I'm Not "Just" a Dog Sitter
Certified Animal Caregiver & Your Canine Concierge
When people hear that I’m a pet sitter, they usually imagine someone who stops by to fill a food bowl, let the dog outside, and make sure everyone’s still alive until their family gets home. The truth? Professional pet care is so much more than that.
When someone trusts me with their dog, they’re asking me to become ‘them’ for a little while. I’m responsible for maintaining routines, noticing subtle changes in behavior, recognizing when something feels “off,” administering medications when needed, keeping pets mentally and physically enriched, and above all else, keeping someone’s best friend — safe.
That’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly. It’s never been about collecting a paycheck. It’s always been about the animals.
Why Pet Sitting?
I officially started in 2014, but my journey really began because of one little pug named Lily. “The Pug Mom” wasn’t a carefully crafted brand. It was simply a nickname people started calling me after I adopted her. I was constantly saying, “This is my kid—I just didn’t give birth to her.”
As a millennial with no plans for humans, she truly was my mini-me. Then, almost a year later, Luna wandered into my life. Suddenly I had a yin and a yang! About six months after that, I agreed to foster an older puggle named Dixon. The plan was never to adopt him, but sometimes dogs have other plans!
In my 20’s, I somehow found myself with three dogs... and honestly? It just felt right. That little grumble changed the direction of my life forever.
Falling Down the Pet Wellness Rabbit Hole
Around 2016, I became completely fascinated with a holistic lifestyle. The more I learned, the more I realized there was so much more to caring for dogs than food, walks, and cuddles.
I immersed myself in earning multiple certifications through Dogs Naturally Magazine and also completed Dr. Barbara Royal’s Integrative Animal Caregiver program before it was retired. When that certification ended, I continued my education through College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies, along with Fear Free, FetchFind, and coursework through Dr. Judy Morgan’s Naturally Healthy Pets.
Learning has never really stopped. Because if there’s something new that can help animals live happier & healthier lives, I want to know about it.
Today, I’m working toward my Animal Communication certification through Dr. Angelique Barbara and already have a few more courses on my wish list.
If there’s one thing you’ll learn about me, it’s that I don’t pick sides in the holistic versus conventional debate - I’m ‘Switzerland’! 😄
I believe modern veterinary medicine saves lives, and I’ll always use it when it’s needed. But I’m also not going to stop feeding fresh food or using holistic remedies that have helped my own dogs thrive.
To me, pet wellness is about finding the right balance for each individual dog— not following one philosophy at all costs.
I don’t personally feed kibble, but I don’t see it as ‘poison.’ It’s simply not the approach I choose when caring for my own dogs as I always aim to make fresh food work for them.
How I Became the ‘Mindful Dog Mom’
In 2020, during the pandemic, something unexpected happened. People kept calling me thinking I bred pugs. Apparently puppy fever was real.
While I loved being The Pug Mom, I realized it no longer reflected where my heart—or my business—was headed. I wasn’t trying to build a brand around one breed. I wanted to build a movement around helping people make thoughtful, informed decisions for their dogs. That’s when Mindful Dog Mom was born.
Over the next few years, I shifted away from drop-in visits and focused exclusively on private home boarding and becoming what I now call a ‘Canine Concierge’.
Your Canine Concierge
People hear the word and think of a hotel front desk you can go to for information. For me, it’s about connection, not transactions.
I help families navigate the overwhelming world of pet care by connecting them with trusted veterinarians, trainers, groomers, nutrition resources, local businesses, and products that align with their goals.
It can mean answering questions about pet care, or sometimes it simply means pointing someone in the right direction.
If I don’t know the answer, I’ll do everything I can to help you find someone who does because no pet parent should have to figure it all out alone.
What’s Next?
Now, in 2026, another exciting chapter is beginning! I’m in the process of opening my own storefront — a space built around education, trusted products, and community. I can’t wait to share more with you this summer!
Looking back, I smile when people still call me “The Pug Mom.” That nickname started because of one little dog who changed my life.
Community Over Competition
I want to be clear about something important… I genuinely love my local retailers and I’m not looking to compete with them by adding this new service. My storefront is about continuing a legacy that already exists in this community and turning it into an experience!
It’s about creating a space where people can come in, meet me in person, and connect directly without a third party involved. And if I don’t have what you need? I’ll 100% be referring you right back to them just as I did before!
Today, my mission has grown into something much bigger. I’m still that dog mom, I’m just also a certified animal caregiver who believes every pet deserves the opportunity to thrive.
P.S. Titles matter, but trust matters more. Whether you call me a dog sitter, caregiver, or concierge, my goal has always been the same: to care for every dog as if they were my own.