Joshua E.
Alexandria, VA
Services
Prices may vary based on your selections. A booking fee of 11% will apply.
Joshua can care for
Availability
I have a very flexible schedule, which allows me to dedicate plenty of time to caring for pets. I work as a musician and professional photographer, so my hours aren’t tied to a traditional 9–5 job. Most of my work is project-based, meaning I can easily adjust my day around pet-sitting visits, walks, and house-sitting needs. Because of this flexibility, I’m able to give pets attention throughout the day, whether that means morning walks, mid-day check-ins, feeding schedules, or long play sessions. I’m also home often when editing photos or working on music, which makes me a great fit for pets who enjoy company and a calm, steady presence. My routine is perfect for dogs and cats who need frequent interaction, scheduled feeding times, or just someone who can be there reliably throughout the day. Your pet’s needs can easily fit into my daily flow, and I’m always happy to adjust my schedule around what works best for them.
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About Joshua E.
Communication
Dog skills
Safety, trust & environment
When caring for pets, either in their home or just walking them, my top priorities are always safety, consistency, and trust. In Your Home: I follow your routines exactly to keep your pets feeling secure and comfortable. That includes their feeding schedule, walk times, preferred toys, and any house rules you’ve established. I make sure doors are locked, gates are secured, and that your pet never has access to anything unsafe or stressful. I always respect your home as if it were my own, which is clean, organized, and exactly how you left it. Keeping Pets Safe: I take extra care with leashes, harnesses, and doorways to prevent escapes or scares. I also pay attention to your pet’s body language and comfort level, especially with shy or anxious pets. I never introduce pets to new animals, environments, or people unless you request it. Clean, Calm Environment: I maintain a calm, relaxed atmosphere when I’m with your pets, especially important for cats, seniors, and nervous animals. I keep litter boxes clean, water bowls fresh, and make sure your pet has their favorite spots available and stress-free. For dogs, I make walks safe and enjoyable, always avoiding risky areas or unfamiliar dogs. Communication & Transparency: I send regular updates, photos, and videos so you know exactly how your pet is doing. As a professional photographer, you’ll get high-quality pictures that give you peace of mind and a clear look at your pet’s day. Respect for Your Home: If I’m house-sitting, I keep everything tidy, follow your instructions closely, and make sure your home is secure. Lights, blinds, doors, and alarms are all handled according to your preferences. No matter the situation, I treat every pet with gentleness and patience and treat every home with the utmost respect. My goal is for you to feel completely confident that your pet is safe, loved, and well cared for in your absence.
Information Joshua E. would like to know about your pet
Important to Know About Your Pets Ahead of Time To give your pet the best possible care, I always appreciate knowing a few things ahead of time: • Routine & Schedule: - Feeding times, walk schedule, sleep habits, favorite spots, and any house rules. • Personality & Preferences: - Are they shy, energetic, cuddly, independent, or anxious? - Do they have favorite toys, games, or comfort items? • Medical Needs: - Any medications (non-injection), allergies, sensitivities, or mobility issues I should be aware of. • Behavioral Notes: - Do they have separation anxiety? - Any triggers, fears, or things that make them nervous? - Do they react to other dogs or prefer quiet routes? • Social Preferences: - Do they enjoy meeting other pets and people, or do they prefer one-on-one time? • Home Expectations: - Anything specific about your home I should follow, such as gates, doors, alarms, cleaning routines, etc. • Special Instructions: - Anything unique that helps your pet feel safe, loved, and comfortable.
A typical day
A typical day with me is all about keeping your pet happy, active, and comfortable. I adjust the day based on your pet’s personality and routine, but here’s what a normal visit or house-sitting day usually looks like: For Dogs: We start with a nice walk to get their energy out and give them time to explore, sniff around, and enjoy the outdoors. Depending on their age and activity level, this might be a long, steady walk or a shorter, relaxed stroll. After the walk, we’ll have playtime, which includes fetch, toys, tug, or whatever your dog loves most. I make sure they get plenty of attention, affection, and mental stimulation throughout the day. If I’m house-sitting, I spread out walks and play sessions to match your dog’s routine, along with feeding, water refreshes, and downtime. Dogs that enjoy cuddles get all the love they want, and high-energy pups get the activity they need to stay happy and content. For Cats: With cats, it’s all about comfort and routine. I’ll check in on their food, water, and litter box, and then we spend time doing whatever they enjoy, whether that’s playing with toys, quiet companionship, brushing, or simply letting them curl up next to me while I work. I always give shy or anxious cats extra patience and space until they feel comfortable approaching me. Throughout the Day: No matter the pet, I make sure they get attention, stimulation, and affection at the pace that feels right for them. I keep the environment calm and safe, and give regular updates with great photo and video clips (thanks to my experience as a professional photographer). Whether your pet is energetic, cuddly, or independent, I tailor the day to fit their personality. My goal is to make every moment fun, relaxing, and comforting for your pets so they feel completely cared for while you’re away.
Location
Alexandria, VA
Pets
Joshua E. has Star Sitter status
The Star Sitter program highlights responsive sitters who deliver highly rated care and have a history of listing accurate availability and preferences, making it easier for pet parents to find the best care for their pets.
Your Pet’s New Favorite Sitter
Pet care experience
I’ve been around animals my entire life, especially cats and dogs. I grew up in a home with multiple pets, so caring for them has always been second nature to me. I’ve owned both cats and dogs since childhood and have experience with all kinds of personalities, from playful and energetic to shy, senior, and everything in between. I’ve also fostered several cats, helping them transition from rescue situations into safe, loving temporary homes until they were adopted. Fostering gave me hands-on experience with anxious or timid cats, slow introductions, building trust, and creating a calm, stress-free environment. I’m very comfortable with feeding routines, enrichment, litter box care, medication reminders (non-injection), and understanding feline body language. In addition to personal ownership and fostering, I’ve completed many pet-sitting and house-sitting jobs, including several where I assisted my girlfriend in caring for multiple cats and dogs at once. I’ve worked with high-energy dogs who need long walks, older dogs who need a slower pace, and cats who simply want playtime, quiet company, or gentle attention. I also care for a group of pets on a recurring schedule, building trust and long-term relationships with their families. No matter the pet’s personality, energetic, shy, cuddly, or independent, I adapt to their needs. I genuinely love animals and treat every pet as if they were my own, always prioritizing patience, gentleness, safety, and clear communication. And as a professional photographer, you can expect great photo updates of your pets while you’re away. My goal is to make your pets feel safe, comfortable, and well-loved every moment you’re gone.
Cat care experience
Joshua also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.
Reviews
Joshua was very communicative and sent lots of pics updating me on my 2 pups days. He was available last minute during a holiday and was very easy to coordinate with. He was super sweet with my pups, even the old grouchy one liked him.
Josh is was caring and atuned to my cat’s needs and behavior. He gave great updates and shared concerns when he noticed anything unexpected. It gave me a lot of peace of mind knowing my cat buddy was in good hands.
Josh was awesome! He came into the house cool calm and collected and the dogs got lots of pets! We gave instructions on how to work with our pups (larger bully breeds) and followed them to a tee! The dogs loved him and loved the treats he gave as well 😁 They dogs played in the backyard and ran some energy out and by the time Josh left they were sleeping on the floor!
Joshua did a really great job with our shy doggies! Thank you so much, we were able to take a much-needed break knowing that they were in great hands.
About Joshua E.
Communication
Dog skills
Safety, trust & environment
When caring for pets, either in their home or just walking them, my top priorities are always safety, consistency, and trust. In Your Home: I follow your routines exactly to keep your pets feeling secure and comfortable. That includes their feeding schedule, walk times, preferred toys, and any house rules you’ve established. I make sure doors are locked, gates are secured, and that your pet never has access to anything unsafe or stressful. I always respect your home as if it were my own, which is clean, organized, and exactly how you left it. Keeping Pets Safe: I take extra care with leashes, harnesses, and doorways to prevent escapes or scares. I also pay attention to your pet’s body language and comfort level, especially with shy or anxious pets. I never introduce pets to new animals, environments, or people unless you request it. Clean, Calm Environment: I maintain a calm, relaxed atmosphere when I’m with your pets, especially important for cats, seniors, and nervous animals. I keep litter boxes clean, water bowls fresh, and make sure your pet has their favorite spots available and stress-free. For dogs, I make walks safe and enjoyable, always avoiding risky areas or unfamiliar dogs. Communication & Transparency: I send regular updates, photos, and videos so you know exactly how your pet is doing. As a professional photographer, you’ll get high-quality pictures that give you peace of mind and a clear look at your pet’s day. Respect for Your Home: If I’m house-sitting, I keep everything tidy, follow your instructions closely, and make sure your home is secure. Lights, blinds, doors, and alarms are all handled according to your preferences. No matter the situation, I treat every pet with gentleness and patience and treat every home with the utmost respect. My goal is for you to feel completely confident that your pet is safe, loved, and well cared for in your absence.
Information Joshua E. would like to know about your pet
Important to Know About Your Pets Ahead of Time To give your pet the best possible care, I always appreciate knowing a few things ahead of time: • Routine & Schedule: - Feeding times, walk schedule, sleep habits, favorite spots, and any house rules. • Personality & Preferences: - Are they shy, energetic, cuddly, independent, or anxious? - Do they have favorite toys, games, or comfort items? • Medical Needs: - Any medications (non-injection), allergies, sensitivities, or mobility issues I should be aware of. • Behavioral Notes: - Do they have separation anxiety? - Any triggers, fears, or things that make them nervous? - Do they react to other dogs or prefer quiet routes? • Social Preferences: - Do they enjoy meeting other pets and people, or do they prefer one-on-one time? • Home Expectations: - Anything specific about your home I should follow, such as gates, doors, alarms, cleaning routines, etc. • Special Instructions: - Anything unique that helps your pet feel safe, loved, and comfortable.
A typical day
A typical day with me is all about keeping your pet happy, active, and comfortable. I adjust the day based on your pet’s personality and routine, but here’s what a normal visit or house-sitting day usually looks like: For Dogs: We start with a nice walk to get their energy out and give them time to explore, sniff around, and enjoy the outdoors. Depending on their age and activity level, this might be a long, steady walk or a shorter, relaxed stroll. After the walk, we’ll have playtime, which includes fetch, toys, tug, or whatever your dog loves most. I make sure they get plenty of attention, affection, and mental stimulation throughout the day. If I’m house-sitting, I spread out walks and play sessions to match your dog’s routine, along with feeding, water refreshes, and downtime. Dogs that enjoy cuddles get all the love they want, and high-energy pups get the activity they need to stay happy and content. For Cats: With cats, it’s all about comfort and routine. I’ll check in on their food, water, and litter box, and then we spend time doing whatever they enjoy, whether that’s playing with toys, quiet companionship, brushing, or simply letting them curl up next to me while I work. I always give shy or anxious cats extra patience and space until they feel comfortable approaching me. Throughout the Day: No matter the pet, I make sure they get attention, stimulation, and affection at the pace that feels right for them. I keep the environment calm and safe, and give regular updates with great photo and video clips (thanks to my experience as a professional photographer). Whether your pet is energetic, cuddly, or independent, I tailor the day to fit their personality. My goal is to make every moment fun, relaxing, and comforting for your pets so they feel completely cared for while you’re away.
Joshua E.
Alexandria, VA