Hands N Paws

When taking on a new client, I always like to schedule a meet-and-greet. It’s a great way for us to make sure that we’re all a good fit for each other, and we get to chat face-to-face about the best way to take care of your pooch! I love to talk with owners about what makes their pup tick. After all, no one knows their best friend better than you do! But the meet is also a good time for me to make friends with your pooch, which means I’ll always let them take their time to warm up to me. I like to get on their level so they know I’m here to make friends. Once we’ve become new pals, I like to ask lots of questions, so the meet is just a great time for me to find out everything I can about your pooch!

Some things I like to learn ahead of time:

Would you like to schedule a meet-and-greet before the stay?
What’s your preferred method of communication?
Does your pup have any health issues that need to be tended to? For instance, dietary restrictions, medicine, or behavior triggers? 
Do you have a vet nearby that you trust?
Is your dog spayed/neutered?
Does your pup like to stick to a given schedule, like regular walks in the morning and evening? 
What does your pup do well around? What does your pup try to avoid?
What’s the best way to spoil your pup?

I have about 5 total years of experience working for family and friends and also with other clients on a more professional level. I started in 2016 working for Rover.com, and in 2018 started Hands N Paws. Over the years in my experience, I have worked with all dogs and cats of many shapes, sizes, and breeds. I have learned different services such as drop-in visits, dog-walking, overnight stays, pet-boarding, etc. I have grown to have many people and their pets in my customer-base, some of whom I work with on a very regular basis. Overall, most of my training just comes from experience and learning the ins and outs.

My pricing is based really on several factors - what the customer is looking for care-wise, the distance a customer’s home is away from me, whether the customer wants boarding/ any overnights, etc. I also take into consideration any financial needs/budgets that the customer might have and go from there. We usually do pricing in the $35-75 range depending on the factors listed above. At the end of the day, my goal is to make sure it’s doable and fair for both the customer and me!

I have a long history of working with dogs, both as an owner and in a professional capacity as well. Since I was little, my family had two dogs, named Franki and Jett. I grew up in a dog-loving family, which definitely rubbed off on me in a big way! I loved taking care of animals, so I started sitting for friends, family, and neighbors. It was always a great experience, which definitely encouraged me to become a professional caregiver for dogs. I joined Rover in 2016 and started developing my client base and then began my own start-up company a couple years later! It’s been a great experience and I’ve learned so much along the way.

I also have always loved community service/ serving others. I used to watch my neighbor’s dog regularly when I was little. Upon taking my skills in community service and applying them to pet-sitting, I realized that I can carry out this service professionally and form a customer-base around what I offer.

I have worked with many different kinds of customers and their pets - customers who have week-old puppies and customers who have 15-year old dogs. With that, I have a lot of experience and diverse-training in my services. I can fulfill many needs for customers all around!

I sat for three-week old husky puppies for a long weekend about a year ago. They were so cute to take care of, though they required lots of work being that they were just little puppies. I am fond of this sitting experience because it was the first of such a challenge to me, (puppies cried, made messes, needed baths, etc.) but the puppies were just so sweet. This was also the first time I ever did a weekend stay at a customer’s house and it was very successful and great for my experience with dog-sitting all around.

Another recent set of events I am fond of is the three-times a week walks I would provde for a customer here in the Columbus, Ohio area. This customer had a 7-month-old husky. Unfortunately, this customer up and moved to Cincinnatti for a new job, but I still cherish those moments I got to work with her and her puppy. The pup was wild and LOVED people; so every time I would walk her, I'd take her to see our friends at the COTA bus stop where she got so much loving and attention. And I always played it safe with where I'd choose to go, but it's been a spot that we've gone to for awhile and she just loved it!

Simply, look for someone who is trustworthy, has great reviews, and is very passionate about what they do! Also, be aware too if a potential pro has insurance and/or is bonded and has his/her LLC. This in itself might tell you just how much a pro cares about their job and how seriously everything is taken!

Customers should think through questions about pricing, how much they are willing to spend and for what exact services for their pets, etc. It is always important for a pro and a customer to be on the same page financially as well as mentally to ensure great care for the pet.