Christopher

Bring your pet(s) round to meet, play and chill with Bonnie and Cole, our gorgeous Alsatian, and her lucky black-cat buddy.

My name is Chris and my partner Heather and I look forward to meeting you and your furry, scaley, or shelled friends.

We look after pets of all sizes and our own pets are on hand to make them feel welcome; as well as assure you that we are committed to caring and experienced pet owners ourselves. Along with Bonnie and Cole, we have Terry the tarantula and two bunnies called Badger and Mittens to complete our menagerie.

Prior to joining Pawshake, I was a dog walker for the "Cinnamon Trust" who are tasked with caring for vulnerable adults and their pets, assisting with walks, pet sitting, and much more. As a registered nurse by profession, I am obliged to act responsibly, and taking care of people from all backgrounds at their most vulnerable moments means customer care and understanding is something that comes naturally. My partner Heather is also in the care profession and studied Horse Management at college making her a natural with animals and as you'll find out, the true brains of the operation!!

Meeting people in hospital who have had to leave their beloved pets behind has also taught me the value, importance, and comfort a pet can bring and the essential part they play in our lives. Having owned dogs of various shapes, sizes, and breeds over the years myself, I have been privy to these experiences too and will do my utmost to make your pet feel as welcome and comfortable as it would be in your own home.

About my services

What's included in the services we offer?

I am a registered nurse, who has now made the move to teaching and teach students online. As such, I work from home most of the time and therefore can be highly flexible to your pet sitting needs.

Dog walking can be from as little as an hour in the evenings to longer walks at the weekend that can also include an AM or PM sitting session with appropriate notice. Walks will be in interesting/stimulating rural locations, with or without the rest of my household present depending on your pet’s social skills and your requirements.

How many dogs/cats/other pets do we look to board?

Ideally, we look to board only one dog at a time, as we have our own dog Bonnie, who is very friendly with other dogs, but does like to play, so more than two is a stretch if it is large dogs that you own. Nevertheless, should you wish to board more than one with us, we can discuss this prior to your booking and see if we are right for you. Smaller animals can be discussed via messenger, as we have a large upper room and plenty of space about the house for them. Cole is strictly an outdoor cat and only comes in for feeding, so boarding a cat indoors is not a problem.

How much time you can we usually spend with guest pets on a daily basis?

As mentioned above, as a nurse-lecturer, training students online, I work from home most of the time and therefore have time to be with your pets throughout the day. I share duties also with my partner, who is currently a mature student and again, learning from home, so someone will always be around to keep an eye on your furry friends.

We have a (high) fenced back garden that is gated and locked and that leads to a further communal gated area which provides a second line of defence in preventing escape! You can view this in the picture gallery along with a few snaps of our home and your pet’s soon to be Air B&B!

We have a large three-bedroom house across 3 floors and enough space in our back garden for a loo break and a quick stretch of the legs. We also live across from a large common green and have the Town Moor just around the corner.

All of our pets are very good-natured and very friendly and are used to having lots of friends round for a visit. We always make sure that any new pets have time to settle and recognise that they might be missing their owners. My partner and I give them the reassurance they need and time to explore the house and garden at their leisure, while ensuring their safety. We also take into consideration age, training, walking, and feeding routines to make new pets feel as much at home as possible.

I work full time from home and have responsible young children as well as the help of my partner on lost days, so no guests pets are ever left alone, we can board two pets along with our own cat and dog and we offer two walks a day at a variety of locations including the Derwent Walk and Town Moor nearby, we have a fully enclosed back garden as well. Pets are allowed to sleep downstairs in their own beds and also upstairs, depending on preference from dog owners.

We can accept last minute bookings, but we must in all circumstances, have a meet and greet first, to see how your pet settles and discuss any specific requirements such as feeding, special diet, medication or other needs. We accept friendly pets,and small pets such as reptiles, rabbits and hamsters must be caged. Any questions just send us a message.