Dog Walkers & Vacation Care
Most of those listed below offer multiple services. So, look through all of the categories to find what you want. Please let us know your experiences with anyone listed. Here are tips to help you evaluate these businesses.
For dog walkers/sitters:
- Ask for references. Make sure there will be one person walking or sitting with your dog, rather than different people each time.
- Ask how the dog walker/sitter would deal with specific situations, such as your dog barking at another dog or peeing in the house.
- Find out whether more than one dog is walked at a time.
- Once you have hired someone, leave detailed instructions, and go over verbally: your dog’s routines; your veterinarian’s and your own contact information; medications; frequency of feeding and treats; what is allowed and what is never acceptable, such as “We never yell or use leash corrections or other physical corrections. Use only the harness and leash I have left for you when walking my dog.
For Facilities:
- Visit to see if it’s clean. Notice whether dogs are barking non-stop or if you hear staff yelling.
- Ask about: staff experience, training and turnover; staff to dog ratio; whether someone is on the premises 24/7; if the dogs stay in rooms or are kenneled; where dogs eliminate and, if taken outside, how often; if there is contact between dogs and, if so, how dogs are grouped for play; how many dogs are together in one room; medical procedures; and methods to control the dogs, such as the equipment used to walk the dogs, how jumping and barking are handled, etc.
- Make your own preferences clear.
Board & Train:
We also have a Board & Train section. These are places that your dog can stay while also working on skills or behavior. Most are in the trainer’s home, and the trainers all use positive methods. You will need to continue working with your dog at home, but it could be a great option to get started on training.
In-Home Boarding
Big Foot Walking Company
Jude & Dave Evans
[email protected]
Jude: 301-325-2473; Dave: 301-370-5889
Boarding at their home in Damascus; pet walking; vacation pet sitting.
MoCoPup
Carey Benadon
MoCoPup.com
[email protected]
301-655-5757
B&B-style boarding on eight acres in Dickerson, MD. Limited number of dog families boarding at the same time. Pick up and drop off available.
Dog’s Day Farm
Matt & Kelly Brown
dogsdayfarm.com
[email protected] or [email protected]
240-449-9993
Outdoor and indoor active day care and boarding at a farm in Gaithersburg. Boarding dogs are supervised 24/7 with a variety of sleeping arrangements (mattress, raised dog bed, couch, cubicle, etc). Pick-up and drop-off service in Gaithersburg, Damascus, Montgomery Village, and Laytonsville.
Your Pet Retreat
Jeanne Lishia
[email protected]
240-565-3601
In home pet care in Silver Spring. Large fenced property, supervised play and private indoor space for each dog. Special needs dogs welcome. Supports non-profit rescue.
Your Dog’s Second Home
Lorrie Van Akkeren
301-946-0275
In-home boarding in Wheaton.
Pet Pal Services
Maureen O’Shanesy
[email protected]
301-512-8281
In-home boarding and pet visits in Hyattsville, Takoma Park and northeast DC. Accepts special needs dogs (geriatric; blind or deaf; raw or special diet; incontinent; diabetic or needing other shots).
Zen Boarding and Grooming
Sabina Poinelli
[email protected]
703-945-5301
Pet-sitting services in cage-free environment in Sabina’s home with supervised care for dogs under 20 pounds. Specializes in boarding senior and fearful dogs.
Puppy ‘Stay & Train’ Camp
(Laurel, MD)
Jen Boyd-Morin, CPDT-KA, PMCT1, FFCP
Play & Train Dog Behavior
playandtraindogs.com
[email protected]
Force/Fear Free Board & Train for puppies, 10 wks – 5 mos. Your puppy lives in the home of a certified professional trainer who is Fear Free certified in boarding & daycare. Only one boarder at a time allows us to provide individual care, including sniff walks, enrichment, and appropriate play & rest on 2+ wooded acres, including two fenced yards and indoor playroom. Program includes training of foundation skills, socialization outings, lifetime access to our education portal, a hand off training session, and more!
Mostly Dog Walking/Vacation Care:
Fetch! Pet Care of Silver Spring
Jaime Deason
fetchpetcare.com
[email protected]
301-850-1274
Private dog walks, pet visits, vacation services, and dog boarding (in our sitters’ homes). Serving Greater Silver Spring and Takoma Park.
Honeypaws Dog Walking
Jennifer Silvertree
[email protected]
240-242-5728
Weekday recurring mid-day dog walking and drop-in play visits in your home in Potomac, southwest Rockville and northwest Bethesda. Specializes in large dogs. Experienced with reactive dogs and positive reinforcement training.
Daisy’s Pet Service
Joan Rogers
daisyspetservice.com
[email protected]
240-441-1322
Dog walking and pet sitting in the Potomac area.
DogOn Fitness
dogonfitness.com
[email protected]
301-717-1026 (MD)
703-627-4462 (VA)
Active exercise or more leisurely walks; in-home boarding; vacation pet sitting or pet visits in Maryland (Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville, Kensington, Chevy Chase) and Virginia (multiple locations).
Pet and Home Care
Kira Hale
petandhomecare.com
[email protected]
855-227-3669
Dog walking and pet sitting in client’s home in Montgomery County. Boarding and day care in Clarksburg.
Wild At Heart Pet Care
Kathryn Blanco
wildatheartpetcare.com
[email protected]
202-213-1165
Vacation & overnight pet sitting; mid-day dog walking or running; pet taxi; waste removal. Serves most of Montgomery County, including Silver Spring, Bethesda, Takoma Park, Rockville, Potomac, Gaithersburg; Prince Georges County, including Hyattsville, Cheverly, College Park, Mt. Rainier; and parts of DC.
A Walk in the Park
Amy Stevens & Noelle Donati
awalkinthepark.net
[email protected]
301-654-7275
Dog walking and midday potty breaks, pet sitting, pet taxi, and pet supply delivery service in Montgomery County. Regularly accommodates last minute requests.
Pet Sitting by Patricia
Patricia Beatty
petsittingbypatricia.com
[email protected]
301-229-4774
Mid-day dog walking / running and vacation petsitting in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, northwest DC.
DogCentric
Rob Albert
dogcentric.com
[email protected]
301-275-8752
Dog walking services in northwest DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Rockville.
Forest Glen Pet Solutions
Pamela Gallo
[email protected]
240-687-8444
Midday walks, pet sitting, home boarding, pet transportation. Serves Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Garrett Park, Takoma Park.
Passionate About Pooches
Annette Swain
[email protected]
240-242-5DOG
Dog walking in Kensington, Bethesda and Garrett Park.
All About the Dog
Jan Ebert
[email protected]
301-547-5589
Morning and midday walks and pet sitting in the Kensington, White Flint and North Bethesda area. Last minute is ok. Good with administering meds.
Happy Canines
Kelley Carpenter
[email protected]
301-503-2377
Dog walks all over Montgomery County. Midday, on call with short notice.
Patrick’s Pet Care
Patrick Flynn
patrickspetcare.com
202-630-7387
Dog walking in northwest, northeast and southeast areas of DC. Day care in Brookland and Columbia Heights. Fear-free grooming. Enrichment, exercise, and training walks; socialization visits for puppies and TLC visits for elderly or disabled pets. Patrick is a certified force-free dog trainer, as well as a certified fear-free dog groomer, and is pursuing a second master’s degree in clinical animal behaviour. All of the staff at Patrick’s Pet Care fulfill continuing education requirements to hone their skills and enhance their knowledge, and he gives them time and money to do it.
Colby’s Dogcare & Spa
Michael Pastreich
colbysdogcare.com
[email protected]
202-481-4848
Boarding, training, daycare, and grooming at Colby’s facility on K St, NE. Four play areas that separate dogs by size, energy level, and temperament. Staff training and supervision by a positive trainer. Could work with trainer while boarding.
Paw Prints Around Town
Lindsey Paige, CPDT-KA
pawprintsaroundtown.com
202-489-5278
Mid-day walking and pet sitting for dogs, cats, chickens, exotics, and fish in Northwest DC, Takoma Park, Chevy Chase, and Silver Spring. Red Cross First Aid for dogs and cats. Fear-free certified.
College Park Pet Sitting & Dog Walking (C-Pup)
Shannon Sanford
c-pup.com
Click for Contact Page
301-699-1133
Dog walks & overnight pet sitting. Serves College Park, University Park, Hyattsville, Riverdale, Adelphi, and surrounding areas.
Prance Around Pet Services
Joelyne King
prancearound.com
[email protected]
240-515-4985
Dog walking, pet sitting visits, overnight care, pet taxi, and yard waste clean-up services in Germantown, Laurel, and surrounding areas.
Jen’s Gentle Pet Sitters
Jennifer MacQuillan
JensGentlePetSitters.com
[email protected]
443-691-9319
Dog walking, pet sitting, overnight care & pet transportation in Anne Arundel County.
Unleashed Joy
Beth Joy, PMCT, CPDT-KA
unleashedjoy.com
[email protected]
410-404-6492
Pet sitting at your home most of the day (only leaving for errands) in the Baltimore/Washington area.
Board & Train
Urban Canine
(Gaithersburg, MD)
Jessica Remi Lamb, CPDT-KA
urbancaninetraining.com
[email protected]
571-338-2009
Puppy Sleep-Away Camp for puppies up to 18 months old. Your puppy will stay with a certified trainer, a select group of other puppies, and well socialized adult dogs. House training, socialization, early problem prevention, and obedience cues. For the older puppies, also impulse control, good decision making, problem issues, and manners.
Canine Lifestyle Academy
(Union Bridge, MD)
Meghan Burton, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP
caninelifestyleacademy.com
[email protected]
Puppy Day Camp for puppies 8 weeks to 6 months of age. Pick up and drop off available within the local area (Mt. Airy, New Market, eastern parts of Frederick, Libertytown, etc.).
Unleashed Joy
(Mt. Airy, MD)
Beth Joy, PMCT, CPDT-KA
unleashedjoy.com
[email protected]
410-404-6492
For puppies 6 months and under. A minimum of two week stays with meetings beforehand and afterward to develop plans for training and maintaining the new skills. Work on basic manners, puppy behavior, and impulse control. Continued advice by e-mail or phone for up to six months. Only one puppy at a time. The puppy will live in the home and interact with other dogs and people. Pet sitting in your home also available.
Like Magic Dog Training
(Ellicott City, MD)
Liz Cummins, CPDT-KA, FFCP
www.likemagicdogtraining.com
[email protected]
Both full week and weekday board and train programs available addressing puppy development, manners, reactivity, anxiety and more – in addition to customized training and field trips throughout their stay, your dog will come home with access to an online course relevant to their goals and a personalized webpage with details of their stay alongside their included hand off coaching sessions. Brush up board and trains and boarding stays available to existing clients.
Walking With A Friend
(Gainesville, VA)
Roni Campbell, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
walkingwithafriend.com
[email protected]
703-975-9055
Boarding and day care with a trainer while working on needed training skills. Limited to one dog per two week session.
Puptagon
(NW Washington DC)
Eric Faulkner
puptagon.com
[email protected]
202-627-2077
Board & Train and Play & Train programs for puppies or adult dogs. Dog(s) must get along with other dogs off leash. One and two week options with private In-home session upon completion of program.
Coventry School for Dogs & Their People
(Columbia, MD)
thecoventryschool.com
410-381-1800
Day care & boarding for day care clients. Individual “suites”; 24 hour coverage. Positive training classes & consults. Grooming.
Beechnut Kennels
(Edgewater, MD)
beechnutkennels.com
[email protected]
410-798-4304
Boarding for dogs and cats in a smaller, quieter facility. Daycare included; outdoor play yards and indoor playrooms with a large variety of interactive toys and equipment; fear-free grooming. Playtime with staff is available for dogs needing special attention or handling . Relationship-based interactions and treat rewards used for redirection, training, and confidence building. Training can be arranged while boarding. Contact trainers Phyllis Saroff or Alexis Bond.
