Maria W.
Riverside, MD
I love dogs and walking!
Pet care experience
I am the proud dog mom of a rescue poodle! I started pet sitting when I was 12 years old, and I've been in love with animals ever since. I have worked as a vet tech for dogs and cats, and I have also worked with wild animals. I have experience with general pet care -- feeding pets, providing positive behavior reinforcement (i.e. Treats :) ), and giving lots of playtime and exercise. I also have experience with administering oral medication.
Reviews
Maria was very accommodating and helped us out when our work plans changed last minute. Thank you for taking care of our pup!
Our pup Alfie gets so excited whenever we turn the corner to hang out with Maria and her dog Ansel! Thank you for helping watch our dog when we are at work :)
Maria is so wonderful with our dog! She sent us plenty of photos and updates throughout the day and our pup left very happy and tired. We will definitely continue to use Maria for dog sitting in the future!
Maria is great with all sizes and temperament of dogs - younger, older, active, slower, large medium and small dogs. She has strong knowledge of the various dog breed and their traits. Since she has good skills working with dogs both on and off leash, and Maria works well with with cautious dogs and also feisty or rambunctious dogs. Maria is patient and can match a dogs pace, letting them take time to sniff when they like or walking at fast interesting pace. If you want a consistent, reliable dog caregiver you can trust your dog with, Maria is your person!
About Maria W.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I know that being away from your pet can be very stressful for both of you, so I want to make sure that your pet has a fun and relaxing experience and I will care for your pets as if they were my own! Regardless of if I am caring for your pet in my home or in your home, your pet will be showered with love and attention! I will not feed your dog anything that you have not given me permission to feed him, and I will stick to the feeding schedule designated by the owner. For dog walking, I will always be attentive to your dog, for the entire walk, to make sure that he or she is not eating anything from the ground, and I will adhere to your preferences on where you want your dog to be walked. Boarding: I always make sure that my dog is up-to-date on all of his vaccinations, and I hold the same standard of care for any pets that come into my home. For boarding, you must submit proof of current Bordetella, Canine Influenza, Distemper, Rabies vaccinations, and a preventative flea/tick treatment. The humans in the home have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. I will provide a safe and calming environment for your pet. While boarding, your dog will never be left home alone. Our family consists of myself, my husband, and our poodle. Our home is small with no yard but I will make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise (to his/her needs and fitness level) and potty breaks. I live in a two-bedroom home and spend most of my days in the downstairs "office" bedroom but our sleeping bedroom is upstairs so any visiting dogs need to be either comfortable with being carried or comfortable with walking up/down the stairs. Resident Dog: My dog Ansel is at least 4 and a half years old (I got him from a rescue so I don't know his exact age). He is a 28lb poodle with strict food allergies and he takes daily allergy medication. He is very playful but after a bit of playtime, he calms down and he will walk around the house on his own and ignore visiting dogs. At night, he sleeps in our bed and he will snuggle up next to any visiting dogs who are also on our bed.
Home
Information Maria W. would like to know about your pet
I want to learn all about your dog! What does he/she like? Is there anything that annoys/bothers your dog? Does your dog have any food or environmental allergies? Where does your dog usually sleep? Is there anything that makes your dog anxious? I would also appreciate an overview of your dog's routine and schedule.
A typical day
I love taking dogs on walks over a distance and pace that is comfortable to the dog's fitness level. I sometimes make allergy-free, homemade dog treats but I will only feed your dog treats (homemade or store-bought, or provided by you) if it is okay with you.
Services
Maria can host
Maria can watch in your home
Availability
My day starts out around 7 a.m. The first thing I do is feed my dog, and I get dressed while he's eating, and then I take him outside for a 20-minute walk. Our second walk of the day is usually around 1 pm (depending on the weather -- it can be earlier or later depending on rain or hot pavement), but I generally walk him around every 6 hours. He gets 3-4 walks per day. Our day usually ends with a walk around 11 p.m., followed by my dog's allergy medication and a treat. Our dog sleeps in our bed and any visiting dog would also be welcome to sleep in our bed if he or she does not want to be in a crate.
About Maria W.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I know that being away from your pet can be very stressful for both of you, so I want to make sure that your pet has a fun and relaxing experience and I will care for your pets as if they were my own! Regardless of if I am caring for your pet in my home or in your home, your pet will be showered with love and attention! I will not feed your dog anything that you have not given me permission to feed him, and I will stick to the feeding schedule designated by the owner. For dog walking, I will always be attentive to your dog, for the entire walk, to make sure that he or she is not eating anything from the ground, and I will adhere to your preferences on where you want your dog to be walked. Boarding: I always make sure that my dog is up-to-date on all of his vaccinations, and I hold the same standard of care for any pets that come into my home. For boarding, you must submit proof of current Bordetella, Canine Influenza, Distemper, Rabies vaccinations, and a preventative flea/tick treatment. The humans in the home have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. I will provide a safe and calming environment for your pet. While boarding, your dog will never be left home alone. Our family consists of myself, my husband, and our poodle. Our home is small with no yard but I will make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise (to his/her needs and fitness level) and potty breaks. I live in a two-bedroom home and spend most of my days in the downstairs "office" bedroom but our sleeping bedroom is upstairs so any visiting dogs need to be either comfortable with being carried or comfortable with walking up/down the stairs. Resident Dog: My dog Ansel is at least 4 and a half years old (I got him from a rescue so I don't know his exact age). He is a 28lb poodle with strict food allergies and he takes daily allergy medication. He is very playful but after a bit of playtime, he calms down and he will walk around the house on his own and ignore visiting dogs. At night, he sleeps in our bed and he will snuggle up next to any visiting dogs who are also on our bed.
Home
Information Maria W. would like to know about your pet
I want to learn all about your dog! What does he/she like? Is there anything that annoys/bothers your dog? Does your dog have any food or environmental allergies? Where does your dog usually sleep? Is there anything that makes your dog anxious? I would also appreciate an overview of your dog's routine and schedule.
A typical day
I love taking dogs on walks over a distance and pace that is comfortable to the dog's fitness level. I sometimes make allergy-free, homemade dog treats but I will only feed your dog treats (homemade or store-bought, or provided by you) if it is okay with you.
Location
Baltimore, MD
Pets
Maria W.
Riverside, MD