Hi, my name is Viki, a Slovakian living in Maarssen with an English boyfriend, Ryan. I am 27 years old and ever since I can remember, we always had a dog growing up.
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Year 2020/2021 - This will (hopefully) be my graduation year which means that I will be busier. That is why I will happily take your dog in for weekends - however, we must meet in advance to see how our dogs will get along! If we already know each other, and I have had your doggy at our place once or twice (at least) check-in with me and I might be able to take care of your pooch for a longer period of time as well (or in case of emergencies)!
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Currently, we have a boxer-setter mix from Spain, Louis, whom we adopted when we lived in Germany. He was 2 years old when we adopted him with no leash manners, prey drive for days and some reactivity issues. He has improved tremendously since we got him.
My days are pretty flexible, though I do have an internship on Mondays, Tuesdays, and most Thursdays so that means that I am out the house during the day, but when home, the dog gets all the attention for the most part :)
I am happy to come and walk your doggy around Maarssen. Any dog, big or small is no problem for me, I have experience with prey drive and leash reactivity, thanks to Louis. If you're training your dog, I'm willing to upkeep your training during the walks if I see it fit/safe. Depending on your dog's energy, I would walk him/her for 30 mins to an hour.
If you want your doggy to stay with us, great! We live in a house with a garden in Maarssen; we have a dog toilet right around the corner, a lovely walking area around a canal just 10 mins away on foot. In this area, we also have a fenced in dog park for those doggies who are not ready to be off-leash yet.
During the weekends, I co-organize a pack walk, which usually takes at least an hour and a half with a group of dogs. In addition, we go out in the morning and evening, so usually 3-4 walks a day.
If the weather is nice, the dogs can spend their time in the garden or inside, we also have a crate if your dog feels more comfortable in one (or you can bring your dog's crate). Feeding time and walking times usually happen around the same time, being polite is quite important - waiting for food, to be leashed. If your dog likes to eat alone, not a problem, there's plenty of rooms in our house.
If you would like your dog to stay with us, we would like to meet you and your dog beforehand. The reason for this is, that we would like to experience your dog's temperament, how he/she interacts with our dog and other dogs and get a feel for him/her. Meeting during our pack walk is preferred, maybe you'll find that you enjoy them and become a regular :)
If you have two (big) dogs, there's a solution! If I can't take both, I'm collaborating with a lovely couple from Pawshake (also friends), whom I trust completely - if we have met your dogs, I can take one, and they can take care of the other one and we will organize walks together during the weekend, and as much as possible during the week so your doggies get to hang out. You can find their profile here: Holidays with Patty and Lars.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! I won't be able to confirm any new bookings for daycare/boarding without meeting first to see whether our dogs are compatible.
Doggy day care and Dog walks always have a flexible cancellation policy:
Full refund if canceled before 12:00 p.m. one day before the booking, 50% refund afterward.
No refund is payable if the booking is canceled on or after the start date.
Viki has taken great care of my doggie and has always kept in touch sending me pictures and videos. She also respected my wishes and has also given me valuable advice. Definitely recommend 👍
Because of the reactive past of Kiva, we struggle to find sitters that can have her safely. She needs someone who handles her with calm energy and with assertivity, Kiva needs to feel safe in the hands of the sitter, otherwise she starts "defending" herself from all dogs that she encounters. Viki is able to read her very well and is able to make her feel safe, so when Kiva (and Shake) are with her, I have peace of mind. Viki is also good at keeping our routine, and at keeping down the energy of both dogs. She is very knowledgeable, not only in reactivity issues, but also prey drive, hyperactivity etc etc. She also has the fantastic support of Ryan, who backs her up and helps her with the dogs. All in all, the best sitters in town.
I take interest in dog training and canine behaviour by following a number of dog training groups and doing a lot of reading.