Name: Alexa Rust
Age: 50 years
Residence: Amstelveen
Profession: Home-based graphic artist and mother of three teenagers - all love dogs.
About her own dog Pippi
"We adopted Pippi when she was one day old," Alexa says. "She had been found under a bush in Spain and raised by bottle. Now she is 1.5 years old - enthusiastic, social and fond of playing with all the host dogs. She is sweet and not dominant at all."
Why she started babysitting through Petbnb
Alexa and her family once considered a second dog, but found it more fun to offer temporary shelter. "Through Petbnb, we can get to know different dogs. It's enriching for us as well as for Pippi."
Special click with rescue dogs
"It's hard to choose which was my cutest babysitting dog," Alexa says. "But there seems to be a special click with other rescue dogs. Maybe they feel something familiar about each other."
Finding the right match
Alexa trusts her gut. "It's a combination of sensing and asking questions. Usually I also ask a trial day babysitting for - that's how we get to know each other quietly."
An unforgettable experience
"One time I received a plea from an owner if we could please babysit during her vacation. The dog always slept in bed with her. That meant two weeks of sleeping on the couch for us - because that dog really didn't want to sleep alone! That only happens to you once," Alexa laughs.
What she learns from babysitting
"We keep learning about the characters and characteristics of all kinds of dogs. It's so much fun to see how different they are."
Favorite exhaust spot
"The old railroad embankment behind our house," Alexa says. "There's no traffic there, and the dogs can run freely."
Alexa's tip for other babysitters
"Take a big walk at least once a day where the dogs can run loose. After that, they are wonderfully relaxed and you can enjoy their company for the rest of the day."
What Alexa would like to see added to Petbnb:
"I would love to meet the people behind Petbnb in real life. Surely we are putting together a special platform!"
View her profile
Enthusiastic after this story? Then check out Alexa's Petbnb ad and find out if she still has a spot available for your dog.
Curious about more stories from our babysitters? Also read the interview with Jolanda.
Or find a pet sitter in your area via Petbnb.