Max S.
Max S.
Contact for Boarding
from $55 per night
Highlights
Pet care experience
Treetop retreat for your fur babies
The year before starting on Rover, I had the distinct pleasure of fostering or sitting for 6 foster or neighbor doggies (mostly big pitties). Prior to living alone, I lived with a total of 6 cats and 1 dog since moving to DC, happily being their default sitter when housemates were away. I also grew up with a corgi. I live by myself (no other pets or hoomans) in a 1-bedroom Columbia Heights apartment, located 2 blocks from a park (Bruce Monroe, where I've often taken the fosters for fetch or sniffies) and 4 blocks from a dog park (11th & Bark) in case your dog loves those (or in case we should avoid it!). I'm happy to let your pets sleep in my bed with me, or if you prefer crating, I also have a large crate (28"x42") and fancy myself something of a crating guru. I'm also set up with beds, dishes and food puzzles, toys (dog and cat), treats (dog and cat), chew bones, litter boxes, pee pads, extra leashes/harnesses, etc. I'm not afraid of a challenge, and have experience caring for dogs that have been reactive, mouthy, jumpy, counter surfers, master scavengers, that have separation anxiety, and that have had potty accidents inside. I have (admittedly somewhat minimal) experience medicating cats and dogs, but am happy to do more with your guidance. I love watching episodes of Victoria Stilwell's It's Me Or The Dog and Jackson Galaxy's My Cat From Hell to learn more how to help set up pets for success with positive reinforcement, and am happy to work on training aspects with them. (It's such a joy watching them learn new things!) Note that my apartment is a 4th floor walk-up, so if your dog has mobility issues (or can't be carried), that might be a blocker. There are also some other dogs in my building, some of whom would love to meet your dogs if they're up for that, others of whom are indifferent, and others of whom I know to only greet from afar, haha (I have good rapport with all their owners). Also note that I also don't own a car, but am happy to take Uber Pets if needed for emergencies.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Max is AMAZING! Ripley has had the pleasure of spending long weekends and most Mondays since puppyhood with Max and let me tell you she loves him! He is great with communication, sends lovely updates, and has always ensured our smaller dog is safe and well cared for. We cannot recommend Max enough. Your pet will be in great hands and might even pick up a new trick or two :)
Max is thoughtful and goes above and beyond for my cats! I felt very comfortable leaving for as long as I did with him as my cat sitter. He sent a lot of pictures and gave great updates. Will definitely book again!
Max was terrific! Extremely communicative and gave our dog a wonderful day. Will definitely reach out again!
Max is a one of a kind dog sitter. My crazy dog Jax is typically not the most trusting, especially towards men, but he took to liking Max quickly and would gallop to him the moment he realized I was dropping him off. Max watched Jax for several months and was always professional, kind, caring, patient and consistent with Jax, despite Jax's behavioral quirks. He goes above and beyond when watching pets. For example he acquired a scooter and skateboard to provide exposure and positive reinforcement around those items to Jax. Max is easily worth at least triple his current rate for watching pets and is basically a community fairly god parent to the pets and pet owners of Columbia Heights for what he does. I can't recommend him enough.
We had the unique pleasure of having Max as our Tuesday dog sitter from October 2025 - April 2026, since I had to go back into the office 3x a week. He first started watching our most recent rescue, Jax, before also watching our first rescue, Ori, every week. During their time with Max, they were able to find a good weekly rhythm and routine. He was intentional about balancing playtime with downtime, while also reinforcing training with them whenever possible. Max is a gift of a dog sitter (also just a really rad and kind human) and it has been the pleasure of a lifetime to see our dogs form a special bond with him. We’ll miss him deeply as we move across the country, and I’m sure Ori and Jax will miss their weekly visits with Max, but I’m certain Max will continue to create more special bonds with other pets who have the honor of being in his care. If you’re looking for a new sitter, please consider Max as your number one choice. The updates you receive from him are top tier, as are the pictures and videos he sends of your pet. We’re infinitely grateful for Max and his skills. I can’t recommend him enough.
Max is fantastic with our dog! Our dog always comes home very happy and loves all the time outside playing in the park. Max also gives great updates, and sends very cute photos and videos.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
I am now part of the Great Tech Layoffs, so currently have a very flexible schedule, allowing me to provide your pets with extra attention, or extra walks for dogs, if needed. (I will still have moments of needing to apply for jobs, attend interviews, clean and cook, etc., though most doggies have simply napped through the "Max is at the boring computer again" times.)
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
I've installed childproof knobs on my stove, and all cabinet furniture, bookshelves, and the television are bolted to the walls with safety straps. I keep an eye on any interest your pet may show in my houseplants (high-up philodendron and pothos plants though with potentially accessible vines, and a snake plant on a stand), and will relocate any pots or raise vines if they show interest. I'm very strict about when/which windows are open (e.g. never opening the one that's most accessible to them), and would leave them entirely closed for cats. I also have a muzzle on hand if necessary (e.g. useful when I was applying an ear medication to a dog that was reactive about her personal space). For some dogs, I've kept a separate garbage bag for food-related trash up on the counter to avoid interest in scavenging through the bin.
A typical day
If your pet needs lots of exercise, I'm happy to spend time playing games with them. For dogs specifically, I have a 50ft leash for fetch in the park (if one of the gated areas isn't available), and if dog parks are allowed/desirable, there's one 4 blocks away. For chewers, I have several bones to keep them busy. On dog walks, I tend to take a sniffari approach, letting their noses guide most of the way (while watching out for scavenging attempts). I love trying to work on training exercises with pets (though am not a professional). And I'm always down for a cuddle session (my favorite pet-related activity).