Pet Sitter in Placerville, California

I am a recent transplant from Contra Costa County, now bunking in Pollock Pines with my daughter, son-in-law, first grandson Harrison (two years old yesterday), and grand puppy Maximus, a young Jack Russell Terrier. I have experience with large, medium, and small dogs and cats from young to old, especially with seniors. Many people may be wary of that time in an animal's life, but providing that care and comfort can be very special. I've never cared for a new puppy since all of my dogs have been older adoptions, but have done kittens galore, one of which I even clicker and leash trained. Because this is not my home, I'm only available to care for your animals in your home, and since I am Max's resident dog sitter, he might need to accompany me on occasion, if the rest of the family is off RVing or camping. As far as dog's go, the first was a middle aged female Samoyed named Snowy that had been adopted more than once before. She was not easy, being very food territorial, not just with other animals but with people too. She had been previously debarked, bless her heart, which is not something I personally would ever recommend. Citronella collars work great for excessive barking. She came to us 25 pounds overweight, and under veterinary guidance we embarked on a two year diet and exercise regimen. We started with obedience training, and as she became healthier, we did agility and carting, which is really fun for those big fluffy sled dogs who will never encounter snow in their lifetime. She lived to the ripe old age of 17, finally developing bladder cancer, which is more common in her breed. While Snowy was still alive and all of the human children had left the nest, I privately adopted a 13 month old purebred male standard American Eskimo Dog named Oso. Poorly socialized if at all, his original owners relegated him to the garage once he grew out of puppy size, and purchased a miniature American Eskimo Dog for the house. On the way home, he was so frightened to even ride in the car that he almost caused a multi-car pileup on the freeway in an attempt to escape. It was amazing to see how fast he progressed to become comfortable around humans and other animals alike. Within weeks he was obedience trained and did his first public demonstration, and he was a speed demon at agility. He was nearly 15 years old when he crossed the Rainbow Bridge from age related illness. As a trainer, I don't have formal training but I'll try just about anything to reach a particular animal, even mastering clicker training without the treats (the last thing an overweight dog needs) and Canine Freestyle, or Dancing With Your Dog. I'm a former professional musician, so it was only natural that I would incorporate my love of music into our training. And the dogs loved it! We were doing this before I even knew it was a thing with international governing organizations and competitions. You've probably seen this on the internet or even America's Got Talent, although some of what you might see is not traditionally accurate to the sport. We chose not to compete but both of my dogs were enthusiastic traveling demonstrators at numerous parades and other community events around the San Francisco Bay area. My long time veterinarian, Dr. Beebee with Diablo View Veterinary Hospital at (925) 94..., can vouch for my compassionate care of my own furry companions over the years. As far as an hourly rate, for sure it would have to cover gas costs both ways plus a little extra. Off the top of my head, $10 an hour plus depending on the circumstances. I can be reached at (925) 99.... Thank you!