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Derek M.

5.0 out of 5 stars
58 repeat clients
Profile image

Derek M.

5.0 out of 5 stars
58 repeat clients

Contact for Boarding

from $55 per night

These prices are for 1 dog.

Prices may vary based on your selections. A booking fee of 11% will apply.

Highlights

Derek has Star Sitter status!
Enhanced background check
19 years of experience
Can administer medication
Special needs experience
Senior dog experience

Pet care experience

I love your pets like I love mine!

I'm an avid dog-lover and have been my whole life. I go out of my way to pet every dog that I can when I am walking down the street. I love all breeds and see all the great things each dog has to offer. I love giving dogs lots of pets and cuddles, and I will play with them until they are all played out. My golden retriever, Ellie, has had a life-long medical issue requiring a special treatment for her food each morning, so I have experience with dogs that need extra care if it is required. I am available for in-house sitting, overnight stays, and morning visits. I look forward to meeting you and your dogs and having lots of play time with them!

Qualifications

58 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in around an hour
90% bookings with photo updates
Sends updates with Rover Cards
19 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration

Ratings and reviews

5.0
stars
97 ratings
Dog Walking • avr. 20, 2026

Derek M. cancelled a booking within a day of the start date.

Diana S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • juin 09, 2025

Derek and Cheryl were lovely sitters for Mia. She seemed happy and comfortable under their care.

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Thomas L.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • mars 28, 2025

Perfect experience with Derek. Great communication and took great care of my dogs. Both of my dogs seemed verry comfortable in his home when I picked them up.

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Boarding • août 28, 2024

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

Cyril T.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • août 26, 2024

We left our dog Marlo with Derek for the weekend and he was great! He definitely knows his way around dogs and provided us with updates and pics throughout the weekend!

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Tahmineh D.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boarding • août 26, 2024

Derek and Cheryl are very kind and sweet. They took a very good care of our little dog while we were on vacation. They kept in constant communication and made sure our dog, Borzoo, felt comfortable and at home despite his separation anxiety. In the future I’ll definitely leave Borzoo with them.

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Calendar and availability

Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
SMTWTFS

Schedule

I have a full time job with fairly strange hours, so I will prioritize boarding clients, as well as walking and drop-visits within close proximity to Herndon, Sterling, and Chantilly. My wife and I work opposite hours, so fortunately for our clients, there is very little time where they will be unsupervised.

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 2-4 hours

Safety, trust & environment

My wife and I share a spacious two bedroom apartment which has plenty of space, as well as secured doors. Our apartment complex is incredibly pet friendly, and many other residents have pets as well. Our clients will always be on leash when we step outside, but they are free to roam inside the home.

A typical day

Any dog that I stay with will never even know that I'm a completely different person. I will play with them, give them lots of pets and cuddles, and take them on walks throughout the neighborhood just like they would get if they were with their mom or dad. One activity I sincerely enjoy playing with dogs is using a Chuck-It to throw tennis balls as far as I can. I also love to play tug of war with dogs that have lots of energy that they need to let out if permitted.

0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
Dogs over 1 year old
Spayed and neutered dogs only
No females in heat
Crate-trained dogs only
Derek can host up to 2 pets per night
When meeting a dog, I always want to get a good idea of the type of demeanor he/she has. Some of the things I'll ask are whether the dog gets along with other animals, whether it gets along with other humans or children, if it has any medical issues I need to be aware of, and any other questions related to the dog that might be important information. I am welcome to all breeds and do not discriminate against any dog. All dogs are bundles of happiness in my book!
These prices are for 1 dog.

Prices may vary based on your selections. A booking fee of 11% will apply.

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.

These prices are for 1 dog.

Prices may vary based on your selections. A booking fee of 11% will apply.