Jessica

I am passionate about making sure each and every dog I look after gets the best out of their stay with me. 

I have grown up around dogs, cats and horses and couldn’t imagine a four-legged friend not being in my life. 

I used to work as a kennel hand and have lots of experience looking after other peoples animals. I am extremely effective at communicating with owners to ensure they are kept up to date with their pets well-being whilst they’re away.

I live with my husband, my 9 month old son and our two dogs in a 3 bedroom house with an enclosed back garden in Horley, Surrey. We have an 8 year old Sprocker called Peppa and a 3 year old Cockerpoo called Poppy. Our pets are allowed to roam around our home throughout the day and whilst I’m home. They have access to each of the rooms and their own beds in both the kitchen and the lounge. Overnight or if I go out we put our dogs in the kitchen using a stair gate so that they are kept away from our sons bedroom but if an owner has a specific requirement e.g. for their dog to sleep on the floor in our bedroom then we can certainly accommodate this. If the weather is nice the back door is kept open so the dogs can go in and out as they please and on really hot days we even get the paddling pool out for them!

This is my full time job so if I do go out it is only ever for a few hours at a time. I will only have a maximum of two other dogs staying with me at any one time but I do allow an additional if it's a handover day or doggy day care. The dogs will often play with each other when they're with me, my Cockerpoo loves playing with others once she's had a day to get to know them and then there is no stopping her! I also play with them each day myself and give them some treat games to do once or twice a week. I have a variety of different mental stimulation games for them to try and if all else fails I have a licky mat which I can put doggy peanut butter on and that normally goes down a treat. I believe it is important for them to be kept not only physically active but also mentally too. If the dog I'm looking after is happy for me to I do try to groom them a few times a week in order for any knots to be kept at bay.

There is a local field near us, around a 5 minute walk away, which is where I normally take the dogs for their walks. It also goes down by the river and through a wooded area which is lovely to take them to in the nicer weather. Additionally, I am a car owner and driver so I will often take the dogs out further a field to different places, we very much enjoy going to Earlswood Lake and Tilgate Park. It is down to the individual owners as to whether they are happy for their dog to be off lead with me or whether they would prefer me to put their dog on an extended lead for the walk, I am happy to facilitate either.

If you have any further questions or anything that I can help with then please don't hesitate to send me a message. You can also follow me on instagram, using my username haywoof_hounds, for many pup updates and pictures with who I'm currently looking after.