek Park, so it is perfect for taking the dogs for a walk (which I provide twice a day if your dog needs the extra exercise and routine). I also have a "doggie room" in my rec room...converted my laundry room into a comfortable area for the dogs to hang out. The doggie room has dog beds, dog kennels (if needed), feeding areas, play area with toys. I let the dogs spend their energy in there when they want to play and hang out with each other.

I have two Golden Retrievers...Honey is 4 years old and Farrah is 7 1/2 years old. They love every single dog that comes into our home and because they have a submissive and calm demeanor, every dog has done very well with us. I have even had dogs who have had problems with anxiety (whether it's from not being socialized enough or from a bad history), but when they are with us, they eventually come out of their shell and do very well. The atmosphere at my place is very laid back and is welcoming to all types of behaviors.

I do my very best to stick to a dog's routine, so I always ask everyone to give me details about their dogs life at home and what is allowed/not allowed when it comes to things like where they sleep, what they eat etc. For example, if a dog sleeps with their owners, they are more than welcome to sleep in my bed as well. I am used to having a sliver of the bed anyways, so adding another dog or two is no big deal. If I do have quite a few dogs over, then I take turns having them come upstairs and/or sleeping with us. But to be honest, most dogs love sleeping in the doggie room with all their friends....everyone has dog beds and blankets to sleep on and those that like privacy have a variety of kennels to sleep in (I keep kennel doors open). It's their own dog hotel, equipped with a TV, toys, water etc.

Some dog owners do not FULLY vaccinate their dogs....it always depends on how much exposure their dogs have. That is fine, but I do need every dog to be fixed (otherwise there are too many problems with aggression when there are more than two males together and they want to mount constantly....plus it is not fair to the females). Also, if females are not fixed and/or go into heat, that creates a huge problem in controlling the males. The only exception are puppies that are too young to be fixed yet. I have looked after many puppies and have had no issues.

Rabies vaccination is a must and I need documentation so you will have to provide a copy of their rabies vaccination for my file. If you do not vaccinate your dog against parvo, kennel cough etc, then exposing your dogs to other dogs is obviously at your own risk. I have looked after dogs with a variety of medical conditions (diabetes, seizure disorder etc) so I have no problem administering any type of medications needed.

I also have a dog grooming business and can provide more information on that if requested. During a shorter stay here with us, I always give every dog a good brushing and if their nails need trimming, I will do that for you as well (I provide a discount for short stays). For longer holiday stays, I give each dog a bath, brushing, nail trim etc so that they are ready for you when you pick them up. I also have a no rinse shampoo for those dogs that just need a freshening up during their short stays like daycare. Some dogs are more active then others and those that get dirty will definitely be attended to. Daycare clients who are here regularly have free nail trims, brushings and baths when needed.
Every dog that has come into my home has been by word of mouth and everyone who has used my services do see that their dogs love coming here and they trust me to look after their furry kids because I treat them like they are my own dogs. I have not needed to provide references yet, but if it makes you more comfortable to get references, I can definitely provide that for you. If you prefer to do a "meet and greet" prior to leaving your dog here, we can definitely do that....totally up to you. The benefit of a meet and greet is that your dog(s) will have a chance to smell everything and get comfortable with the surroundings as well as getting comfortable with my two girls.

I charge $20 for each overnight stay and will provide a small discount for owners with two dogs that need a longer stay ($35 for 2 dogs). I also puppy sit and charge $25 per day for puppies that need training and a watchful eye. I always keep everyone up to date via email/facebook/text and take pictures of their furry kids having fun while they are here. If you are on facebook, please "like" my business page and then you can follow all the dog posts. If you are not on facebook, I will send you updates via email throughout your dog's stay with us.

I provide doggie daycare twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. Cost for daycare is $15 and pick up/drop off times are whatever you need them to be. I have drop offs as early as 6 am and the dogs can stay as late as they need to (just remember to bring their breakfast and supper).

You can see by my posts that I can have quite a few dogs at once but I have NEVER had an issue with any dog whether they like to be dominant or submissive. They all sort themselves out in their "pack" once they are here and it all works out well. Most of my furry clients have known each other for a long time now and they always welcome new furry friends into their clan!