Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been doing this?

I started with Rover in March 2024, but I have had animals my whole life. I’ve always had at least one dog for as long as I can remember, but I’ve also had a rabbit, cats, birds, fish, and hamsters. We currently have two dogs and a cat.

How many dogs do you watch at one time?

For overnight guests, I limit it to no more than 5 (that does not include my dogs). While there are busy times of year that I am fully booked, I would say that it’s more typical to have up to 3 guests at a time. During the day, there could possibly be a few more than my limit because of overlaps in pickup/ drop-off times or my regular daycare guests.

Do all of the dogs get along?

I have not had any serious issues between any dogs staying here. Just like with people, some dogs will get along fine and some just don’t like each other for whatever reason. I find that it’s usually a difference in energy levels that cause dogs to dislike each other. I am constantly supervising them so I can stop any situations quickly. We’ve had a few guests that get overwhelmed easily, so they have stayed with my husband, Shayn, upstairs in his office so they can decompress while still having someone for company.

What are the biggest behavior challenges you have?

Dogs that try to dominate by humping the other dogs are one of the biggest problems. When I see this type of behavior, I try to stop it immediately because it’s something that can escalate even with very mild-mannered dogs. I find that this behavior is the worst during the first day that dogs meet. Another big problem is when dogs surf the counter for food or things to destroy. I try to keep food out of reach and trash cans closed. I also barricade the kitchen if I’m dealing with a lot of food and a very determined dog. I also have issues sometimes with boy dogs marking their territory inside. This typically happens when they first arrive, so I follow them around closely with a spray bottle to try to catch them when they have that desire.

Will my dog be left alone?

I do pet sitting full-time, so I will be home for most of your pet’s stay with us. For the times that I need to get my kids to/from the bus stop, pick up groceries, go to a doctor appointment, etc., my husband will take over since he works remotely from home. We are a family of introverted homebodies, so we are home most of the time, even without any guests present. In the rare event that all of us are gone at the same time, I separate dogs into different rooms or into crates for those that are crate-trained. My mom also lives locally, so she has served as a temporary dog sitter in the past when something has come up.

Will my dog be locked in a crate?

We will NOT use a crate at all unless you have told me that your dog is crate trained. If they are, in fact, crate trained, it will only be used for sleeping at night or if no one is home (see previous Q&A). They will NOT be locked in their crate all day. All of our guests are treated like our own pets, so we DO NOT have dogs sleeping outside or in our garage at any time of the year.

What does your daily routine look like?

I let the dogs out around 6am every morning. I usually feed them breakfast around 7:30am. If the weather is decent, they like to play outside throughout the day. I let dogs in and out all day so there are plenty of opportunities for them to go potty when they need to. Treats are offered several times a day. I do not walk any of our guests since they have the fenced yard to run around in and I don’t want to risk any dogs getting loose. We will throw a ball or frisbee for those dogs that like to play fetch. We will either do it in sessions so each dog has a chance to play, or we will have multiple balls going at once so there’s no fighting. Dinner is around 6pm, although this can differ day to day because of cooking my own dinner. The last potty break is usually around 9pm before we all head upstairs to my bedroom. My dogs and all of our guests sleep in my bedroom so I can keep a close eye on everyone. If they sleep in a crate, that will also be in my room. I have several dog beds if they would like to sleep there or on the cool bathroom tile.

Do you accept dogs with special needs?

I have had guests with special needs, but I will also be honest if I don’t feel I could handle caring for your pet properly. Many of our guests have anxiety, but some have been much more extreme. We’ve had a blind guest as well as a diabetic that needed daily insulin injections. I’ve had multiple guests that take daily prescription medications, which is no big deal to do. Depending on the specific needs, I may need to limit the number of other guests present, so giving as much notice ahead of time is strongly recommended for these friends.