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Rachel M | San Diego Dog Walker & Pet Sitter

@cheerstothedogs

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All because of Reina 👑🌈
Small group, solo, fun & structured walks
Experienced with rescue & reactive pups.
Overnights, drop-ins & cat drop ins
Hugs 🐶

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Allow me to reintroduce a big piece of my heart. 💜

This is Hugs.

The dog who almost didn’t make it… and the one who ended up healing me.

He’s the dog who puts his paws on your waist and leans his whole body into you like it’s the safest place in the world.

But Hugs’ story didn’t start with beach walks and hugs.

He came from the ESLR hoarding case in Ensenada, where over 400 dogs had been surviving starvation, illness, and years without proper care.

Eventually he made it across the border and arrived at TAP HQ.

That’s where I met him and fell in love almost immediately.

A few weeks later he matched with a foster and left @theanimalpad HQ. But within the first hour at his foster home, everything changed.

Hugs jumped from a balcony.

After everything he had already survived, he suddenly needed lifesaving surgery. Three broken legs. Broken ribs. Teeth lost.

Eventually I took him home as a foster while he was still healing with two casts on his front legs.

Recovery wasn’t easy, but little by little he healed.

Today he has grown into the happiest, sweetest dog.

After a year together, fostering no longer felt like fostering. I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

So I foster failed him.

Before he was my dog, he was Reina’s foster brother. She adored him and he walked beside her during the final chapter of her life.

Reina taught him so much. In many ways he carries pieces of her spirit with him.

Losing her broke my heart, but Hugs helped me slowly heal it.

These days he joins me on dog walks, helps with pack walks when it’s a good fit, and has somehow become my best coworker.

Dogs like Hugs are why I care so much about building trust with every dog I walk or care for.

He’s a huge inspiration behind Cheers to the Dogs and the way I approach every dog I care for.

Rescue dogs like him deserve patience, understanding, and someone who sees the good in them.

I am endlessly proud of him.

Every beach walk and every hug around my waist feels like something we both fought hard for.

If you made it this far, you probably deserve a hug from Hugs. 💛🐾.

📍 San Diego, California.

#sandiegodogwalker #sandiegodogs #dogwalkingservices #dogwalkingbusiness taken in San Diego, California by @cheerstothedogs

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7 months ago

Allow me to reintroduce myself 💗

I’m Rachel.
Owner of Cheers to the Dogs.
Rescue dog mama to Hugs. The dog who has helped save me more than I could ever save him.
New Englander turned California girl.
Wicked big Boston sports lover. Trail chaser. Photographer. Storyteller. Reader. I’m forever full of wanderlust.

Dogs are not just part of my life. They are the center of it.

Before Hugs, there was Reina. Reina was my soul dog. She shaped the way I love, advocate, and show up for animals. She taught me patience and how deeply dogs feel. Losing her crushed me and she is still the reason for so much.

Hugs was her last best friend. He knew her. He loved her. He walked beside her in her final chapter. Now he runs beside me in this one.

Because of them, I do this differently.

I have a special place in my heart for rescue dogs. Reactive dogs. Shy dogs. The sensitive ones. The misunderstood ones. I build a relationship with every dog I work with. I’ve been around dogs my whole life, and walking/doing pet sitting for over 15 years. I have also spent a significant amount of time attending workshops and taking classes to better understand dogs, handling, and training. I’m comfortable with and love handling all dogs! From the calm to the spicy 🌶️.

When I walk your dog, it is never one size fits all.

If they need structure, I give structure.
If they need confidence building, we build it.
If they need calm consistency, I show up steady.
If they thrive in pack walks, they walk with Hugs.

Every walk is tailored to the dog in front of me.
Every leash is held with intention.

This is not just dog walking.
It is advocacy. It is safety. It is trust.

Boston ➝ San Diego
Rescue heart. Beach air. Dogs who change your life.

For the dogs who saved us and the ones still waiting. 💗

@cheerstothedogs

#sandiegodogwalker #rescuedogmom #reactivedogs #petcare #dogwalkers taken in San Diego, California by @cheerstothedogs

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8 months ago

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9 months ago

Officially reached the age where the number is between me, myself & the government. My younger friends have started to playfully tease me about being ancient 🤪 (looking at @misterboandco 😂).

A few weeks ago, Kaela and I celebrated our birthdays with a trip to Lassen National Park.

I spent my actual birthday doing a lot of my favorite things. I started my morning hanging with @theanimalpad pups, then spent the rest of the day with Hugs. We ended the day at such a fun paddle board event hosted by @sup_pups , @petpowerstudio, @dogsof_sandiego & @doghausphotography. It was so good to see everyone again! 🥰

It was beautiful out on the water. The water was still like glass, the sunset was one of my favorites, and there were so many people and dogs there. I was SO proud of Hugs and how well he handled all of it. We have worked so hard together, and getting to experience things like this with him means so much to me.

Especially after the scary week we had when he was sick, having my happy, goofy boy feeling like himself again and by my side made the day that much better. 🐻

A friend on the care team surprised me with homemade funfetti cupcakes, Kaela got me one of my favorite cakes, and I got a day filled with dogs, friends, sunshine, and my Huggy Bear. Pretty hard to beat.

The older I get, the more I realize how important the people I love are to me. Thank you to everyone who reached out, celebrated with me, and continues to show up for me. I’m incredibly grateful for my friends, my family, and the dogs who have brought so much happiness into my life.

For this next trip around the sun, I’m hoping for more adventures & more national parks. I want to help save more dogs, make a million more memories with Hugs, and spend more time with the people I love.

I want to trust myself more, follow my heart, embrace change a little better, and stop being so afraid to take up space in my own life. More than anything, I just want to be genuinely happy. I think I deserve that, too.

Cheers to another year of figuring it all out as I go 🥂💗

📍 San Diego, CA

#dogsof_sandiego #hugsthedog #rescuedandloved #birthdaygirls #sunsetviews by @cheerstothedogs

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20 days ago

Two years ago today, Hugs came home to me and Reina as a foster. 🤎

He arrived with three broken legs, fear in his eyes, and no idea how to live in a home. Everything about life was unfamiliar to him.

At the time, we were only meant to help him heal and eventually find his forever home. Honestly, I thought someone would scoop him up almost immediately.

But week by week, month by month… somehow, he never left. I wondered how his story would end with us.

For a long time, he still felt like Reina’s foster brother more than my dog. Reina was my soul dog. And I’ll always be grateful she helped show him what home felt like. 🤍

But after losing her, Hugs and I leaned on each other through the kind of heartbreak that changes you forever.

I truly don’t know how I would have survived losing Reina without him beside me. In so many ways, I think we were grieving her together. While my whole world felt shattered, he still found ways to make me smile every single day. He still does.

Now the same dog who once came home broken runs down the beach with his best friends full of joy. He plays, cuddles, gives hugs to everyone he meets, and wakes up excited for life. Watching him learn how to just be happy has meant everything to me.

And somehow along the way, this dog who came into my life needing to be saved ended up saving me too.

He teaches me something every day about resilience, joy, forgiveness, and continuing to love fully even after heartbreak.

I officially signed the adoption papers on June 1 last year, but today will always be the day my life changed.

Happy gotcha day to the dog who helped carry me through the darkest grief of my life and slowly taught me how to smile again. I love you more than words, Huggybear. I love spending every day with you! 💛🐻

📍 San Diego, CA.

#RescueDog #gotchaday #fosterfail #adoptdontshop❤️ #rescuedogsofinstagram taken in San Diego, California by @cheerstothedogs

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5 months ago

One thing about me?
If you trust me with your dog, I’m going to love them like they’re my own.

Being able to care for animals truly feels like what I was born to do. When your pets are with me, nothing matters more than their safety, happiness, comfort, and wellbeing.

Every dog I walk or watch becomes my friend. Mine to protect while they’re under my care. They’ll always be met with patience, kindness, love, and probably a few too many compliments from me 🐶💛.

I will ensure your dog or pet has everything they need. If they’re shy and slow to warm up, I give them all the time in the world. If they need more structure or more patience, I’m here for them. I want to do right by your pet, it is the most important thing to me.

I never take the trust people place in me lightly, and I’ll never stop being grateful that this is what I get to do every day.

Thank you so much for the photo 💗 @theeverydaytrainer.

📍 San Diego, CA.

#sandiegodogs #dogwalkersandiego #petsittingsandiego #petcareservices #dogsof_sandiego by @cheerstothedogs

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5 months ago

There’s nothing more important to me than the relationship I build with each dog I walk.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just “a walk.” It’s trust. It’s communication. It’s understanding the dog in front of me and meeting them exactly where they are.

Some dogs want structure and a job to do. Some want to sniff every inch of the sidewalk. Some need a little extra patience, space, and time to feel safe.

And that’s the part I love most.

I’ve been working on building trust with Mila, a shy sweet girl who wasn’t so sure about me at first. Taking things slow, letting her set the pace, celebrating the smallest wins… and now seeing her soften, get curious, and start to trust me? It’s the most rewarding feeling.

This is why I do what I do.

My time in rescue has taught me that every dog has a story. Some just need a little more time to feel safe in the world again. And if I can be even a small part of that for the dogs I work with, it means everything to me.

Every walk is different. Every dog is different. And that’s exactly how it should be.

I just want every walk to feel good for them 💗🐾

#sandiegodogwalker #dogwalkerlife #rescuedogs #positivemindsets #dogsofsandiego taken in San Diego, California by @cheerstothedogs

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6 months ago

Welcoming sweet Sally to the Zen Pet family 🐾💛

Some of our relationships span generations of doggies… and that’s something we hold so close to our hearts. We had the honor of caring for Lennon, a beloved King Charles Spaniel, for years—and while he’s deeply missed, we’re so grateful to now be part of this next chapter.

Enter Miss Sally… tiny, adorable, and already stealing hearts ✨ We had our very first walk with her today and she is just the cutest.

From gentle, mindful puppy care (yes, including all the puppy moments 😉) to longer, heartier walks for our more energetic companions—we’re here for every stage of the journey.

Sally, we’re so happy you’re here 🤍
#TheZenPet #PuppyLove #MindfulCare #DogWalkingLife #petcarewithheart taken in Tierrasanta by @cheerstothedogs

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6 months ago

2 years ago today, Hugs broke 3 legs after jumping off a balcony.

Not an April Fools joke… just Hugs being very committed to the idea that he could fly.

But when I look at him now, that moment feels so small compared to everything he is.

I think about the way he sprints across the beach at sunset with his best friend, like nothing in the world has ever touched him.
That big, signature smile always plastered on his face, like being happy is just who he is.

I love the way he loves.
His people, his dog friends… everyone gets all of him.

The gentle kisses.
The way he leans into me when he cuddles, like he just wants to melt into me and stay there.
Like being close is his favorite place to be.

And the way he moves through the world… you would never guess how much he’s been through.

He’s light.
He shimmers with happiness.
I am in constant awe of his resilience.

And he wouldn’t be here today without the people who showed up for him along the way.

Thank you to everyone at @theanimalpad for not giving up on him. For rescuing him time and time again, showing up, loving him, and carrying him through every part of his story.
For seeing how incredible he is.

To @1510foundation for funding his care, thank you will never feel like enough.

To the surgeons and vets who put him back together and gave him his second chance.

Because of all of you, I get to have this life with him.

And somehow, he found me right when I needed him most… and he stayed.

He’s healed parts of me that felt too broken to fix.
He’s the reason I keep going on the days that feel heavy.
The reason I still find my way back to smiling.

So cheers to you, Hugs.
To the boy who thought he could fly… and somehow still does, just in all the ways that matter.

I love you so much, bud 💛

📍 San Diego, CA.

#hugsthedog #rescuedismyfavouritebreed #rescuedogsrule #healingwithdogs #happydoggo taken in San Diego, California by @cheerstothedogs

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7 months ago

Dogs don’t tell us when it’s too hot.
They just keep going… until they can’t.

That’s why I pay attention to the little things on walks.
The pavement. The sun. Their breathing. Their pace.

After years of working with dogs, volunteering in rescue, and being around all kinds of personalities… you start to catch the signs early. Before it becomes a problem.

Hot weather walks aren’t one size fits all.
Some dogs need shorter walks. Some need shade. Some need to stay home.

And me? I’m not just showing up and walking your dog.
I’m adjusting every walk based on the weather, the dog, and what they need that day.

Hugs has made it very clear his summer preference is beach days only 💛. And honestly… same

If your dog needs walks that are tailored to them (and someone who knows what to look for), I’d love to help.

#dogwalker #sandiego_ca #sandiegodogs #sandiegodogwalker taken in San Diego, California by @cheerstothedogs

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7 months ago

I have some availability for week day walks in my schedule . With over 15 years of hands-on experience with dogs of all sizes, ages, and personalities (including rescues and reactive pups), your dog is in calm, capable hands.

Walk options include:
• 30-minute or 1-hour walks
• Solo walks or walks with Hugs (after a meet & greet)

I also offer training maintenance sessions for dogs who already have a training foundation and need consistency when life gets busy. These sessions can include reinforcing existing cues, calm leash skills, confidence-building, and structured walks that support your dog’s training. I’d love to support you in your dog’s journey.

Every walk is tailored to your dog’s needs, with safety, enrichment, and trust always coming first. Sniffing encouraged, pressure-free pacing, and lots of care along the way 🤍

Send a DM to chat or schedule a meet & greet 🐶

#sandiegodogs #dogwalkersd #dogcareprofessionals #dogtrainingsupport dogwalker taken in San Diego, California by @cheerstothedogs

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9 months ago

This year did not come at me all at once. It came in waves. Loss after loss. Grief layered with exhaustion. My body hurting while my heart tried to keep up. Every time I thought I had found my footing, something shifted beneath me.

I learned what it feels like to survive months at a time. To keep showing up while quietly falling apart. To grieve people, dogs, friendships, and versions of life I thought I would still have.

On the hardest days, I kept going because I went to @theanimalpad and was with the dogs. I watched them heal. I watched them trust again. I felt their joy, their resilience, their love. They asked nothing of me except presence. They reminded me to breathe, to stay, to soften when everything else felt sharp. I truly do not know where I would be without them.

Because of the dogs, I chose to keep learning. I chose to invest in myself when it would have been easier to give up. This past month I completed the Virtual Shadow Program with @theeverydaytrainer, and it changed the way I see dogs, my work, and what I am capable of building. Shoutout to Meg for everything. In the coming year, I will be expanding what I offer alongside dog walking and pet sitting. Work rooted in trust, patience, and truly understanding the dog in front of me. Built slowly. Built with intention. Built for them. More soon.

This year also took me to Italy, Mexico, and the BVI. I found beauty everywhere I went. I explored California more than ever, especially with Kaela, and I am endlessly grateful for friendships like ours that feel like home.

I still have a long way to go. But because of Hugs, because of the dogs who keep choosing love after everything they have been through, and because of my friends and family who never stopped believing in me, and because a lot of hard work on my part, I am standing again.

This year did not need to be productive. It needed to be survived. And I did that.

And as always, cheers to the dogs. 🤍🐾

#hugsthedog #2025reels #petloss #animalrescue taken in San Diego, California by @cheerstothedogs

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10 months ago