Used to use Prance Around Pet Services but received a call from their dog walker who locked herself out of our home(even after leaving explicit directions in writing on how to lock the front door - this was not the first time this dog walker locked herself out of my house) and was unable to get in and walk our dog. I was on my way to an appointment for work so I had to cancel my appointment, costing me potentially lots of income, so I could come home and let her in. It took me about 25 minutes to arrive and at that time the dog walker asked me if I still wanted her to walk the dog and I asked if I didn't want her to walk the dog would I still be charged and she said yes so I had her walk the dog. I pay for 30 minute walks and while she was walking the dog I decided to get the dogs food ready and while I was in the kitchen the dog walker and the dog came back after 10 minutes and the dog walker went to use our bathroom. I figured she would take the dog back out for the balance of walk(another 20 minutes) as I'm paying for 30 minutes. About 5 minutes later I heard the bathroom door open and then the front door open and close but the dog was still inside with me. The dog walker just left without saying a word nor walking the dog 30 minutes which is what I was paying for. I then walked into the adjoining room to the kitchen where the bathroom is located and I immediately smelled a horrible smell from the bathroom which was now permeating thru-out the house, that smell was crap! I then tried to eliminate the smell with spray but it didn't work and there was crap on the floor in front of the toilet. Being I couldn't take the smell I left the house with the dog so I could finish the walk myself. Outside I called Cheryl and after a few attempts she finally answered and upon explaining what went on she first told me she didn't believe me and after a few minutes she then said the dog walker was probably running late to her next walk since she locked herself out of my house, even though the dog walker employed by them never called the office to say she was locked out, so that's probably why she only walked my dog for 10 minutes. I can only imagine how many other 30 minute walks I paid for were not 30 minutes. It seemed to me that Prance Around Pet Services could care less about their customers and seem to me, based on an actual experience, that they don't walk the dogs as long as they get paid for. A few days later the owner called and said the dog walker who locked herself out of my house and only walked my dog for 10 minutes has a stomach issue which is why she used my bathroom. As I said to Cheryl a few days before I don't mind her using bathroom but I do mind that my house smelled like an outhouse with crap on my floor and being cheated for what I was paying for. The owner never apologized but she did say based on my complaint about what happened that she was discontinuing our dog walking service and she wasn't going to return our house key if we weren't going to pay for the 30 minute walk that was only 10 minutes. I would highly recommend not using their service but if you do make sure your getting what you pay for as I was cheated. read more

It's always hard trusting a stranger to enter your home and take care of your children (i.e., pets). As a working professional who frequently moves around the country, I have to depend on pet sitting services like the kind that Prance Around Pet Services (PAPS) offers. And, as a person who has relied on the services of numerous entities, I can personally attest to the fact that PAPS has been "THE" top service provider that I have encountered while moving around the country. From the moment I met the Germantown Branch Manager (Cheryl) I immediately felt comfortable trusting them with the key to my home, and the responsibility of caring for my dog. When I first called PAPS to learn about them, Cheryl set up an appointment and actually came to my home. She brought the dog walker that I would be working with and took the time to ensure that my questions were answered and my needs were met. The dog walkers leave daily notes describing the walk, my dog's potty habits, and any notable concerns. They are also willing to follow any particular instructions and/or perform other functions as needed. I've always come to home to a happy and exercised dog. Cheryl has always been very professional. She is very responsive on email and will often respond within minutes. She has also been very personable and very understanding of my concerns. I have used PAPS for almost a year, and have found them to be very accommodating and willing to reschedule appointments without penalties. That is a huge plus with my fluctuating work schedule. Cheryl always plans ahead and will let you know if there was any trouble, or if a different walker will be attending to your pet's needs on a particular day. PAPS appears to have a whole cadre of qualified walkers who can be substituted on any given day, and who also undergo a background check. Your comfort level is increased when you know you can count on PAPS to do the right thing. If you are the type of person who cares enough to do the homework to find a good pet sitting service and reads these types of posts, then do yourself a favor and call PAPS! I'm sure you'll find them to be as delightful as I have. read more

If you're looking for a dog walker, I highly recommend Prance Around Pet Services. I started using Prance Around in December 2013 and they have taken excellent care of my dog, Louie, ever since. When I first got Louie, I was very hesitant to have a stranger come into my house while I was away. I took a chance and hired Prance Around to walk Louie while I was at work. I'm glad I did. One day, during one of his daily dog walk visits, Louie was acting strangely and refused to go out for his walk. Worried that something might be wrong, I got an email AND a phone call at work from Cheryl, the Germantown branch manager. She alerted me to the problem and even offered to take Louie to the vet for me. Luckily, Louie is doing fine, but I am much more at ease now knowing that the Prance Around team is looking out for him. In addition to their great care of animals, Prance Around also provides great customer service. It is easy to schedule visits through their online portal and they are incredibly flexible if you need to make a last minute change. On several occasions, I have requested a schedule change (sometimes less than 24 hours in advance) and they never give me a hard time. In fact, they are always ready and willing to help me out. This is especially convenient for someone, like me, whose work schedule is constantly changing. In my research of other dog walking services, I found that Prance Around's prices are comparable to other companies that provide similar services. I have not tried out their pet sitting services, but I would trust them to take care of Louie if the need ever arises. Based on my experiences with Prance Around, I believe that they really care about their clients, both canine and human. I don't normally post business reviews on Yelp, but I felt that this company really deserved to get my 5 star rating. read more

"From the first time Cheryl shook our dog Funny's paw, Prance Around became a calming force in our home." - Simon C. The folks at Prance Around have provided outstanding service since our very first conversation with Cheryl in October 2013. We were in the middle of a move and needed a dog walker on very short notice. By very short I mean I called Friday, needed service to start Monday and Cheryl came for the consultation while we were unpacking the truck on Saturday. From the first time Cheryl shook our dog Funny's paw, Prance Around became a calming force in our home. In the months since then we have fallen in love with the service provided by Cheryl, Lynne who primarily walks Funny, and most recently Queirra who filled in while Lynne was out of town. We know they take fantastic care of our little guy while we're at work each day and have always responded to questions and schedule changes in a very timely manner. Prance around has recommended dog treats, provided toys, and even took out our trash one day, just because they thought it needed to go out. I can't say enough about how wonderful everyone has been and I highly recommend the Prance Around team any time I hear someone is in need of reliable pet care services! read more

We began using Prance Around Pet Services when our cat started exhibiting separation anxiety if we went out of town for short periods of time, and have been quite happy with them! Prior to their first visit, Cheryl came to our home to meet Shawnee and learn where all of her supplies are kept. Due to our schedules, they only came for 1 day at a time for the first few trips (we had several weekends away), and Shawnee did not exhibit any separation anxiety and seemed to be completely fine- simply having them in the house to feed her, scoop out her litter box, and most importantly, play with her seemed to have the effect we needed. We recently took a longer trip, and had the Prance Around staff come in every other day while we were gone. They did a great job with Shawnee and also brought in the numerous packages we unexpectedly received while we were gone. Shawnee clearly missed us while we were away, but did not exhibit any of the extreme separation anxiety behavior. There were no accidents on the floor, and we weren't closely stalked upon our return home. The Prance Around staff also takes pictures and leaves detailed notes for us upon our return! We will continue using them for all of our future short and long trips. read more

I have two cats and have been using Prance Around cat sitting services for several months now. They are fantastic! From my very first interactions with them, they seem very professional and organized. We left for a week-long trip, and I received email updates while I was away. When we returned, the cats seemed happy, the plants were watered, and the mail was taken in. In addition, there was a hand written note from the caretaker about how the cats did while we were away. Cheryl at Prance Around is very quick with email replies and really goes above and beyond to make sure that my cats are well taken care of. Recently, I left for a weekend trip, but realized that I forgot to clean the litter box before leaving. I sent an email to Cheryl at 11pm on Friday night requesting service and got a response within minutes. She was able to schedule someone to visit the cats the next day. I'm so glad to have found these guys and they have made my life a lot easier. I wholeheartedly trust them with my cats. read more

I have never had a dog, and realizing that when my husband I both have to be away for work we would need help, research began! We looked all over and decided that Prance Around seemed like a good fit. We met with Cheryl and after feisty puppy Jack jumped all over her with excitement, I was sold. We found out Brad would be our walker (or walkee, as Jack just wants to play) and Jack seems to love him. He leaves us a note to let us know what happened that day. We have been with them for about 5 months now and I could not be happier, as Jack gets a backyard let out and a little play time. Scheduling is a breeze, I always receive confirmation right away and payments were easily set up online to pay the invoices. I also got updates when Jack was sick, which to me meant the world-even though they did not have to do it. I can go to work knowing Jack will be in good hands and not stress at all. Thank you Prance Around! Couldn't be better. read more

There are no reviews less than 5 stars for these folks, and that's for good reason. We have a big sweet dog and three cats, so planning to go out of town can be nightmarish. But not anymore. Cheryl (the Germantown branch manager) is very communicative and helpful. I got a great vibe when I met her, and felt safe trusting her and her company with my house key. She communicates by email and phone, whatever you are comfortable with. She's laid back. She tries to help whenever you're in a bind. And of course, let's not forget that the animals don't seem to notice that we're gone anymore. We pay $25 per visit for the sitter to walk the dog, feed and water everyone, and spend a little time loving on whoever is willing. I'm so glad we looked elsewhere (after a mediocre experience at an expensive boarding facility) and found our pals at Prance Around! read more

Awesome Pet Service! Prance Around Pet Services has been great! I came to Maryland for work, and along with me came my dog. I knew I'd need help with my dog's care while I was away at work and thought I'd engage Prance Around Pet Services for some mid-day dog walking services. I'm very happy with my them, and enthusiastically recommend them. Interactions with Cheryl and her team have been an absolute pleasure. Chery's set up a really to use portal to manage service. Also, I've had the pleasure of meeting my dog's regular walker on several occasions, and she (Pam) has always been really friendly and personable. I've seen my dog happily head out the door for her walk with Pam for her walk, and I'm very happy that Prance Around Pet Services is there to help me take care of my pet. Thank you Prance Around Pet Services! read more

I've lived in Maryland for 5 years, and for 5 years I was always a nervous wreck about leaving my dog with anyone that I didn't know...so much so that I would drive my dog to family in NC! Prance Around pet care has stepped in and exceeded my expectations on every level. Cheryl was so nice and pleasant and sat right on the floor with my dog upon her initial home visit...and my dog loved her. You can tell they want details about your pet and go out of their way to make sure that they will be taken care of while you are at work or away on vacation. They are quick to reply to emails and you'll always know which sitter you'll have in advance. They keep track of potty breaks and leave custom notes for each day. Would highly reccommend them to anyone in need of reliable pet care! read more

We have used Prance Around many times over the last several months and are very happy with their services. Cheryl, Lynne, and Amy have each cared for our two cats for various lengths of time. They visit them twice a day for feedings and playtime and have even administered medicine to one when something came up last minute. During longer trips, upon request, Cheryl has provided us with email updates every couple of days to ease our minds while we're away. When we return we're always happy to read the detailed report the Prance Around team leave us about their daily visits. I highly recommend Cheryl and her team. She is always quick to respond to calls and emails and we know that while we're away our pets are in good hands with her and her team. read more

I highly recommend Prance Around Pet Services! My daughter and I have been using this company for dog-walking services on a weekly basis for the past 4 months. We have been very favorably impressed with the quality of the services that our dog Mus has received. Mus has been assigned a regular dog walker who is extremely reliable and caring. The owner of this company has also been a pleasure to work with. The online portal makes scheduling and canceling services very easy, and the company's cancellation and other policies are all extremely reasonable. My daughter and I are fully confident that Mus is getting excellent care that is well worth the reasonable price of 20$ for a full half hour walk. read more

We use Prance Around at least twice a week and have been for several months now. The first meeting is an easy yet thorough process to get to know you and your pet. Cheryl made sure that the staff at Prance Around had all of the information they needed to adequately care for our boxer, Kyla. The staff is experienced and professional and I am certain that they treat Kyla like one of their own. They are easy to coordinate with and work around our schedule with no issues. I've been home a few times when our regular walker, Megan, comes to take her for a walk... Kyla does the same happy dance for her that she does when I come home. So I know the Prance Around crew has become part of the pack :) read more

I get very nervous leaving my dog all day, but I love knowing she is in good hands for her walks. My dog has some issues with her hips, and come to find she has also issues with her elbows, I'm glad they take all that into consideration. My dog Mia was walked by Megan who was great, but recently Yvonne had started walking and she is just wonderful too. Cheryl will even send me pictures of Mia that Yvonne gave her from the walk and it just warms my heart to see her happy. She is less on edge when I get home since she is a very highly active German Shepard/rotty mix. I'm really thankful for prance around and their great services. I will continue to use them and their services! read more

We use Prance Around Pet Services for both our greyhound and our cat and have always been impressed by their service. We love that they use an online scheduling site to make scheduling appointments a breeze and their monthly invoicing is very convenient since we only have one bill to pay each month. Their pricing for services is also very reasonable. Our pets have always been well cared for and even our anti-social cat has warmed up to their caring sitters. Cheryl, the Germantown branch manager, is always available when we need to schedule last minute appointments. We very much appreciate the feedback notes they leave after each visit. read more

After a great deal of research and searching, we have finally found the best pet service in the area. With elderly ailing pets (cats, dog and bird), Prance Around has provided caring and kindness in our time of need. The availability of online scheduling, with the ability to add additional updates to medications, needs/changes and updates on our pets and invoicing in today's busy schedules is unique and technologically advanced. Always a speedy response to emails and any concerns. We don't know what we'd without the loving kindness shown to our precious pets when a vacation is planned or a day out is scheduled. Kudos to Prance Around! read more

Cheryl is fantastic to work with. Her and her team took great care of my three girls while I was out of town. I had never had in home pet sitting services before, and Cheryl took the time to stop over before we left town, visit the girls, get the 'lay of the land', review feeding and medication instructions, and really just eased my overall nervousness of leaving them. She provided daily pictues of the girls with a status report for each visit. Any time there was an issue or they had a question, they did an exceptional job reaching me. I will be using their services for my girls for all my pet sitting needs. read more

We rely on Prance Around to care for our young, highly energetic golden retriever when we travel or leave Abby for an extended day out. Prance Around's communications is superb -- informative, timely, warm & helpful. Abby's primary dog walker, Kim, is a delight and clearly loves dogs and cats. We love Kim's pet sitting reports (a standard Prance Around practice) giving us a detailed personalized account of Abby while we were away. I like supporting this exceptional local family business (superbly managed by Cheryl Rhodes) and feel lucky to have them right here in our Germantown community. read more

After much research on pet sitting services, I decided on Prance Around Pets and am so glad I did. They get a consistent 5 star rating for a reason. Kristen took wonderful care of my cats, left a detailed note about her visits and even sent pictures. Cheryl was great at helping me get set up with the service-very professional yet so friendly and helpful. Prance Around truly cares about the animals in their care. Whenever I have to leave town I know they will be in good hands. I recommend them to anyone looking for an excellent, caring pet sitting service. read more