Pet Sitting & Drop Ins in Columbia Heghts, Arlington, VA

“Margaret did a let out of our pups while we were away for the day and did an amazing job. We had not even met her and she was able to handle everything perfectly through written instruction. We will definitely use her again.”

Rebecca M.

“Daniel has been an awesome drop in sitter. Extremely reliable and a great communicator. I am happy to have his services for the duration of my stay in NOVA!”

Lucas S.

“Tara was really helpful when she agreed to drop in to help feed and walk pixel. I’m really happy pixel made a new friend and I recommend using Tara for any service”

Andrew & Lynn T.

“Esther came by every Monday and Wednesday around 1 PM for 30-min drop-in visits to spend time with our two Labs, Bailey and Dakota. During each visit, she let them out in the backyard to potty, gave them their pre-prepped lunch, refilled their water bowls, and then stayed to be present with them petting, playing, and keeping them company. Because I’m in school and my parents come home later, we were very selective about choosing a sitter. We don’t like our dogs to be alone for more than 3-4 hours, and from the moment we met Esther, it was clear she was the right fit. Esther has a genuinely warm, affectionate energy with dogs that can’t be faked. When we first met her, her focus was immediately on the girls….touching them, playing with them, and engaging with them naturally. It never felt like “just a job.” She clearly loves being with the girls, and that showed from day one. She was always reliable and honest. Esther consistently showed up on time, and on the rare occasion traffic delayed her, she let me know immediately with an exact estimate then stayed the extra time to make up for it. She followed all instructions exactly as shown and prioritized the most important tasks like water, lunch, and potty breaks, which gave me tremendous peace of mind while I was away. Her honesty really stood out to me as well; she once took responsibility for a broken light bulb, even though I was fairly sure the girls had caused it while playing. Her willingness to take responsibility, even for something small, spoke volumes about her character and made me trust her even more. Esther was also excellent at respecting the girls’ boundaries and communicating clearly. She always checked in if something unusual came up and asked before taking action. For example, when Bailey tried to steal Dakota’s Kong, Esther asked if it was okay for Bailey to have it. When I said no, she calmly handled the situation, told Bailey to leave it, and removed the Kong, later explaining exactly what she did. That kind of attentiveness and follow-through mattered a lot to me. I noticed positive changes in the girls while Esther was caring for them, especially Bailey, who seemed calmer and less anxious. The girls clearly grew attached to her; on one day when I canceled a visit because I stayed home, they waited by the window around the usual time Esther would arrive, clearly expecting her. She also consistently sent photo updates and let me know how the visits went, flagging any issues rather than glossing over them. She was always responsive when I checked in. Esther was professional and respectful of our home, and she was also very understanding when plans changed. Even when I had to cancel a visit on short notice due to an unexpected vet appointment, she was gracious and kind, simply responding that it was no problem. I would absolutely rebook Esther and plan to do so next semester in January. I sincerely hope we fit into her schedule after winter break. She earned my complete trust, and I would confidently recommend her to anyone looking for a dependable, caring, and genuinely thoughtful dog sitter. Thank-you, Esther!”

STEPHANIE B.

“Shannon did an AMAZING job helping us when we needed a last minute drop in visit. She took such good care of our pup, providing lots of play, cuddles, and not giving up when our front door was a pain to unlock and I was being terrible about checking my phone. Couldn't reccomend more!”

Shelly T.

About: I had a large breed dog for many years and am comfortable with dogs of all sizes. I did all of my late pup’s training from the beginning, and worked with her through dog reactivity (so not a deal breaker for me!) a in a loving and constructive way, and I deeply loved taking her for long walks and hikes. My husband is equally a dog lover, and has had dogs his whole life- and is consistently the favorite of most dogs, no matter how many treats I use to bribe them with! Any pup in our care will be the only dog of the house and have dedicated attention- to include long walks, a fenced yard to themselves, and couch time- in a safe and personalized environment. I am also well versed in enrichment activities and agility training if your dog needs extra mental stimulation- and of course lots of cuddles and affection! With workplace flexibility, they will be able to enjoy backyard time but will also enjoy lots of attention and will follow any directions to the letter. I know how important it is to have confidence in your best friend’s sitter! While I work in office, I am able to work half days in the office when watching your pet and they can either enjoy a shady backyard with a high fence or stay in the temperature controlled house. My husband currently works from home meaning your pup will not be lacking for company and attention! Weekends are free for us to explore or relax depending on their personality and needs! We have a high fenced backyard and no other pets or children. While we welcome two pets from the same household, I will not combine pets from separate houses ensuring they get the personalized experience and schedule that is the most comforting for them! In my clients’ homes, I will maintain their regular schedule as requested and am comfortable taking them to/from any usual daycare they might enjoy if that is requested with my own transportation. No matter where I watch your pet, they will be loved and comfortable!

About: I’m a reliable, caring pet sitter with hands-on experience caring for dogs and cats of all ages, sizes, and personalities. I’ve provided daily walks, feeding, playtime, medication (when needed), and lots of love and attention to keep pets happy and comfortable while their owners are away. I understand that every pet has unique routines and needs, so I always follow care instructions closely and prioritize safety, patience, and positive reinforcement. Whether it’s energetic walks, calm companionship, or extra cuddle time, I treat every pet as if they were my own. I currently work from home so have plenty of time to spend with your pups. Whether it’s a long walk or good play time, I look forward to keeping up with your dogs needs! I live in an apartment building with 2 stories so plenty of room to play. I also have easy access to grassy areas for dog walks. I have a cat in the home who is quite adaptable to other animals, especially dogs. I stick to a feeding schedule twice a day and am happy to accommodate based on preferences.

“Maggie was awesome. She was great with both cats and dogs and is a great communicator and extremely reliable - especially as she was pulled in last minute. I would absolutely book with her again.”

Gail G.

About: I’ve owned my dog for 8 years and have volunteered at dog shelters as a dog walker for over 7 years. I have also completed Pat Miller’s Level 1 dog training academy. I have experience with reactive and fearful dogs. I work full time, but I can walk dogs on my lunch break or after work. I use force free training and positive reinforcement with my dog. I use force free training with my dog, so I’m not comfortable with choke/prong/shock collars. I use positive reinforcement to get the desired behavior. I have experience with reactive and fearful dogs.

“Kristina, was above and beyond with Max! This was our first time leaving Max with someone else and I loved the great communication, pictures, and I felt at ease with her work! Thank you for everything!!”

Mariela F.

“Richard was consistent, communicative, and friendly. I can tell he really loves animals and always thought my cat was in good hands!!”

Adam S.

“This review is late but HIGHLY RECOMMEND Nani! We loved how she was able to tire out our highly energetic labradoodle. She kept up well informed throughout the entire visit via text and photos. We absolutely will rebook with Nani again.”

Chantel J.

“Andrea was super responsive from booking to the day-of and followed directions to a tea. She shared multiple photos even from a quick home visit which was appreciated. Our puppy was very happy!”

Ashley B.

“Nicole is a wonderful dog walker. You can tell she really cares about your pet. She is also very reliable - always shows up and is very communicative via the app. Shelby enjoyed her walks/runs with Nicole!”

Geeti B.

“This is the first time we have used Rover for our cats, we were really nervous. From the moment we met Sarah, our nerves started to calm, and we were able to feel totally confident during our time away that our pets were safe and cared for. Sarah sent very detailed summaries of her visits, which allowed us to not only maintain confidence in our choice with this sitter, but gush over our fur babies from afar. I can 100% recommend Sarah for your pets!!!!”

emily w.

“I’m so glad I had Claudia drop in on my cats while I was out of town. She was very helpful since this was my first time using rover. We met twice before my drop in dates so I could ask questions and then walk through my home to show her where everything was. I can’t wait to use her again!”

Laurana R.

“WOW! Aimee took such great care of our kitty while we were away. She came for multiple daily visits and sent detailed updates with great photos. She truly went above and beyond our expectations to make sure our cat was well taken care of and I felt so much better knowing Aimee was there for her. I will absolutely be using Aimee for any future travel.”

Elle S.

“Sent amazing pictures and was very communicative and able to accommodate my last minute request to watch my cat! I would highly recommend her and book with her again.”

Erin C.

“Ciara was great! We were gone for a couple of days and needed someone to check in on our cats. She was communicative and the cats were well taken care of while we were gone.”

Rachel D.

“Carol was extremely nice and sweet to my senior dog, who is extremely picky and temperamental. Carol was very communicative and you could tell she genuinely cares about animals. I would absolutely book her again!”

Traci L.