Dog Walking Takoma Park

“Dealing with Nadia was a delight. She is easygoing, professional and quite nice. She dealt very well with our dog and our dog did excellent with her. We will certainly be booking her services again and we are very grateful.”

Rasha H.

About: I’m a dependable and compassionate pet lover with over five years of hands-on experience caring for dogs and cats. Since 2020, I’ve helped care for my family dog and have regularly pet sat for friends and family, including daily check-ins, feeding, walks, playtime, administering medications when needed, and providing overnight care while they’re away. I’m also a foster volunteer with the Human Rescue Alliance, where I’ve cared for senior dogs and helped them adjust to new environments with patience and consistency. I understand that every pet has a unique personality and routine, and I do my best to make them feel safe, comfortable, and loved while their owners are away. Whether it’s energetic puppies, senior dogs, or independent cats, I’ll care for your pets as if they were my own. I’m a dental student with a flexible schedule. My schedule gives me open blocks of time throughout the day for walks, drop-ins, and quality time with pets. I’m also available in the evenings and on weekends, making it easy to accommodate boarding or extended care. Your pet’s safety, comfort, and routine are my top priorities. I take the time to learn each pet’s individual needs, including feeding schedules, medications, exercise, and any special instructions. I’m experienced caring for dogs and cats through fostering, family pets, and pet sitting for friends and relatives. Whether I’m caring for your pet in your home or mine, I’ll provide plenty of attention, playtime, updates, and lots of love so you can have peace of mind while you’re away

“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: 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.

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.

“Communicative, on time, and even took my pup a bit longer bc she had extra energy one day.”

Jocelyn W.

About: Currently my brother and I are working from home and don't mind having your dog here to accompany us. We love furry guests! I've had/watched dogs all my life ranging from teacups to great Danes, we love them all! Working from home 5 days a week (introverts for sure) we are available most week days and weekends. Our morning and afternoon walks for its nothing to add your fur baby! We have pups and dislike crates so I let them roam the house. If the house is too foreign I will limit them to the room im occupying with occasional backyard fun and 20/30 min walks. I also send pics daily/hourly depending on owners comfort level.

“This was my first time using Rover and was in a tight spot after my go-to walker was out of town. Andrew was more than we could have asked for. Our dog is an anxious fellow but took to Andrew immediately which really gave us peace of mind.”

Tanya K.

About: Hi! I'm a passionate animal lover dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and loving care for every pet I meet. My love for animals comes from personal experience, I rescued my own cat when she was just 3 weeks old and bottle-fed and cared for her until she grew into a happy, healthy adult. Whether your pet needs walks, playtime, overnight care, or just some extra attention while you're away, I'll make sure they feel comfortable, loved, and well cared for. I understand that every pet has their own personality and routine, and I'm committed to providing personalized care that meets their unique needs. I treat every pet as if they were my own, and you can count on me to provide dependable, attentive care and regular updates for your peace of mind. I look forward to meeting you and your furry family members! Before beginning my move abroad, I'm dedicating my time to doing what I love most: caring for pets. Because I'm currently between jobs, I have a flexible schedule that allows me to give your pet my full attention, whether that's sticking to their routine, providing plenty of playtime and walks, or simply keeping them company. Your home is your sanctuary, and I will treat it with the utmost respect and care. I am committed to following all of your instructions and household rules diligently to ensure your pet's routine remains consistent and your home is exactly as you left it. My goal is to provide dependable, trustworthy care so you can have peace of mind while you're away.

“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.

“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.

“Reliable, great communication, and follows instructions!”

Elizabeth M.

About: I have a lifetime of experience caring for dogs, cats, and other small animals! I love all animals and will take care of your fur babies like my own! I’m a teacher and work M-F during the school year and am available for overnight stays, before school, or after school. In the summer I am available throughout the day. I am available for overnight stays as requested. I am happy to feed, water, scoop, play, and snuggle with your kitties as much or as little as you prefer.

“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.

“Jordan was great. Available on short notice, very professional, and flexible! My shy dog warmed up to her quickly and they had a wonderful time together.”

Robin M.

About: I have cared for pets since I was a child. We've had our own fur babies and also fostered many rescues from the street. I did this especially when we lived in Morocco and Jordan, where many stray animals could be found lost in the streets. Over these years I have learned to understand animals and notice their personality traits and quirks. I love them all! I work from home so my schedule is very flexible. I am often also available on short notice. I am willing to keep pets at my home or come to yours. I have a cat but she is very friendly and easy going with dogs. If a dog or cat I am caring for needs some space or if they don't get along I keep my cat upstairs, and put up a baby gate if needed.

“Elina is walking my dog, Pomme, on a weekly basis and she has been amazing. She's always on time, communicative, and is able to get a sometimes stubborn pup to take a walk and use the bathroom. She also is genuinely excited to hang out with Pomme!”

Jeffrey H.

“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.

“Rachel was awesome with my two dogs. She sent lots of photos and was super helpful cleaning up after one of the pups ate a pillow and left feathers all over the living room.”

Nicole K.