Introduction: I have spent a decade taking courses in animal care and have specific experience working with dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, reptiles, aquatic pets and farm animals (chickens, goats, horses, cows, sheep, pigs). I've worked with animals of all ages and temperament, as well as those taking medications or with medical issue, with special needs or with behavioural problems to be worked on. I like being around animals and doing whatever it takes to keep them happy and healthy.
More recently I worked at a doggy day-care cementing my knowledge of dog language and positive-reinforcement training using a clicker. I've been speaking Dog longer than Human and as a child simply *had* to interact with any animal (with permission) I had the pleasure of meeting.
In regards to my skills with cats, it's best summed up with an interaction I had with a friend of mine looking for catcare and her dear old cat: "Wow, you really do speak cat!" I told her that speaking cat was much less embarrassing than speaking rabbit.
I work to be honest and transparent at all times, so I'll say here that I base my prices on the costhelper website for pets: http:=//pets[dot]costhelper[dot]com/pet-sitter[dot]html (replace [dot] with . )
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My current canine companion--Quaker, a Boxer mix--I rescued when he claimed me as 'his human' upon arriving at the doggy daycare where I worked. He was an anxious wreck when I got him and we've worked for about 7 months to improve his confidence, then taper his confidence, and turn him into a well-mannered, obedient, happy dog. He's currently experiencing the puppyhood he never had but all-round I am very proud of him.
Some testimonials of him (and my work with him):
"He is the definition of 'good dog'."
- one of my housemates to a guest;
"He's so different from when I first met him! It's like he's a whole nother dog."
- a semi-frequent guest of the household (we have a lot of them), echoed frequently;
"He's the most well-behaved dog! He listens so well and always seems so happy."
- nearly every house-guests for my housemates' wedding, in some words or other, which was so touching as they got to spend plenty of time getting to know him, and also words echoed frequently;
"I can't believe you've only had him 7 months and can trust him off-leash. I'd be freaking out and my dog wouldn't listen!"
- a client who discovered I'd brought my dog with me for the quick visit and asked me to let him come out to play.
I have never received as many compliments as I have since getting adopted by this dog. It's mostly him, though: he's a real ham with a face that makes more expressions than my own. So I certainly can't take all the credit there!
I firmly believe that there is potential in every dog--every single dog--and that it's about finding out what a dog needs, allowing it to trust that those things will always be provided, and teaching it to express itself in safe and appropriate ways. I find it's the same for all animals, however much they make speak different languages.
And as far as pets are concerned... they're always worth spoiling just a little. (; A spoonful of sugar* makes the [training] go down.
(* I do not actually give pets spoons full of sugar, merely metaphorical ones. Though you do risk my singing Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious to them if I've got it stuck in my head.)
A harder question would be what about the work do I NOT enjoy, excepting perhaps mess clean-up (at which I am nonetheless skilled), because only very special people whom I envy take ample pleasure in that. Otherwise I enjoy every part of pet work: a freshly-clean enclosure, happy animal postures, engaged and interested training companions, and watching animals become more comfortable with themselves and their surroundings. Perhaps my very favourite thing is to meet so many new creature friends!
For training purposes, it's probably watching the moment a dog realises that training can be a fun new activity to do. My second favourite would be watching their human(s) realise the same thing: that there's this whole new, loving, exciting, fun way to interact with their animal companions. It's all about learning the language.
