Your dog’s cool auntie is here 👀
Dog walking & pet sitting in Weaverville, NC
Active dogs. Lazy dogs. Nervous dogs. Smart dogs. Dumb dogs. Sweet dogs who are secretly naughty; naughty dogs who are secretly sweet.
Whoever they are, they need love, exercise, and bathroom breaks when you can’t be there.
That’s where I come in.
Dogs know who the dog people are.
When a stranger shows up (with treats, obviously) some dogs feel anxious.
Others are so excited they forget all the rules.
And some are so sad you left them behind, they look like they’re in a Sarah McLachlan commercial.
However they respond, you need to know that whoever you leave them with is going to love and protect them the same way you would.
And they need to feel safe with me, whether they’re pulling me through the streets of downtown Weaverville or showing off their favorite stuffy.
Hi! I’m Sam (your dog’s new bestie).
I’m a writing coach and editor by trade, but in another life I could have been an animal behaviorist.
I’m a career service provider, a Weaverville local, and a lifelong animal lover. Weaverville Dog Walkin’ is my second business (and definitely the more fun one).
Most dogs—and cats!—tend to love me at first sight, and the feeling is mutual. I’m sensitive and observant, which makes me a good fit for anxious or overexcited dogs, and I never show up with an agenda.
Until Helene swept away their East Asheville facility, I was volunteering once a month (or as much as I could) at Brother Wolf, walking every kind of dog from the leash-pull-y beagle to the Pitty who just wanted to lie in the shade.
I’ve been shed on, peed on, and covered with kisses. I’ve accidentally touched more poo than I’d like to admit, and navigated dozens of dicey dog encounters.
I’m also fully insured and have passed a background check.
Find out how much your dog loves me
“Sam is attentive, kind, and communicative, and Bucky always has a big smile when she shows up. Our cat loves her, too!”
– Bucky’s fam
“Leaving my pandemic puppy causes me so much anguish! She has occasional seizures, and I like for someone to stay with her while I’m gone. Sam took excellent care of Lola, sending me pics and videos every day. I don’t even think she missed me at all.”
– Lola’s mom
“She might be my dog, but Sam is her Person.”
– Rosie’s mom
My Services
Dog Walking & Drop-Ins
Up to 30 minutes of exercise, fresh air, and/or playtime for your adult dog, with someone who’s just as excited to see them as they are to see me. I’ll always send photos & updates.
$25*
Overnight Stays
Your dog gets to keep their routine, their neighborhood, and their favorite spot on the couch. I get some solo time while I run my writing business from your place. Get ready for more “Selfies with Sam” than you need.
$95/night for up to four nights*
Extended stays (5+ nights) priced at a flat rate that we’ll work out together.
Drop-In Visits for Cats!
Yep, I do cats, too! Food, litter, letting them in and out a million times, playing hide & seek. etc. I swear to serve the master of the house, and will send you photos if they let me.
$25*
*Additional Pets & Puppies
An additional $20 will be added per drop-in visit for each additional dog. Puppies cost $15 extra per night and/or per visit. Overnight rates usually include multiple pets, but this is often determined on a case-by-case basis.
Got a unique situation? We’ll work it out when we meet.
Ready for a meet & greet?
I always like to meet my dogs and their humans in person before we book our first walk. This is a 30-minute visit and is free of charge. We can even take a short trial walk!
If you’re unable to find a time below, fill out my contact form to get in touch. See you soon!
*I only work in a 2 mile radius from downtown Weaverville. If you live farther away than that and you use the link above to book a Meet & Greet, I will not be able to accommodate you.
“I love having Sam so close by! It makes my unpredictable schedule so much less stressful to know that Bruno is always going to have someone there.”
– Bruno Mars’ dad
“Dennis has gone from skittish and agitated to sweet and wagging! Sam’s visits are a big part of that, he loves her.”
– Dennis’ dad
“Thank you for taking such good care of Bear. It brings me great joy to see him having so much fun while I’m gone.”
– Bear’s dad
“Sam has been so gentle, patient, and persistent with my big-baby momma’s boy. He still hates to leave me, but at least he gets his walk in!”
– Cooper’s emotional support human
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes! While most dogs do well with a 30-minute walk, some dogs do need extended exercise. My hourly rate is $45. We can figure out what you want to do at our meet & greet, and/or we can always change things up once I get to know your pet.
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My services are generally limited to downtown Weaverville, within a 1–2-mile radius. If you live in Woodfin, Alexander, N. Asheville, some parts of Marshall, etc.…fill out my contact form and let’s see what’s what. I’m most likely to make an exception for an overnight stay rather than a dog-walking arrangement.
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Every dog is different—but generally speaking, when a dog is nervous or afraid I don’t expect to actually walk them on my first visit (or sometime, my first three). In these situations, I’ll just sit with them, paying close attention to their body language, playing soothing music, and chillin’ until they start to relax. So far this approach has worked well.
If you’re able to be there for some of these initial visits, that’s great, but it’s not necessary and can sometimes make a nervous dog MORE nervous the next time I come over and you’re not home.
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Tips are not expected for drop-ins, walks, or overnight stays. I’ve set my rates according to what I want to get paid, so don’t feel weird if you don’t leave a tip!
Some clients leave something anyway, and most give a little holiday gift or “bonus” tip at the end of the year. This is totally up to you—but I’m not going to report you to the etiquette police either way.
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Sadly, no. As much as I would love to, Henry the cat would not appreciate this.
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After our meet & greet, I’ll collect your vet’s information as well as your emergency contact info if you’re unreachable. I’ll have this information on hand at all times.
This is my basic emergency protocol:
Minor issue (limping, skipped a meal, didn’t poop or poop is weird) → I will mention this in my regular update, or contact you with questions during my visit.
Urgent but not critical → I will contact you and your vet, and do whatever the vet says to do.
Emergency and you’re unreachable → we’ll head to REACH or the nearest emergency vet, contact your emergency contacts, and keep trying to get in touch.
Have a Question?
Get in touch here! I’ll get back to you within 48 hours (except on weekends).