Going out of town without your dog can be difficult, not to mention stressful. Are they going to be ok? What if something happens to them? Will they eat all their food? Are they going to be in a crate all day long? Using a pet sitting service can help take away your fears of leaving your dog behind when you travel.
This post will look at what a pet sitting service is, why you would need one, the benefits of using one, and a comparison of popular pet sitting services available.
Table of Contents:
Related: Using A Dog Walking Service For Your Pup
What Is A Pet Sitting Service?
A pet sitting service is a website or app used to help you find a pet sitter in your area.
Based on the information you provide, the service can provide you with a list of pet sitters that are available to watch your dog and meet any needs your dog might have.
Why Would I Need A Pet Sitting Service?
Sometimes you just don’t have the time to look for someone to watch your dog. Maybe you just moved to a new area and need to find someone to help take care of your pup for a night or two. There are various reasons why you might need someone to help taking care of your dog:
- Going on vacation.
- You or a family member may be in the hospital or need surgery.
- A death in the family.
- You may need to attend a meeting out of town.
- A new family member is coming home.
What Kind Of Services Do Pet Sitters Offer?
Pet sitters can offer different services to suit your dog and your needs. They can:
- Watch your dog during the day while you are at work.
- Stop by to feed and check on your dog if you get stuck at work or need to attend a meeting.
- Stay over at your home while you are away to watch both your dog and your home.
- Have your dog stay with them while you are away.
- Drive by your house several times a day to check in and feed your dog while you are away.
Pet sitters may offer other services such as dog grooming and walking.
What Are Common Pet Sitting Services Apps Available?
Common pet sitting apps available include:
- Rover.
- Wag!
- Fetch.
- Pet Sitters.
Other sites you can find dog sitting services include:
- Care.com.
- Bark.com
What Do These Pet Sitting Services Offer?
Each of these dog sitting services offer you the opportunity to find a dog sitter in your area.
You are able to search profiles, see ratings and read reviews from people that have used those particular dog sitters to learn about their experiences, and choose the sitter you feel would be best for you and your dog.
What Is The Cost For Using One Of These Pet Sitting Services?
Every pet sitter is able to set their own price for watching your dog.Factors that affect the cost of taking care of your dog include:
- What type of dog sitting service you require.
- Your location.
- Years of experience of your pet sitter.
- Any add on features you would like to book.
- If you would like your dog watched during a holiday or school breaks.
Is There A Fee To Use These Services?
When using a pet sitting app, you may be subject to a booking fee imposed by the app and not the specific dog sitter you choose.
How Do I Know It Is Safe To Use A Dog Sitter Through These Services?
Most dog sitting services vet their caregivers in some way.
They perform background checks and may require a test regarding dog safety. One app even interviews their applicants.
The other service apps that offer pet sitting as part of their repertoire may not vet their sitters as carefully, so you may have to do your own checking.
How Do I Use A Pet Sitting App?
The procedure for using a pet sitting services app varies by the specific app, but generally speaking, you would follow these steps:
- Browse through the profiles of the dog sitters offering services in your area.
- Read their profiles, look at their ratings, and read reviews from past clients.
- If there is a service you may want to add on or if your dog has any medical issues, look for a sitter who is qualified to work with your dog.
- Once you find a few that you like, you can message them and ask them any questions you may have.
- Narrow it down to a few and meet with them. See how they interact with your dog and how your dog responds to them. You can also solidify the price you will be paying for their services.
- If they seem like a good fit for you and your dog, book them through the app.
- If you will be having your dog stay at their home, you will want to see where they live, the conditions your dog will be staying in, and if there will be any other dogs or animals around.
You may want to do your own check of the dog sitter you are thinking of hiring by looking up their name or searching social media.
How Do I Pay For Dog Sitting Services?
When using a dog sitting service app, it is safest for you to pay through the app. This will keep your payment information secure. It will also help in case of any problems that may occur.
Do I Need To Tip The Dog Sitter?
It is customary to tip your dog sitter for a job well done, but not mandatory. Some apps also provide a way for you to tip through the app if you feel more comfortable doing it that way.
Is There A Fee To Cancel A Booking?
Each app has their own policy on canceling a booking. Some won’t charge a fee if you cancel 24-48 hours in advance, while others will.
Check each app’s policy before you book so you are aware of any fees you may be charged in case you do need to cancel for any reason.
Anything Else I Should Look For When Choosing A Dog Sitter?
When choosing a dog sitter for your beloved pup, you will also want to see if the person or company you choose to use is licensed and bonded. Each state has their own requirements and this is something you should look into before beginning your search.
Best Pet Sitting Services Apps/Websites
Here are some common dog sitting apps and websites available to help you choose the right pet sitter for you. All of the information is correct as of this writing, and is subject to change.
Rover
Types Of Services Offered:
Dog Boarding: Your dog stays in the sitter’s home and you get photo updates. Dog boarding is based on 24 hours.
House Sitting: House sitter takes care of your dog while also looking after your home while you are away. House sitting is based on 24 hours.
Drop In Visits. Your pet sitter will play with, feed, and snuggle with your dog as many times per day as you request. This is more like a part time pet sitter. Drop in visits can be either 30 or 60 minutes.
Doggy Day Care. Choose the days of the week you want. Drop off and pick up your dog at the sitter’s house. With this service ? You also get a “Rover card” from the sitter that includes bathroom, food and water breaks, photos and a short note, and when the day starts and ends. Doggy day care is per day. Drop off 7-9 am pick up 4-6 pm. You can arrange different times with your sitter at your discretion.
How To Choose Dog Sitter:
Browse profiles, read reviews, narrow down to a few people, contact them, schedule a meet and greet. If everything is good, book and pay through Rover.
How Each Dog Sitter Is Vetted:
Each walker is thoroughly reviewed by the Rover team. They must be at least 18 years old.
They need to have a profile with photos and testimonials, pass a background check and take a safety quiz.
Each profile is individually reviewed and approved by Rover. You can meet the sitter before you book.
Rates:
Rates vary by date and location. Holidays and school breaks may cost more.
Service Fee:
11% service fee with each booking, not to exceed $50.
How Do I Pay?
Rover uses a cashless payment system and you pay and tip through the app.
Cancellation Policy:
It depends on the sitter’s policy of whether you will get any kind of refund.
Reservation protection:
If your sitter cancels, Rover will work with you to find a replacement.
Extras:
Rover guarantee: reimbursement program that covers from after the first $250 up to $25,000 in vet care due to an injury of your dog, property damage to your home from your dog walker, some out of pocket medical costs to a 3rd party. 24/7 support. It reimburses the cost when the responsible party refuses or is unable to pay.
Wag
Types Of Services Offered:
Pet Sitting, where your dog stays in your own home.
Boarding, where your dog stays in the sitter’s home.
Receive pictures and videos at mealtime, playtime, and snuggles when requested. Each booking includes unlimited playtime, and potty breaks, with video and photo updates.
Drop In Visits: can be booked on demand or pre scheduled. 20 minute visit. Replenish food and/or water, give potty breaks and more. Cost: $14-16
Overnight: pictures and videos of mealtime, playing, snuggles. Cost $48-69. $15 transportation charge if applicable.
Pricing:
Sitters set their own price and varies by each caregiver and the area you live. Wag gets a percentage of what you pay. You can subscribe to Wag premium and have booking fees waived and 10% off all services booked ($14.99/month or $119.99 /year). App allows you to tip your sitter for service as well.
The average cost of an overnight stay is $39-59. Additional dogs cost $24 per night.
Additional fees:
Booking fees and additional fees like a holiday or if a specialty service like grooming is added on.
Cancellation Policy:
If you cancel more than 24 hours in advance, you will receive credits for the full amount of the service.
If you cancel within 24 hours and a caregiver has been assigned, you will receive partial credit.
For drop ins, a $5 fee will be charged.
How To Choose A Dog Sitter:
Similar to Rover. Browse profiles and when you find ones you are interested in, message them.
How Each Dog Sitter Is Vetted:
Caregivers are given a background check and pet care knowledge test.
They must be 18 years of age. Sitters are vetted in their pet handling, safety tests, phone screening, background check.
Fetch!
Services Offered:
Pet Sitting: Stop by your home once or several times a day to give your dog food, water, and affection. They can also play with your pup. You are provided with daily updates with photos/videos on how your dog is doing. They can accommodate schedule changes and last minute changes.
Sitting options include: 30, 45, 60 minute or extended visits.
Overnight Visits: Your pet sitter will spend the night in your home.
Almost Overnight Visit: Your sitter drops by later in the evening to be sure your dog has what they need to spend the night alone. The sitter will then come back into the morning to check on your dog.
Each visit: documented arrival and departure times. Bathroom, food, and water information, temperament and energy level of your dog, photos, videos, and written notes.
Can accommodate last minute reservations.
How To Choose A Dog Sitter:
They match you to a pet sitter based on your needs. You meet with a sitter virtually or in person then choose who you want.
How Dog Sitters Are Vetted:
Dog sitters are given a background check, in-depth interview, and must complete a safety certification program.
Price:
Cost varies by location.
Cancellation:
If the service is canceled between 24-48 hours, you may be charged up to 50% of the service fee.
Extra Features:
Home Security: Only the office and sitter will know your access code or key to your home. Fetch tracks all movements of the key, so if your sitter needs the key to your home, they will put a request into the app in order to get it. If your home has an access code, it will only be available to the sitter during scheduled hours.
Pet Sitters
This is the website of the National Association Of Professional Pet Sitters.
How Does It Work?
You have access to the database of members. Search by zip code to find pet sitters in your area.
Search will give you names of sitters with their contact information and/or website. It will list the type of animals they care for and if they are able to provide medication to your dog.
Each company is independently run. It is up to you to determine if they are a good fit for your dog sitting needs.
Pet parents are also encouraged to apply for membership to receive information and discounts.
Pet Sitters offers a Certification Course that includes areas of pet sitting including: pet care, health and nutrition, and behavior, pet safety, and a pet first aid course.
Care.com
Services Offered:
- Sitting at your house.
- Boarding at caregiver’s house.
How Pet sitters are Vetted:
All pet sitters are screened including a background check and a social security number trace. They review profiles and monitor messages to be sure there is no inappropriate activity. Users are welcome to leave ratings and reviews for services. They offer additional background checks, including driving records, that users can purchase.
Care.com encourage users to do extra background checks, look up pet sitters on social media, and do a search of their address if you will be dropping your dog off at the pet sitter’s home.
How To Choose A Pet Sitter:
Profiles include rate range, services offered, rating with reviews, if they have undergone a background check, and how much experience they have.
Pricing:
Basic Subscription: Free. Set up an account, post a job, view profiles, access to rate calculators.
Premium Subscription: Allows you to contact pet sitters directly, request and have access to background checks, view and reply to messages,
Cost: Rates are determined by the pet sitter. If you use the book now option, you will be charged the posted rate plus a surcharge. If you book directly with the pet sitter, it is up to the two of you to come to an agreement on the price.
Bark
Fill out information about your dog and their needs. Bark.com will send you a list of qualified dog walkers in your area. You can read their profiles and reviews from other users and get a quote or ask additional questions.
Ave price: $30 per visit.
We all hate to leave our dogs behind when we go away and we can’t always take them with us. Using a pet sitting service can help you find the best dog sitter for both you and your dog, helping to ensure your dog is left in the best hands possible when you are not able to be with them.
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.