Sara Hughes
From the time I was a child I loved all animals: From dogs and cats, to birds, bunnies, lizards, and rats, I used to bring home any stray animal I came across, driving my parents crazy. My grandfather understood my passion for animals and found a job for me on a horse farm during my high school summers. Before I decided to become a dog walker, I worked as a veterinarian's assistant for five years in Southern California's at All-Care Animal Hospital, an advanced care and rehabilitation facility. I have a degree in fine arts photography and love to take pictures of all the animals I meet. Becoming a dog walker came naturally to me by combining my love of the outdoors and animals. I am a graduate of Dog Tech's Dog Walking Academy where we were taught pack management skills and canine body language to help us understand how dogs communicate and how to know when a behavior is an aggressive action or when it is playful. When I first started out in dog walking, I didn't realize how many hours I would spend driving around town. I spend at least three hours a day driving around neighborhoods, picking up, dropping off, and taking care of people's pets. My philosophy has always been to strive to be my best in everything that I do, and this includes the way my lifestyle affects the world around me. To meet this larger mission, the next step for me to be a better pet-care provider was to run an eco-conscious business that attempts to minimize it's impact on the environment, and provides a clean and non-toxic environment for my little clients. I drive a vehicle that is run on biodiesel made from local recycled cooking oil, I keep my vehicle clean using non-toxic natural products, I use biodegradable waste bags made from corn, use plain all-natural chicken for treats, and I try to use recycled and reclaimed materials wherever possible. I believe that in life you get back what you put in. I love the animals and caring owners I meet everyday and couldn't imagine a more fulfilling life.
I am insured and licensed in pet cpr and first aid.
I reinforce good trail manners through positive reinforcement (i.e. lots of treats) and practice rewarded recall (more treats).
