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Christopher M.

5.0 out of 5 stars
22 repeat clients
Profile image

Christopher M.

5.0 out of 5 stars
22 repeat clients

Contact for Boarding

from $80 per night

Highlights

Enhanced background check
15 years of experience
Home full time
Can administer medication
Special needs experience
Senior dog experience

Pet care experience

Flexible, Gentle, Trustworthy

Hi folks! Been on Rover for a couple years now, but I've worked with dogs informally since I was a young boy and discovered I had a knack with even the most irascible or anxious pups. In my time in Arizona I was responsible for a dogwalking program linking adults with mental disabilities with the local animal shelters. Since moving to a co-op in NYC the work morphed into caring for the dogs of any number of my friends, then friends of friends, in my home, which then moved into housesitting in client’s homes and all the other varied gigs I do here on Rover. In terms of technique, I lead through positive reinforcement and calm assertiveness, though of course I’m willing to work with your clicker or button system. I don’t engage in traditional dominance, or alpha dog training, because I don’t find it effective. I am able to work with large and aggressive dogs, as well as senior dogs and dogs with special needs. I am also equipped to care for any pet allowed by NY state, so feel free to ask!

Qualifications

22 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in a few minutes
100% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards
15 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration

Ratings and reviews

5.0
stars
111 ratings
Christina A.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Drop-In Visits • Aug 31, 2025

Always a pleasure for our pet and for us as well because Christopher takes very good care of her while we are away.

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Christina A.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Drop-In Visits • Aug 19, 2025

Christopher writes wonderful descriptive narrative of his stay and interactions with our pet. He is very patient and kind especially since our pet is shy and yet very loving. We couldn’t ask for a better sitter.

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Georgina L.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • Aug 17, 2025

Christopher took wonderful care of Pasha and provided plenty of updates and pictures that put me at ease while I was away. He did a great job keeping my high-energy pup entertained and they bonded quickly. Seems like Pasha had a blast on his own mini-vacation!! Thanks so much again.

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V. Maribel r.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dog Walking • Aug 09, 2025

Christopher is a fantastic dog walker, he walked him twice, played and send photos of my dog Milo, I’m so grateful to have found him. I Highly recommend him to anyone looking for a trustworthy dog walker.

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House Sitting • Jul 03, 2025

Christopher M. cancelled a booking 1 day before it was scheduled to begin.

Christina A.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Drop-In Visits • Apr 18, 2025

We love Christopher! The cat especially. He left wonderful reviews and took great pictures. He had a nice connection with our cat and that was a comfort while we were away.

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Calendar and availability

Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
SMTWTFS

Schedule

I'm an actor, so while my schedule was flexible in the best of times, these years with production slowed and outright stopped has meant I can be incredibly flexible. Weekdays are preferred, as I try to save the weekends for adventures with the spouse, but I am amenable to the occasional odd request here and there.

Where your pet will stay

Home characteristics

Lives in an apartment
Does not have a yard
Non-smoking household
Has no pets
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 0-2 hours

Safety, trust & environment

Much of my dog care has involved staying overnight in the client's apartment; often for a week or more, so I have grown quite accustomed to caring for other people's spaces and belongings as though they were my own. I'm an excellent chef, and if you provide me your dietary restrictions along with the rest of the rules of the house/remote control guide, I'll even be willing to leave the house with something delicious in a tupperware or bubbling in your slow cooker. At this time, as I live in a restrictive co-op, I am not able to board in my own apartment. When this changes, I will update my profile. Thank you for understanding.

A typical day

So a book I love is called "Walking Queens," by Adrienne Onofri, and there are a whole series of fantastic neighborhood walks, often highlighting pet-friendly nature trails, parks, and the like. Depending on your location and your pet's stamina/special needs, we'll likely begin our morning with one of the walks from that book, or a modified version thereof, to get lots of mental and social stimulation to start the day. After meal and napping is done, I like to do a bit of indoor enrichment with toys before we go outside to do our business... if the night won't be cold, I'll sometimes keep the midday stroll a bit briefer and focus on indoor play so that I can really help your pet fall into an exhausted slumber by day's end.

0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs
Christopher can host up to 3 pets per night
Let me know what kind of special needs your dog has ahead of time, so I can accomodate them. I assure you, I've worked with aggressive and anxious dogs in the past, so you won't scare me off, but I would like to know particularly about any fear aggression behaviors around eating, any distraction/redirection techniques you already have in place for when your dog loses focus/gets overly excited, and any triggers you've noticed that cause your dog to lunge: perhaps a neighborhood dog-nemesis? ;)
Each sitter joining Rover needs to pass a background check. And by booking on Rover, you can get photo & message updates, 24/7 support, and reimbursement for eligible vet care.