Dog Walking Silver Spring

About: I’ve trained and taken care of dogs since I was 15(now 32). Have experience with puppy and senior as well as medical needs. Apollo is my 2.5 year old lab who is incredibly friendly to people and animals. Great walking partner! Please let me know if your dog is not good with other dogs. I currently work full time remotely. I’m mostly available on the weekends and week days after 4pm but can sneak out for lunch visits and walks. With experience and genuine care, I offer a safe, structured, and dependable environment where your pets can relax, play, and feel completely at home as well as a great play partner with Apollo.

“Jonathan was great with our recently adopted dog that gave him a hard time. He was calm, patient and adapted to the situation as needed, communicating well along the way.”

Abigail S.

“Victor was great! We needed a Rover at the last minute during the holiday season and he was available. He met up with us the same day to go over everything and communicated the entire time we were out of town. We came back to a very happy dog! We can’t thank him enough and will definitely try to book again if he’s available.”

Aminah B.

“Katherine does an excellent job with Otto. He is a very spirited pup and doesn’t always have the best walking etiquette (we’re working on it!) and Katherine handles it beautifully. He always excited to see her and it’s clear he feels safe with her. Katherine is also punctual, dependable and personable.”

Shannon A.

“Leo has been taking our dog on midday walks twice a week for the past few months. He is unfailingly reliable, communicative and responsive. He lets us know if he is going to be even a few minutes later than usual, even though our dog is low-maintenance and large-bladdered! Leo has given us lots of advance notice on the rare occasion when he was not available for a regular walk (e.g., at the holidays). And he's an all-around nice guy. It gives us great comfort to know that our Jake is getting such excellent care.”

Donna G.

About: I am excited to help take care of your fur baby! I am available for dog walks and drop-in visits. I have been a dog lover all my life. I know many of the dogs in the neighborhood and often find dogs running to me in excitement wanting to meet me. Caring for dogs has always brought be a lot of joy! I grew up with a yellow Labrador retriever as a kid. As an adult, once I was able to afford a dog, my then boyfriend (now husband) and I adopted our dog Hazel, a sweet 50 pound foxhound, from a local rescue organization. I have worked hard to train her well. She has had several medical issues over the years, so I have learned how to effectively handle medications, vet visits, post-op care, and recovery. While I am new to Rover, I have helped care for dogs for years for other family members and friends. I have helped care for many different kinds of dogs from a tiny Maltepoo to a large 70 pound mixed breed dog. I have dog sat regularly for my parents’ beagle, a friend’s boxer mix, and my mother in-law’s miniature German spitz that looks a bit like a Pomeranian. I have also walked many other kinds of dogs including a miniature dachshund and a large mixed breed dog that was mostly lab, pit bull, and husky. Most of the dogs I have cared for are under 50 pounds, and given my size, I am most comfortable with small and medium size dogs unless they are already very good on a leash and not reactive outside. I am very comfortable helping with dog walks, meal time, medications if needed so long as instructions are clear, and play time. Until mid-August, I have lots of availability for dog walks and drop-in care during the week and on weekends except for a couple weekends when I will be traveling. After August 16, I will have more limited availability but generally be available for dog walks or drop-ins on Saturday afternoons and/or Sundays. I always make a point of coming prepared and learning about the dog ahead of time to make sure I know what he or she needs and likes. I talk to the owner to get a sense of what the dog can and cannot eat, what if any medication they take and the dosage, how they interact with other dogs, how they interact with other animals, how they interact with people, and what they do and don’t like. Dogs have personalities like we do, so it’s important to know this ahead of time as best as possible to avoid putting dogs in uncomfortable or potentially dangerous situations. For example, some dogs are very social with other dogs, love daycare or dog parks, and just love to play. Others, like my dog, absolutely hate dog parks and are often skittish around other dogs they don’t know, but love meeting people. Still others may be a bit reactive to certain triggers like certain sounds or smells or other animals that don’t know. The more I learn in advance, the better. It is very important to take the time to build trust with pets and to make them feel safe and loved. I always let a new dog approach me first and pay close attention to their body language. I try to meet them on their level as well. Once I gain their trust, which usually comes fairly quickly, then I can safely play with them and walk them. When out on a walk, I never walk dogs off leash unless in a fully fenced yard or park. The only exception to this is a dog I own and know is trained very well and has exceptional recall even in highly distracting environments. Since our area is fairly urban with lots of distractions, cars, bikes, and other animals, I generally do not think it is safe for a dog to be off leash outside. I also prefer to bring treats on walks and have a mix of training treats and high value treats to help condition the dog to good behavior and keep them focused if there is a risky distraction they need to avoid such as a reactive dog or a stray cat. I clicker trained my dog and find this to be pretty effective. However, I follow the lead of the owner with their training methods and the terms they use for certain commands to make sure the dog feels confident and safe. It is worth noting though that I do not and will not use coercive or negative reinforcement methods such as prong or shock collars, hitting, or yelling at a dog. These methods are ineffective, cruel to the dog, and in many cases they actually worsen stress, aggression, and reactivity in dogs. When on a walk I am very cognizant of hazards to avoid like chicken bones, pesticides on lawns, glass, traffic, animals the dog may chase, etc. I generally do not read or text on my phone while walking so I can focus on the dog and making sure both of us are safe. This is especially the case for larger dogs, since I am only 5 feet tall. Ultimately, when I am caring for a dog as a dog walker or dropping in for a visit, that is the dog’s time. I get a sense of what they like and follow their lead so they enjoy their time. Hounds often like nothing better than to sniff everything outside. Dachshunds usually love to run and make noise. Retrievers often can play fetch for hours. Shepherds and herding breads like border collies sometimes like nothing more than to show off how smart and athletic they are or to herd a group.

“Carmen was great. She was able to accommodate a last minute booking and pivot when needed. We agreed on walks so to ensure her current guest dog’s needs were also met. I really appreciate her promptness and how well she took care of Oreo! Will use her again and recommend to others. Thanks Carmen!”

mekela W.

About: I used to be a manager at a dog shelter which I absolutely loved before moving to a new state. I’ve also grown up on a farm and handled all types of pets from goats, pigs, cows to dogs, cats, hamsters, and fish. I believe every animal deserves to be treated as family not just a pet. I am always home until 3pm when I leave for work, but when I am not home my partner is home. Someone will always be there to take care of your furry or scaly family and will never be left without someone even for a second. They will be welcomed with love, play, and kindness in my home. We will ensure nothing is around that will harm the animal whether it is cables, shoes, food, etc. we will always be around to ensure your pet is taken care of and in good health.

“Sandi was able to step in for me in an emergency situation and I could not have been more grateful. It’s clear that Sandi is an experienced dog walker in the area and knows just where to take the dogs so they can play and have fun. Thank you Sandi!”

Bridget C.

About: During the Covid-19 pandemic, I pet sat and walked dogs full time providing care to puppies, elderly, and special needs pups. I have cared for many different dog breeds and am skilled at meeting their energy level and curating visits individualized to each pup! I have experience administering medications, and working with pups who are vision/hearing impaired. I am currently working a split schedule, so I have availability for visits early in the morning, midday, and evenings that I would love to fill with some animal bonding time! I just recently moved to the area, and miss my old pet care clients! So I would like to rebuild pet care back into my schedule! I will be diligent and follow instructions given by pet parents! I prefer to walk dogs on a harness as it is safer when walking, as it’s hard to break or slip out of.

“Larquana was awesome with our high energy dog Milo. She was timely, sent me updates and photos of Milo looking extremely happy during their time together, and ensured to put all of Milo’s items back in their place which was very helpful and sweet. We will definitely be calling Larquana again.”

Tyra M.

“Thank you for taking care of Sophie. You really tired her out.”

Tommy F.

“I will definitely be asking Joseph to walk Stella again. I was in a tight turnaround to find a dog walker. He responded right away, was happy to help, and took excellent care of Stella.”

Molly W.

“Izy is amazing! She jumped in at a moments notice and was able to walk Indy for me. Thank you!”

Gabrielle B.

“Lindsay was responsible flexible and took great care of the dogs during some awful weather conditions! Thanks!!”

Rob F.

About: I have grown up with a family that took in rescue dogs. As a result, I have a lot of experience walking dogs, cleaning up after them, and bonding with them. I also want to do this job because I love dogs and do not have one of my own! ;) I follow the pet owner's instructions carefully. I provide the pet with TONS of attention, grooming, petting. Typically, pet owners have a specific amount of food to provide the dog, I follow that instruction. I also pay attention to the regimen and recommendations provided by the owner. Pet care fits seamlessly into my daily routine as I have a flexible schedule that allows me to dedicate ample time to the pets I care for. I prioritize their needs, ensuring they receive regular walks, playtime, and affection. When caring for pets in my home, I ensure they feel comfortable and safe by providing a welcoming environment. I have designated areas for sleeping, eating, and playing, and I maintain a clean and organized space. I follow the pet's regular routine as closely as possible to minimize any stress or anxiety. In my client's home, I respect their space and privacy while focusing on the pet's needs. I follow the owner's instructions meticulously, whether it's feeding schedules, medication administration, or specific exercise routines. I also make sure to keep the home tidy and secure, especially when the owners are away for an extended period.

“Danielle is prompt, reliable and generally all around great with my dog. I am always at ease knowing she will be the one to care for my dog. When my dog was acting distraught- Danielle was able to go early in the day and help her. It really eased my mind when I was at work and couldn’t get back in time.”

Erica O.

“This was the first time I booked Natalia to walk my pup. She was very easy to coordinate with and sent me a couple of photos of their walk. I would definitely book her again.”

Kimberly S.

About: I grew up with dogs and have always valued spending time with and caring for them. I still walk, feed, play with, and love my two family dogs, although I am not the primary caretaker. Recently, I adopted my own cat whom I feed and play with daily, change her litter box, etc. I am not able to care for my own dog right now, as I’m very busy with dental school and do not feel ready for one, but I want many of my own in the future and cannot wait to care for your dog(s)!! I’m currently on summer break until mid-August, so I have plenty of availability to care for your pets! During the semester, I’ll still be available on weekends. I will make sure to provide your pets with the best care possible, whether it’s for a walk or a longer stay. I plan to offer the best care depending on the situation!

About: I've taken care of numerous amounts of dogs over the years. I grew up with a dog named Selby! I'm a professional ball thrower, belly rubber, treat giver, and worst of all: poop picker-upper. I work on the weekdays from 9AM-2PM, So I'll have lots of time to hangout and keep your baby company! On the weekends I will almost always be home. I have a fenced in backyard and will be supervising any activity out there. For any dogs I take care of, there's a dog park 2 minutes from me! I don't own a crate, so if needed, you will have to drop one off. There are absolutely no toxic plants in the house, and food is never left out on the counters. I'll also provide regular updates and photos so you know your fur baby is safe and getting plenty of attention :)