Dog Savvy LLC

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Dog Savvy LLC

Providing dog walking and pet care in Grand Rapids. Don't let the name fool you, I gladly offer pet care for all critters - canine or otherwise.

I proudly combine my background in dog training with my passion for the outdoors and spending time with dogs.

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all! Did your dog make the nice list? Or the naughty one? 😂 Ripley managed to get on both!

Mom underestimated her capabilities and didn't put her stack of goods far enough back on the counter... This stack included a 9×13 glass dish half filled with rice crispy treats. And, a tupperware of homeade chocolate chip cookies and dog cookies. Dog cookies I spent many, many hours making and carefully frosting for you, my amazing clients..

Sooo, if you haven't received your usual end-of-the-year gift from me, that cute face is to blame. Rest assured, I'll have your dogs' delicious, belated christmas gifts delivered sometime in the next week. After I remake the ones this adorable gremlin ate.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday and treat your dogs, whether naught or nice, to something sweet today!

14/12/2024

A few stills from yesterday's sunny shenanigans!

14/12/2024

Luna! You sound possessed 🤣 I'm going to assume (hope🙏) the neighbors are familiar with your crazy play noises by now. She is the tug queen. My arms get half the workout playing tug with my twice-as-heavy pitbull. Luna's little size is deceiving!

Also, after over a year of gradual introductions and sitting, Luna has finally solicited pets from me 🥰😍 It was such a treat! I was sitting by the fireplace when she came over, tail wagging, to sniff my face. Then, she turned away and angled her butt toward me with an unexpected "please pet me" face - one that I've never seen her give before. Seeing Luna melt to the floor for belly rubs was the greatest gift.

I paused every few pets to check that she was still enjoying the attention. I love that look of "excuse me, but it appears you've stopped petting me. Please, carry on."

Enjoy all the snuggles, belly scratches, and games of fetch with your dogs this weekend. I'm home after a long week of cold walks and dog sitting, so Ripley will be my #1 client for a few days ❤️

13/12/2024

Some dogs love the snow 🥰

Others... well, not so much 🤣

*ahem* Miss Mabel...

13/12/2024

These two finally had their moment today.

After weeks of "awkward" walks, where they both seemed mildly uncomfortable with one another, I was getting ready to stop walking Tucker and Betty together. After all, my walks serve to lower your dog's stress, not add to it.

It didn't make sense because, on paper, these two seemed like such a great fit! Their energy levels, interests, the whole shebang. And yet, there were odd moments of stiffness and avoidance between the two. Which is odd for Tucker, a dog who typically finds quick comfort in every dog I introduce him to. And Betty, a very respectful, indifferent gal! I was missing something...

Welp, after asking a few questions, I learned Tucker has had negative experiences with a red/amber coated dog in the past, to no fault of his own. Dogs are perfectly capable of becoming sensitized to certain breeds or looks of dogs that they've had a single, or multiple, bad experience with. Then, I remembered another dog Tucker had unexplainable issues with, who was also a gentle, sweet, and AMBER COATED dog!

💡Cue lightbulb moment💡

With my new hypothesis, I decided to change the picture today. I put one of my spare dog coats on Betty to change how she looked and smelled and used Adaptil on their bandanas. What ensued was vastly different from how they interacted before. After weeks of Betty and Tucker ignoring one another and avoiding each other's space, I was shocked to see them now invading it-

With invitations to run, flirtatious play bows, stick offerings, and curious sniffs. It brought me so much joy to see these two finally, truly, meet and get to know each other. I think they're on their way to sharing the playful, enriching friendship I imagined they would!

06/12/2024

It's safe to say everyone has enjoyed the snow so far! For some, it ignites major sillies, and I'm here for it. 🫶 Zoom on, little ones. Zoom on.

05/11/2024

You'll catch me around town sporting a new patch on my treat pouch! Courtesy of 🥰

It was originally on a baseball cap, which, if you know me, is the kind of hat I wear morning to sunset outside of winter. The only problem is that the hat was white... as a self-proclaimed nature enthusiast and one who is notoriously clumsy with food and has perpetual "treat hands," this was a problem. I had two options: die it, or cut the patch out and sew it onto something else. This was the perfect solution! Something you'll never catch me dog walking without 😊 I'm very happy with it! Maybe I ought to get a custom-made Ripley patch... or finally make a real logo for my business.. 🤔

02/11/2024

I hope your Howl-ween was a hoot! May all your pups, scared or brave, walk easy now that the novel lawn creatures are retired for the season.

What a great time to socialize your dog to sudden, strange stimuli, though! Not everyone got cozy with their neighbors Halloween display this month... but most of my weary friends did. Or at the very least, all decor but the talking or moving ones. They just too scary!

Photo challenge: Can you find the horror movie themed easter egg that I edited in to one of the 10 pictures? Let me know in the comments if you do. First person with the correct movie character wins the validation that they're a winner!

01/11/2024

Happy Friday! Unleash your inner Mabel this weekend.

Today was the first time I've walked her on the long line, and it went exactly as I hoped 🥰 endless zoomies and Mabel Crazies!

16/09/2024

Dog Savvy's contribution to Artprize.

I call this series of work, "Maybe it's Mabelline"

10/09/2024

Just a few highlights from the last week!

- Birdie and Grover pursuing a squirrel
- Tucker beckoning me to a game of keep-away
- Abby and Roxy smiling ear to ear
- Isabelle being a rollie pollie
- Charlie 🥹 Just existing ❤️ He doesn't need to do anything to be cute
- Mabel 🦘
- Luna planning a coup if I don't give her another treat right this minute
- Stick-wielding Grover

10/09/2024

Mandatory sniff-spection from the neighbor's cat after a long day of walking pups!

Her name is Quinn. It appears she promoted herself to Chief Dog-Taxi Inspector. Ensuring the wag-wagon is up to code and safe for future canine commutes.

23/08/2024

Who could pass up a great mural photo op?! Especially with this distinguished gentleman!

21/08/2024

Bruce signaled to me that he wanted a car ride, so a car ride he got!

We only drove around the corner, but that was enough to make him happy and provide a novel environment to sniff. He doesn't normally walk too far in his neighborhood. Not with me, anyway! He's more of a stop, go, stop, roll in the grass, sunbathe, maybe walk a little more, kind of dog. Also, the kind of walker I label as "opinionated." As in, if he doesn't want to walk that way, you're not gonna!

Changing the picture just a little bit incited much more enthusiasm to explore! Also, he surprised me with those ear sniffs as I took the selfie. Ear sniffs make me laugh every time. They're so loud 😂

20/08/2024

Hello friends and followers!

Man, is it hard to tend to social media when life gets in the way. I have mad respect for those who manage their businesses and stay active on socials. Forgive me for the lack of dog content. I assure you, I've been busy behind the scenes adventuring with my 4-legged friends, dolling out treats, and capturing their smiles.

I finally got a new phone. One that takes fantastic photos. It inspired me to log back into these accounts and share my adorable clients with the world again.

Please enjoy these moments from the last few days, featuring:
Birdie the Coton
Grover the Cavalier
Earl the Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix
Mabel the Pitbull
Zooey and Lou the Aussies
and
Argyle the Greyhound (or Noodledog, as I like to call him)

16/05/2024

Hello Dog Savvy Gang.

This week, my father has been experiencing some health complications and is stationed up at Butterworth. Typically, this does not impact my schedule. However, because of the nature of his aphasia, and the fact that my mother cannot make it down here until this weekend, I have been taking over his advocacy at the hospital to ensure he receives the proper care and everything is communicated to myself, him, and my family efficiently.

I'm doing my best to avoid canceling walks, but there may be things that come up that require me to do so last minute. This week, I'm prioritizing the client-dogs whose owners work away from home and rely on my services for potty breaks and midday enrichment.

Next week remains unknown. As soon as I have more info about my dad's continued care, I will update the affected clients on the cancelations if they're necessary.

Thank you so much for your flexibility during this time. My dad insisted on "focusing on what's important" (he meant work). I told him I was, and what's most important is him and his health.

Photo: My pops and his beloved pom-mixes, Maggie and Parker 💙🩷

08/05/2024

Tucker and Winnie soaked up this summery sunshine on their adventure today. Don't forget to drink water and take plenty of shade-... or, uh, play breaks!

Every break in the shade devolved into an adorable fit of play 🤦‍♀️😂 Winnie can't help herself. She knows Tucker can't refuse her bouncy play invitations.

14/04/2024

Piper and Teddy.
Ying and yang.
Order and chaos.

That is how I would describe the elegant, refined doodle that is Piper. And her wildcard little-big brother, Teddy. He is just shy of a year old and a whole lot of puppy! Each week, his sweet-spirited sister watches from the sidelines as he parades around with that days chosen toy. It used to be sticks, or more accurately, chunks of wood 😂 But lately, it's the poor garden hose he claimed as his own. Or one of my boots, if I take them off and forget to hide them in the stairwell...

With a dog that large, it's easy to forget Teddy's still a puppy. He is a delightful play partner (I KNOW he's going easy on me when we play tug! Ain't no way that's his full strength) and has really come around to his walks! Steadily, he's grown more confident in his neighborhood ventures. Now, we can walk down to the lake together without this massive puppy putting the breaks on at the sound of a far-off bark or the clamor of the neighbor's roofing company.

Piper's soulful eyes and gentle demeaner melt my heart on the regular. She's masterful at hopping out of the way when her amped up brother comes storming through the room or jets across the yard with his toy. When Teddy's distracted, I love to sneak in neck massages or ear-scratches for this delightful lady. Piper is more of a home-body and struggles walking in her highly stimulating neighborhood, so she hangs back at the house while Teddy and I hit the streets for his sniffari. Not to worry! She gets her share of enrichment afterward in the form of a frozen kong or treats hidden about the living room.

Over the months, I've cherished watching this boy grow and giving all the lovins to his sweet little-big sister. I thank their owner for allowing me to care for them each week!

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