Dog Walking Venable

“Dakota connects well with our dog Patrick and is able to re-direct him when he wants to just turn around and come home. Our pup can be just one small ball of over excitement and exuberance and they handle that well. Dakota has been very reliable and always lets me know if he needs to adjust the time a bit.”

bonnie.farone@yahoo.com

“Emil is a great dog walker for our needs. We rely on him daily, and never disappoints or doesn't show up. He is a great communicator and is upfront on what he can do. We will continue to book Emil in the future.”

J.B. B.

About: Hello! I’m a graduate student who dearly misses my family pups and would love a chance to share my love with your fur babies 😊 I’m extremely comfortable handling reactive dogs (large or small) and can tailor walks to whatever your pup needs (structured with rewarded commands, loose sniff walks, easy jogs to release energy, etc). I know how to administer medication via mouth/eye/ear and am adept at reading body language to match your pet’s energy and comfort level. I have a relatively flexible schedule but am limited by certain weekly required lectures/events. I am typically free before 8am and after 12pm on weekdays (only after 5pm on Thursdays though) and all day weekends. Sometimes I’m free the entire day, it depends! If you have any questions or want to know if I’m available at a specific time, please just reach out to me and I’ll try my best to work with you. I know it can be scary to trust a technical stranger, but rest assured that I’ll treat your pet as if they were my own. I’m extremely aware of potential safety concerns (toxic food, dart risk with open doors, mobility limitations for small pets, etc) and hold myself to the highest standards both as a professional and animal lover.

“Amy is the best! She is amazing with my dog who isn’t the easiest. She found a loose dog during one of her check-ins with us and even helped that dog/made sure it got to the right people and then spent extra time with mine. 💕”

Micaela B.

“Kris diligently worked to persuade my neurotic dogs to go on a walk with her. She was very patient and understanding with them and I look forward to working with her again”

Barbara H.

“Great communication and timeliness. My dog had a blast!”

christian r.

“Yana is super! My pups stayed with their grammy while I was on vacation but she can't walk them. Yana worked around her own vacation so they could get their walks! She was very good with them and even sent pictures during the walks!”

Summer M.

About: I'm an animal lover, Mom, local business owner, and outdoor enthusiast! I've been surrounded by animals my whole life, and have spent many years fostering, volunteering for rescue organizations and leading dog walks and hikes. When I'm not caring for your pet babies, I'm in the kitchen working as a private chef here in Central, VA! Because I'm self employed with a flexible schedule, your pet won't have to spend long hours alone. I focus on low-stress, individualized attention—no overcrowded group walks or forced interactions. I'm comfortable following strict feeding schedules, giving oral medications, keeping up with active routines, and showing lots of affection, kindness and respect to your animals. Your pet's safety, comfort, and happiness is always my top priority! I'm self employed as a private chef and make my own schedule, so I have the time and flexibility to accommodate your pet needs! The opportunity to spend time with animals and get out of the kitchen into the fresh air is a win-win! I always strictly follow owner instructions and offer a safe, calm, active (when appropriate) and loving space for your pets to find connection while their owners are away.

“Alice was really accommodating by helping me out at the last minute. She was prompt in her responses through the app and send good communications and my dog. Great service! Thank you!”

Joe S.

“Melissa has been absolutely wonderful! She is 100% dependable and very responsive. She has been caring for my two young blue heelers on a weekly basis for several months and I don’t have one complaint. She’s able to manage their over-the-energy and naughtiness without a hitch. I’m so glad and relieved that I found her!”

Gretchen B.

“Kyle and Meagan were just the best! They went above and beyond for our pets and we couldn’t be happier. Will definitely book again! Thank you!!!”

Emily B.

About: Hello everyone! My name is Paige and I am currently a student at UVA and part of the Virginia Polo Club where I help take care of our ponies and play polo! At home, I help care for a Pitbull Mix and a large Australian Shepherd, both weighing around 75 lbs. I am confident in my ability to understand their body language and handle them effectively. Growing up with dogs, barn cats, and horses has equipped me with a diverse skill set when it comes to animal care! I have experience administering medicine, cleaning up accidents, managing reactive dogs, and caring for animals of all ages. For years, I have been doing drop-in visits and overnight stays caring for dogs, cats, and even goats! I’m organized, reliable, responsible, and adaptable to your pet’s specific needs. For the Fall 2026 semester, I am consistently busy Tuesdays and Thursdays midday and for a few hours in the evenings, but am available in the mornings and every other day of the week. If you have any concerns, questions, or clarifications, please feel free to reach out -- I’m dedicated to ensuring the best care for you and your pet(s)! I’m currently a student at UVA but have a flexible schedule during the week and would love to help take care of your animals! I can do overnight stays every day of the week. Unfortunately, I can’t board any pets where I’m living but am more than happy to come to you! Back at home we have 2 medium-large dogs that weigh in at around 75 lbs that I can walk, crate, and otherwise manage. I’m able to notice changes in body language and what they mean. I also have experience feeding and giving medication to livestock and am comfortable dealing with larger animals.

“Such a good caregiver for my baby! Walked him faithfully and always provided pictures. Great with my ever changing schedule, too.”

Holly S.

“Rachael is an outstanding dog walker for my anxiety-ridden older dog. She truly takes the time to build a relationship and trust on each walk - it was clear from the first meeting that she understood dogs. Couldn’t recommend her enough for any pet care!”

Lindsay W.

About: New to Rover, but experienced 5-star house sitters on TrustedHousesitters. My husband Mikhail and I are a married couple based in Charlottesville. I teach high school math online, and Mikhail holds a PhD in Materials Science. We have flexible schedules and spend much of our time at home, which means pets in our care receive plenty of companionship, attention, and consistency throughout the day. Over the past year, we have completed successful house sits in multiple cities, caring for both cats and dogs while homeowners traveled. We have received wonderful reviews for our reliability, communication, and the care we provide to pets and homes. We are happy to share screenshots of our TrustedHousesitters reviews and references. One thing previous hosts often mention is how much attention we give their pets. We genuinely enjoy getting to know each animal’s unique personality and routine. Whether it’s a cat who wants to sit on a lap all afternoon, a playful kitten who wants constant company, or a dog who loves walks and outdoor adventures, we adapt to their needs. We also understand that owners miss their pets while traveling. That’s why we provide regular updates and photos so you can relax and enjoy your trip knowing your pets are happy, safe, and well cared for. We treat every home with the same care and respect we would want for our own, and our goal is simple: to make your time away completely worry-free. I teach high school math online and currently have a very flexible schedule, especially during the summer. My husband, Mikhail, is currently focusing on pet sitting full-time. Because of this, there is almost always someone at home to provide companionship, attention, walks, potty breaks, and care throughout the day. We are able to easily accommodate feeding schedules, exercise routines, medication schedules, and other pet-specific needs. Pets in our care are rarely left alone for extended periods of time. For house sitting, we believe pets are happiest when they can stay in their own home and maintain their normal routine. We take the time to learn each pet’s schedule, preferences, and personality so we can provide care that feels familiar and comfortable. We follow feeding schedules, walks, potty breaks, playtime, medication routines, and any special instructions provided by the owner. We spend a lot of time at home, so pets receive plenty of companionship, attention, and supervision throughout the day. We also understand how important communication is while you’re away. We provide regular updates and photos so you can see how your pets are doing and enjoy your trip with peace of mind. In addition to caring for pets, we treat every home with respect and care, keeping it clean, secure, and well maintained while its owners are away.

“Ireland was available on short notice and great with our dogs. She was on time, loved-on the dogs, took pics of them, and let us know how things went when she was done.”

Rob S.

About: I’ve been taking care of family, friends, and neighbors pets since I was 10 years old. I’ve taken care of animals of all ages from puppies to senior animals. I work at a school, so this is not my full time job. It would be best to contact me directly for my availability and to figure out what works best for you and your pet(s). I prefer to do meet and greets so I can see the pet(s) usual environment and learn more about where I’ll be staying. I never take pets outside without a leash on for safety reasons.

“Camille is awesome! She took our pup for long walks, gave her water and treats, and did everything you could need for an active dog home for a long stretch of time. She's also very responsive/communicative, and was overall just great to work with. She'll be our first call going forward!”

Henry F.

“Emily was very responsive and prompt! She sent photos that cheered me up. Great walker!”

Maya I.

About: I have had pets in my house my whole life - dogs, cats, chickens, horses, etc. I am very comfortable with all animals and I LOVE spending time with them. My family and friends have trusted me to take care of their animals, and I am always up for the task! Additionally, my mom was a vet tech for decades, and I often helped her take care of our animals’ medical needs. I am petsitting on Rover while attending medical school at UVA. I have class 8-12 M-F, but my classes are often recorded and are only sometimes required. I do have required class 1-5pm on Thursdays, so if you need house sitting on Thursdays please keep that in mind. I would love to hang out with your pets and do some studying during down time :) I will not be taking your pets to my home, but I am happy to take care of them in their own! My biggest priority is keeping your animals safe and comfortable, which I feel is best accomplished in the place they call home.