Dear Pet Parent,

I'm glad you're here! Thank you so much for visiting my page!

Instead of writing a standard description of myself and the services I offer, I asked myself: "as a pet parent, what would I want to know about my pet sitter?". Therefore, I figured it could be a good idea to select the most important questions I could think of and to answer them here. If you have any interrogations that haven't been answered, please feel free to reach out to me! I'd love to hear from you!

Can you briefly introduce yourself?

My name is Léonore (but you can call me Leo!), I'm 24 years old. I was born in the South of France and I lived most of my life in that country. After graduating high school, I studied psychology at a university in France. Two years ago I happily moved to Canada with my boyfriend. We wanted to improve our English and to discover this amazing part of the world! Since then, after travelling for a little while, I've been living in London, Ontario.

I am a lifelong pet lover but I also appreciate cooking and baking some delicious dishes. I also enjoy spending some time outside, in nature, discovering new places, learning new things and playing video games. I am very organized, I like to have a clean and tidied environment.

What pets do you take care of and what services do you offer?

I exclusively take care of dogs because it's the animal I am the most experienced and comfortable with. However, if you own other pets and they are present in your home when I come to take care of your dog, I can provide them with basic care (feeding for example).

If it’s the first time you want to book my services, we will plan a first free meeting. This is an opportunity for you and your dog(s) to meet me. We will get to know each other and make sure it’s a great fit before proceeding.  

1) Dog walking 

• Picking up your pup(s) at your home and getting them ready for the walk. 
• Enjoying a moment outside with them, in your neighborhood, of the duration of your choice. Water breaks included. 
• Dropping off your dog(s) at your place and making sure they are well and secured before leaving them. 

2) Dog daycare (at your home)

• Coming into your home to take care of your dog(s) for the duration of your choice (no overnight stay). 
• Feeding, play sessions, fun tricks training, regular walks, cuddles, naps supervisions and light brushing.

How have animals been part of your personal life?

I grew up surrounded by animals, mostly dogs, cats and horses whom I adored! Pets have always been part of my life, since my childhood to my adulthood. I have always been attracted to them. As a child, I enjoyed taming stray cats, spending most of my free time at the nearby equestrian center riding horses and playing with dogs! This love for animals has only been growing since then. My family adopted a few dogs over the years and from puppyhood to seniorhood, I actively participated in their training, daily walks, play sessions and frequent grooming. As an autonomous adult, I also had the opportunity to learn about taking care of all the aspects of owning a dog: among others buying food and dog furniture, vet visits and checks for parasites or wounds.

Since I moved to Canada, I unfortunately haven't had the chance to own a pup myself. I definitely know that a pet is a lifelong engagement, an investment of money but also time and so far, my situation doesn't allow me that privilege. Thankfully, I have already made a furry friend in my neighborhood that I'm delighted to pet and treat as soon as I have the chance to see him! I hope to own a dog again in the future, when I'll be sure to have everything required to provide them a loving home for their entire life.

Here is a list that summarizes the dogs I luckily shared parts of my life with:

• "Eleven": adorable and shy male Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael) rescued from a local shelter.
• "Helione": energetic and strong female English Setter.
• "Joke": friendly and playful female Cocker Spaniel.
• "Hera": lovely and calm female English Setter 

Do you have any previous professional experience with pets?

I do! Back in France, when I was living in Paris between 2017 and 2020, I occasionally worked as a dog-walker. I already walked multiple dogs at the time, took care of different breeds and sizes, puppies, adults and older dogs included. My main duties were:

• Meeting the owner and their dog(s) to get to know them. Getting their home's key if we decided to work together. 
• Entering the house and getting the dog(s) ready for the walk (collar or harness, leash and other specific equipment if required).
• Walking the dog(s) safely on the sidewalk, park or trail depending on the neighborhood, rewarding the positive behaviours and gently redirecting the negative ones, serving water. 
• Bringing back the dog(s) to their place, making sure they are well, comfortably and safely settled before leaving the home. 

What motivates you to be a pet-sitter?

My deep care for humans and animals translated into my previous roles. In addition to working casually with dogs, I helped people through my previous positions involving customer service and child care. Today, I would love to make this passion for dogs a dedicated career. I love sharing moments with pups. Being in close contact with them makes me feel happy, fulfilled and helpful.

Since my youngest age, dogs have taught me so much about patience, communication and kindness. I feel it's my turn to contribute to their wellness while their owner is away, so they can enjoy a playful, healthy and fun life. Meeting different kinds of dogs, getting to know them, embracing their diversity, unique behaviours and having the chance to spend some quality time with them while easing their owner’s daily life sounds like the dream job to me!

I also enjoy spending time outdoor, walking. This job makes that possible, so it's definitely a plus for me. Finally, after countless hours spent with different dogs, I am convinced that I possess the necessary skills to excel in this job. It's not an assumption, but a fact. My previous experiences combined with my reliable, helpful and dedicated temper make me think it's the right job for me!

Why should we choose you more than another dog sitter?

While I'm sure there are many great pet sitters out there, I know that there are also a bunch of people trying dog sitting because it's easy to start, not regulated and... dogs are cute! While dogs are indeed cute, they are not stuffed toys or dolls. They are living beings with needs, tempers and emotions, not that different from humans after all. This means that taking care of a dog is not always as easy and "glamourous" as we can imagine at first glance. Dogs can have poop glued into their butt's and tail's hair that needs to be cleaned. As lovely as they are, they can try to challenge you and have unpredictable reactions. They also might be scared of random things in their environment and need to be reassured or calmed in certain situations. I think only the actual experience of living-in with dogs can teach you that, and it's something I can provide.

Additionally, when people require the help of a pet sitter, it's most of the time because they really need it. For some reason or another, they can't take care of their furry friend(s) so they need the dog sitter to be reliable and punctual. In addition, it's always scary to let your beloved dog(s) under the care of a stranger! That's why a good dog sitter should be dependable and genuine. I can be this trustworthy person. I want to put you and your family's mind at ease when you leave your dog under my surveillance. I'm committed to show you how much I care about the wellbeing of your pup(s) and to prove to you that they will be in good hands.

To finish, as I mentioned previously, I really want to make this job a career. Therefore, I want to develop healthy and trusting relationships with the dog owners I work with. I don't take care of dogs only for the money. Of course I need to pay bills, like everyone else but my ethics and my greater purpose to contribute to animals' welfare push me to work only with people that share those values and reciprocally feel at ease with me after our first meeting. As I mentioned before, I'm qualified for that job. However, I'm also realistic and humble and won't hesitate to decline an offer if I feel it won’t be beneficial for both sides. I intend to give the best care to the dogs I watch and in order to guarantee that quality of service, it’s the price to pay.