ALGARVE PORTUGAL - I have found a Studio to rent in the Algarve. I'm arriving July 19, returning November 28. I am applying for residency & buying a car. My partner & I plan is to relocate to Portugal, & buy a home next year. I would like to get to know t

About this sitter

I am going to the Algarve ahead of my partner Monique to get to know the region before we buy a home there. I am looking for a home siting position in the Algarve area of Portugal. I will be there for 5 months, and would love to spend this time taking care of a home with animals as my company and my friends. I am new to MindMyHouse, but I am eager to find the right family to assist and develop a reputation, for my first sitting position. I look forward to meeting you and your pets, and at the end of the assignment, to having your glowing reviews to add to my profile. I'm a native Californian, born and raised in Marin County, just across the Golden Gate Bridge. We had a lot of animals, mostly dogs and cats, and most were rescues but among others, We had a Pig, a Pony & Chickens.

Why they want to house sit

I need a place to stay while I get to know the Algarve, and would rather have an interesting adventure, helping care for animals and stay at a beautiful place caring for animals, than rent a sterile studio in town with no pets. Our animals are part of the family and I know how important it is to have good people you can trust to take care of them while your home is also looked after.

Their experience

At 18 I worked on a Sheep ranch in Brazil.. In 1995 I lived in a house in Hawaii for six months, taking care of 8 Afghan Wolf-hound show dogs for the a couple who were only home on weekends. I fed, trained and walked them on regular basis. I am a behavioral dog trainer and have worked on farms with horses. I interacted with wolves in Alaska and had a 3.4 white wolf named Chenoa, I house sat in Carmel, California ,training an Ikeda and a Samoyed dogs
.I am an outdoor lover, and have spent a lot of time in the backcountry wilderness, Taught native American Wilderness Skills to Children, and was a National Park Ranger in Hawaii.

What can they bring to the assignment

I know what it takes to take care of animals and a home for someone else, because not only I have done it many times, I have also needed pet sitters when I have traveled to take care of our home.
I love making animals happy, I have a background in Hospitality and know how to keep a home clean. Monique & I ran 3 different Airbnb in California & each of them were rated 5 stars. I did most of the cleaning, getting them ready for rental.
I know how to connect with animals and build a relationship on their terms.

As a behavioral trainer, I have worked with many dogs and some cats to help them learn new balanced behaviors, by bonding with them and then helping them understand how to behave so that they become happier, freer and more balanced themselves - which leads to closer and deeper relationships with their owners. I teach them rules and obedience in a way that they end up understanding what is needed from them and loving giving ?t to their owners, which also means more freedom for them.