Christina C.

Christina C.'s Experience

After years of caring for dogs, I've picked up some pretty questionable but incredibly useful superpowers. I can absolutely tell you who's barking, whining, snoring, farting, plotting, or pretending to be innocent with a blindfold on and the TV jamming Stevie Nicks in the next room. Think back to your childhood. I bet you could tell exactly who was coming up the stairs just by the way they walked. Same science. The thing I love about dogs is that whether it takes one minute or one hour, eventually there is no such thing as a stranger. I've worked with puppies, seniors, giant breeds, tiny breeds, nervous dogs, wild dogs, dogs who choose violence, and dogs who choose to pee right before we walked out the door for potty time. I could probably tell you how many years I've been doing this, but in my mind I'm still 22 and fabulous, so we'll just leave it at that. Every dog has their own personality, quirks, routines, and favorite ways to keep me on my toes, and honestly, I'd be crazy to want anything different. Although the verdict may still be out on the crazy part. This isn't a side hustle for me. It's my big-girl job. The kind of job you make a goal to reach, and we're here! Which means I'm home all day, in pajamas with the pups, watching soap operas. Who wouldn't want this life? Because each wagging tail is different from the rest, I take pride in learning every dog's individuality. I love watching their personalities unfold over time and becoming a trusted human in their life. Another superpower I've acquired, possibly against my will, is an insane level of patience. Sometimes a pup takes a little longer to figure out that my favorite pair of shoes is not, in fact, their personal fire hydrant. But after doing this for so long, I learned early that shoes, blankets, and even a signed copy of my favorite blues vinyl are replaceable. These silly and goofy but prescious pups are not. Every single one deserves the chance to shine bright their entire life in their own silly, goofy but prescious way. Because zoomies are a thing. Carpet butt-drags are a thing (against my vote, but whatever). The pee walk (also not my idea) is definitely a thing. I have testimony from my carpet. And awkwardly sniffing another dog's butt for just a little too long? Also a thing. Somebody grab a squeaky toy and redirect this conversation. At this point, I can tell the difference between an "I need to potty" bark, a "that other dog looked at my toy" whine, a "the food tastes funny here" side-eye, and an "oops, I got into something I shouldn't have before I left home and now my poops feel funny" deer-in-the-headlights stare. The dogs think they're training me. Honestly, some of them are making excellent progress.

Christina's Availability

Information Christina C. would like to know

I will absolutely accept multiple answers because, no matter what anyone believes, rules are suggestions, and asking for forgiveness is quicker than asking for permission. It can be something they love, something they need, something to avoid like the plague, a strange habit (one of my favorites, the stranger the better), a secret obsession (now we're cooking with grease), or my personal favorite: do we have an established safe word? Examples: "Will commit crimes for lamb, petty crimes for chicken." "Thinks leaves are suspicious... until it's time for poops." "Cannot be left alone with toilet paper. There are charges pending. SMH." "Has never emotionally recovered from seeing a broom. Don't even get me started on the duster." "Strong opinions about bedtime and my wardrobe, but we choose our battles in this house." No judgment here. I've heard worse. Usually from the dogs themselves. ...Okay, you caught me. Possible judgment.

A typical day

A typical day? If you've ever tried to organize a group of furry toddlers with unlimited energy, very strong opinions, and no diapers, that's probably the closest description. This is my full-time job, so I'm home all day with the pups, and my schedule revolves around them, literally. We spend our days playing, snacking, napping, doing enrichment activities, making questionable life choices like playing poker or sprinting laps around the living room, and convincing each other that one more treat is always a good idea. Somewhere in there, I'll always have at least one dog sitting on my feet, one (or three) eyeing the treat jar, and one supervising me in the bathroom because, let's face it, I'm either watching them potty or they're watching me. It's busy, it's chaotic, and it's where I thrive. Oh, and I'm fluent in Level 3 Bark. I'd call that a bonus.