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About Us

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Sam Helton
​
Owner / Trainer​

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Sam and Maris doing Parkour
​I grew up in Bedfordshire, England and moved to the Northern Virginia area in 2007.
I previously worked as a Biomedical Scientist but left work to be a stay at home Mum after Abby was born. I live in Gainesville with my husband Jim, Abby, my son William and our menagerie of animals.
I have loved animals since before I could walk but I wasn't allowed many pets growing up. When I left home, I made up for lost time, and have been surrounded by a variety of animals ever since!
I am a member of Pet Sitters International. I am qualified in Pet First Aid and CPR through the American Red Cross. I also have certifications in Pet Sitting, Canine Psychology and Canine Nutrition and I am always looking to further my education in animal care and behaviour. I have been assisting in training puppy and fundamentals classes and also workshops for reactive and anxious dogs.
I adopted my latest rescue dog, Maris,  two years ago. Since then, we have tried our 'paw' at almost everything. I have taken various workshops with 'Do More With Your Dog' and I am now a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, Canine Conditioning Coach and Stunt Dog Judge. Maris is an Expert Trick Dog and Novice Stunt Dog. She has her AKC Canine Good Citizen Advanced and Urban titles and has done agility, parkour, obedience, scent work and tricks. We love performing in trick dog demonstrations. ​

Abby Helton
​
Animal Care Assistant

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Abby with Poppy, one of the cats at WAAAG. Poppy is up for adoption.

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I grew up surrounded by animals and love taking care of them. I have a hamster and two rats of my own. I recently graduated Battlefield High school and I am currently studying for an associates degree in Visual Arts at Northern Virginia Community College.
I am a volunteer at W.A.A.A.G. (Washington Area Animal Adoption Group), where I have been playing with and socialising kittens, and reading to the dogs. I have some disabilities and I love the way that animals do not judge people on their differences. They love them no matter what. 

Enjoy some photos of us and our animals, past and present! 

Sam and Clue, 2008
Sam and Cookie, 1988
Me and Cookie, my first pony, 1988
Abby's first ride on Cookie. 2000
Me and my first dog, Hannah. 1997
Sam and Hoppy. 1985. My dog substitute growing up! Most awesome rabbit ever.
Sam and Jude. 1997.
Kala and Harley investigating the camera!
Sam and Maris. I'm fairly sure she's laughing at me!
Maris at her training class graduation.
Sam and Maris. Running 5Ks together
Sam and Maris with Kyra Sundance. Do More With Your Dog workshop 2018. Maris' Novice Stunt Dog Title and my Stunt Dog Judge certificate.
Shandy. Abby's first pony! 2002. Note, this photo was taken in August! That's Yorkshire weather for you.
My latest rescue pet, 'The Doctor' the Chinchilla.
Abby and her two rats, Diamond and Pearl.
Socialising kittens at W.A.A.A.G.
Sam and Busy at dog training. 2010. I miss my beautiful baby so much!
Maris and the other graduates of the 2017 CGC Urban class. Prince William County Animal Shelter.
Abby and Sawyer Brown at W.A.A.A.G.
Abby and Poppy, mama cat, at W.A.A.A.G.
Sam, Abby and Maris. 2017. CGC Advanced title.
Abby's hamster, Pink Diamond.
Abby at equestrian club riding a friend's horse
Abby playing with Bella
Bella 13 year old Plott Hound x Treeing Walker Coonhound x Beagle
Bella posing for a photo show
Cinder 5 year old Bearded Dragon
Clue. 15 year old AQH gelding
Geronimo the Hedgehog at a year old.
Gizmo the Chinchilla enjoying her dust bath.
Juga doing what Juga does best - sleeping! 7 year old English Bulldog
Maris. 4 year old Labrador x Great Pyrenees x Shetland Sheepdog x Terrier x Spaniel!
Mycroft (white) and Rainbow the Guinea Pigs
Nacho Tortoise. William's Russian Tortoise.
Abby's rats. Diamond and Pearl. 18 month old females
Arthur the Mouse on his first day after adoption. He's now almost 2 years old!
The Doctor tries out his Christmas present. Male rescue chinchilla.
Watson the Guinea pig, sadly no longer with us.
Winter Poppy Eve the hamster.


​Location


The Dog House Pet Services LLC
13608 Morris Court 
Gainesville, VA, 20155 
703-881-2351​

sam.thedoghousepetservices@gmail.com


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​What Our Clients Are Saying

Thank you dearly for offering your services to our neighborhood.  It brings us such peace of mind knowing that we don't have to send our pups to a kennel." M.B. (Gainesville)
                   _____________________________________

"Sam is fantastic with pocket pets, dogs, horses! As a fellow pet sitter, it is rare to find someone as reliable and compassionate as Sam that I can call on for help. You can count on her to care for your fur family as if they are her own!" J.J. (Marshall)

Contact

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  • Home
  • Services
  • Contact
  • About
  • The Dog Blog
  • Client Forms
  • Shop all Training Packages
  • Puppy Pre-K Training Package
  • Fresh Start Dog Training Package
  • CGC Prep Training Package
  • Tricks for Treats Training Package *Sale!*
  • Canine Conditioning Training Package
  • Gift cards