Dog sitting is when your sitter makes 3 visits per day to your home, while boarding is when your dog stays at your sitters home.

The best option for all pets, including dogs, is in-home sitting. I cover all the duties, responsibilities, rates and surcharges and anything else to help you choose the best dog sitting company for your dog.

What exactly is In-Home Dog Sitting?

There are a number of different type of pet sitting services. In-home sitting is when a pet sitter stays in your home and performs all the duties you would do for your dog or other pets.

This is the best option for dogs that need special care like puppies, senior dogs or dogs that suffer from separation anxiety. It is also a good option for cats, but cats are pretty good with just a single visit per day.

Below I cover all the details that pet sitting companies in Philadelphia provide for their in-home sitting service. You do not need to live in Philadelphia to get an idea of what to expect from in-home sitters in your city.

If you are not sure if you want dog sitting, in-home sitting or boarding, then read my article Definitions of Pet Sitting for detailed descriptions on those pet services.

Hopefully, you already have a dog walker or pet sitter. If you do, then you know you can trust them and they already know your pet.

If you are hiring an in-home pet sitter for the first time, then your sitter will need all the details about taking care of your dog.

Common duties \ descriptions

Here are the most common duties that in-home sitters offer:

• • Expect at least AM and PM feedings and walks, but ask if mid-day walks are included in the price. Not all companies offer a mid-day walk. You’ll have to pay extra for that.
  • Make sure to ask how long the walks are, especially if your dog takes forever to do his or her business. You may have to pay for longer walks.
  • Meals: feedings and walks should be at the times your dog is used to so he remains on a normal schedule.
  • Make sure you are hiring someone to sleep in your home. Some companies only offer pet sitting, but their services page calls it in-home sitting.
  • Most sitters will also water plants, bring in mail, turn lights on and off, take out the trash, etc.
  • Besides meals, they will also make sure your dog has fresh water, administer medication.
  • For larger companies, you should be able to pick your preferred sitter, especially if he or she already knows your dog.
  • Keep in mind, sitters have other dog walking and pet sitting appointments throughout the day. Most note that arrival time is between 7:00-8:00 for both night and mornings.

Rates & surcharges

There are some companies that simply list their rates and what you get for that. Others have surcharges for everything possible. Here are examples of some of the surcharges.

• Major holidays will have a higher rate.
• Additional dogs: expect a per-day surcharge.
• One company in Philly does not include a mid-day walk even though they have the highest rate. Instead, they charge you for their daycare service. Keep that in mind.
• Puppies: You will definitely have a higher rate if you own a puppy.
• Surcharge for reserving a spot in less than 24 hours.
• You may not get your deposit back if you cancel in less than 24 hours.
• If you want more than 3 walks or longer walks, then expect to pay extra.

Take a look at my In-Home Dog Sitting Rates For Philadelphia to see the actual costs and rates to give you an actual idea of pet sitting costs.

Deposits

Asking for a deposit is normal to make sure you get a spot and for the company to keep if you cancel within days of the sitting dates.

• A non-refundable deposit usually equal to one day of sitting.
• The deposit is applied towards the total cost of sitting,
• Some companies require the balance in full within 48 hours of the start of the sitting.

Reservations

It’s always important to reserve your spot well in advance. There are way more dog owners than companies that offer dog boarding or in-home dog sitting.

Schedule as far in advance as possible – 48 hours is usually the minimum to schedule. Some companies ask you to make holiday reservations 90 days, or more, in advance.

Cancellations

I know from my experience that cancellations stink. I’ve lost potential clients more than once when I turned a potential client away because I was already booked – and then I get the cancellation.

Most companies require 24 hours to cancel any services or your deposit may not be refunded. You will need to give at least one week notice if you cancel a major holiday reservation.

Instructions

This is one of the most important aspects of pet sitting or boarding. Some dogs are easy and the notes are “Please feed him and walk him 3 times”. Other dogs require more work.

Make sure to have a list of anything you feel is important for your sitter to know. Here are some examples of things to communicate with your sitter:

• Detailed instructions on how to care for your dog, especially feeding notes and any issues with walking your dog. Aggressive dogs or dogs that go after squirrels are a problem. Let your walker know all of that.
• Location of the leash and collar/harness, toys & treats, bed or crate, etc.
• If your dog requires medication then make sure to have detailed notes on where the meds are, how much, how often, etc.
• Also, leave the contact information for your vet.

Take a look at this article from Canine Journal on Dog Sitting Tips for Parents for some great points.

Final Thoughts

Try to find a company that has flat rates with minimal surcharges. If they do a good job, stick with them for the life of your pets. Also, give them some positive online reviews, testimonials, referrals, and bonuses at Christmas or New Year’s Eve.

The post In-Home Dog Sitting: Dog Sitters That Stay At Your Home appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.

An obvious dog sitting tip is that you want to make sure to have a dog sitting checklist and detailed notes & instructions. Include notes about food, treats, medicine, leash, toys, emergency phone #’s, etc.

I cover the things I need as a pet sitter as well as what I provide for people looking after my pets. My first dog sitting tip is to either hire a professional pet sitter or make sure the person watching your dog is a pet owner.

Dog Sitting Tips For Dog Owners and Pet Sitters

Here are my tips for a first-time pet sitter, professional sitter or for anyone who needs a pet sitter for their dog:

• Make a checklist of the things your dog needs every day
• Write out detailed instructions based on your checklist
• Include emergency, vet and secondary contact information
• Mention additional important notes that your sitter needs to know

I will cover all of these from the viewpoint of both a pet sitter, but also as a pet owner.

Dog or Pet Sitting Checklist

An easy dog sitting tip is to make a checklist. My checklist is always in my head. All I need are specifics on food, water, treats, leash, behavior, and medicine if applicable.

I need to know where the food is, how much food to give and how often to feed the dog or pet that I am sitting. And of course, where the water bowls are.

Next, if your dog requires medicine, I need to know everything involved in administering it.

And finally, where do you keep the leash & harness\collar and how your dog behaves while on a walk.

The checklist helps you focus on the most important things. You want to eventually turn your checklist into detailed instructions for the person pet sitting your dog. Just write down topics like the following:

• Food: 1/2 cup of dry in the morning and evening
  • Food is on a counter with extra bowls, forks, etc.
• Treats: He can one 1 after the walks, or as many as he wants, etc.
• Leash, harness, collar, etc. are near the front door
• His favorite toys are …
• Medicine: (Be very descriptive for this part)
• Additional notes: leave a light on, he tends to pull during walks, contact info for friends and vets, etc.

You know your dog the best, so write down anything that your sitter should know.

Pet or Dog Sitting Instructions

This is one of the most important things that helps me with my dog sitting. I prefer a simple list of sitting instructions for your dog, not a short story. Please keep the notes to one page if you can.

I say this because I’ve had to read 3 pages of notes and things get confusing with that much information. And most people do not edit what they write.

Be specific, detailed and to the point. Consider asking someone to read the instructions to see what they think.

Walking Instructions

Your pet sitter needs to know where your dog’s leash and collar are and when they need to be walked. Make sure to mention any issues like aggression towards other dogs, jumping, pulling, etc.

Include anything the person needs to know to make sure there are no surprises or problems.

Here is a dog sitting tip for owners: If you sometimes allow your dog to be off-leash, DO NOT mention that to your family member, friend or sitter. Your dog may not obey commands as well from someone new to them.

Water, Food & Medicine Instructions

Make sure to have enough food, treats, and medicine while you are away. Leave everything your sitter needs out on a table or counter with extra bowls, spoons, etc.

Include how often to feed them and leave out a measuring cup of some kind. Mention if water from the tap or from a filtered bottle is to be used. I personally give my pets filtered water.

And be specific when it comes to giving your dog medicine. You probably should show them at least once. Add a note to contact you if they don’t understand the medicine instructions.

Emergency Phone #’s

Provide your email and phone number though they should already have it. Consider including the phone number of the place you are staying.

Ask a friend or neighbor if they could help if there is a problem and include their contact information. Also, include your vet’s phone # and address.

Note: I can contact you after the first visit for the first time I pet sit for you. After that, no text messages from me unless there is a problem. If you do not hear from me, that means everything is fine.

Don’t think that constant text updates are an important part of pet sitting. That is a sales pitch that some companies use, similar to the idea of “pack-walks” being great for your dog. Focus on the care, not the communication.

Dog Sitting Problems

Most of the time you will not have any major problems pet sitting dogs, cats or other pets. Other times, the pet sitting is very difficult.

Let me describe the worst experiences I’ve had since starting my pet sitting business in 2008. But regardless of the problem, you have to figure out a solution to any problems you encounter.

Dog Sitting Aggressive Dogs

I met an owner and his Great Dane named Finnegan and everything went well. The client needed 3 pet visits per day for each day that he was away.

At the first visit, Finn was aggressively barking at me as soon as I walked through the door. He was well over 100 pounds. It was a scary situation.

I was able to walk between a couch and a coffee table with Finn on the other side of the table. On the kitchen counter, there was a bowl of his treats. My goal was to make it to those treats, which I did after a few minutes. I had no choice other than trying to calm him with his treats.

Pet sitting tip for aggressive dogs: Always bring dog treats, especially for the first pet visit. And try to get some treats from the owner when you get the keys. Most of the time, the dog will be glad to see you.

Dog Sitting Shy or Fearful Dogs

I have had dogs get away from me three different times, twice with the same dog. It almost happened a few times with other dogs. In almost every case it was because the harness did not fit. And once it was an extremely fearful dog.

It was a loose harness in the case of the dog that got away from me twice and for all other times where that almost happened.

First, for extremely shy dogs, you have to see if you can get the dog out for a walk on your own.

One thing to try is to get the owners to step outside and after 5 minutes or so. Then go in and try to get the leash on the dog get him outside. It would be best if the owners were not visible when you get outside but close if things go badly.

Decline to accept the job if you can’t get the dog on the leash or out of the door.

A couple of tips might help. If you are a man, don’t wear any kind of hat. Some dogs do not like hats. Also, some dogs are very fearful of men. In that case, it would be better to have a woman do the pet sitting.

Shy Dogs

If the owner tells you their dog is shy, or you sense it, check the collar or harness. Put the collar or harness on and check to see if they could squeeze out of it. If the dog can squeeze out of the collar or harness, then see if you can tighten it. If not, you have to tell the owner to buy another harness.

A dog that is afraid of you will be difficult to walk and will try and turn back home. And if the harness or collar doesn’t fit, then he or she will slip out and run back home.

If you are ever in that situation, try to walk around the block. Don’t cross any intersections. That way the dog will run back home without running into traffic.

If you do not notice the loose harness or collar until your first walk, there are some workarounds. You can try twisting a part of the harness to make it tighter. Or try looping the leash thru the harness or collar many times to snug it up.

Dog Sitting Fearful Dogs

As for the dog that ran away by squeezing under a gate, I blame myself and the owners equally. It’s too long of a story, but what I should have done was to see if I could get the dog on a leash with the owners out of the house, as I describe above.

If I had done that, I would have noticed the problem before they left for their trip. This dog was extremely fearful of me.

By the way, the 2 dogs that got away were fine after a bit of a run around the neighborhood.

Nervous Dogs not Eating

There have been two times when the dogs I was watching were not eating. Once was for a dog that I was boarding, and the other was a pet sitting situation. If this happens to you while dog sitting, you have to do whatever it takes to get the dog to eat.

I bought a couple of pounds of pork chops for the dog I was boarding. It was the first time I boarded this dog, so I’m sure he was confused. The pork chops did the trick and the owner reimbursed me for them.

The second situation was a fearful dog named Sinatra who just would not eat his breakfast or dinner. And this was the case over many days. Luckily, his owner had huge dog treats which Sinatra loved. I gave him 4-5 treats after every visit.

This went on for multiple weekend dog sitting appointments. Eventually, he got used to me and would eat his food. Currently, he is a regular daily dog walking client.

It is your job to make sure the dog is safe, happy and healthy. If you have to buy food, then buy it.

Tips for Pet Sitting Puppies

All dog sitting tips for dogs mentioned above apply to puppies, but puppies require a lot more care and work. However, it is unlikely that you will encounter this as a pet sitter as most people do not get a puppy right before they take a vacation. But there is a chance that a puppy owner will need sitting.

Quite often puppies are not trained so walking them will be more difficult. Plus you may have to avoid other dogs if they have not had their final round of vaccination shots.

Just get them to go to the bathroom then bring them back home. You can spend the extra time playing with them in the home to tire them out.

Do not forget to put the puppy back into their crate, den or room. Otherwise, you will find a mess at your next visit. Plus it could be very dangerous for them to free roam the house.

And I’m going to bring back the idea of only using a professional pet sitter or another dog owner. If you have a friend watch your puppy, who is not a pet owner, then they may want to show off “their” puppy.

It’s a bad idea. Just think about it and use your imagination.

Your friend will walk your puppy really far to meet other people. The pup will get very tired, maybe injured. Your non-pet-owning friend will not know to avoid other dogs and probably can’t read other dog’s body language. There is a lot of things that can go wrong.

So the main dog sitting tip for puppy sitting is to only use another dog owner or professional pet sitter. Also, take a look at my article Puppy Exercise Needs for some additional insights. Also read my Tips for New Dog Owners article, specifically the section on dog body language.

Dog Sitting Tips Specifically for Pet Sitters

My first tip for pet sitters would be to not believe the owners 100%. And what I mean by that is if they say the dog pulls a little on the leash, assume the dogs pulls a lot. If they say the dog is a little aggressive towards other dogs, assume the dog is very aggressive.

It is better to assume the behavior is way worse than communicated so that you are prepared for how the dog truly reacts. I have learned that the hard way.

The dog that got away from me was so fearful of me that I could not get close enough to it to put her leash on. The owners told me she was shy but they undersold just how much.

They told me they had a yard that they use for her. I thought I could at least let her out so she could go to the bathroom and slowly build up the trust. But they didn’t mention that there was a gap under the fence.

The dog took off and ran across a 4 lane street. Luckily a woman was able to catch her about 6 blocks away.

They also didn’t tell me that the dog was not so good with men. What a nightmare. They should have told me more and I should have asked more questions.

So tip #1 is assume the owner(s) did not tell you just how difficult their dog can be.

The second dog sitting tip would be to be hyper-vigilant the first time you pet sitting a new dog. You need to know how they react to certain situations and to build trust.

Most of the time the dogs are fantastic. But every once in a while, you have an extremely difficult dog. Do whatever it takes to get through the dog sitting and decide later whether or not you want to keep the client.

Sitting Tips for People Who Don’t Own a Pet

Sitter: It’s not your pet! Act accordingly.

You do not want to make a phone call to your friend with horrible news. Stick to the dog or pet sitting instructions that your friend has left you.

That tip or advice may seem callous or abrupt, but replace “pet” with “child” and see how quickly your focus changes.

Owner: Are you sure? Is there no one else?

I’m a pet sitter. You may think that I’m pushing my profession for selfish reasons. Maybe. But I’ve also heard pet sitting horror stories that are the result of someone who does not own a pet and made the wrong choices.

Only a pet sitter or other pet owner knows how serious they need to be and has the experience to make sure your dog is safe.

If a friend who does not own a pet is your only option, then pick the most responsible friend.

Local Professional Dog Sitter vs. Last-Minute Dog Sitter

Let me ask you a question. Would you use an app to find a last-minute baby sitter? You know the answer is a definitive “NO!”

And isn’t your pet your baby?

I can’t speak for other pet sitters, but I rarely say no to a new client if I get at least two weeks notice. However, I will and have said no when I only get a week or a few days notice for a prospective client. Especially, if the time period in question is when I am very busy, like a holiday weekend.

And if you are an existing client, I never say “no”, even if only given a few days notice. Though that rarely happens. So my final dog or pet sitting tip would be to find a quality professional pet sitter and stick with them.

I hope you have found these dog sitting tips useful. Please email me or comment below if you fell I have missed anything or would like to share your experiences with me. And that goes for pet owners and pet sitters alike. We all want our pets to get the best possible care.

The post Dog Sitting Tips, Checklist & Instructions (Pet Sitting 101) appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.

I found 28 companies that offer in-home dog sitting and I list their rates and the zip codes they service. I also have rates for in-home cat sitting for 14 of the 28 companies.

In-home pet sitting is when a pet sitter stays in your home while you are away. This is great because your dog, cat or other pets are in familiar surroundings. This is better than boarding if you don’t mind someone in your house. And it is way better than using a kennel.

The added benefit is the security of your home. Your pet sitter will come and go giving the appearance of someone home throughout the day.

Zip Codes for In-Home Dog Sitting

To help you choose the right company I included links to each of their websites. I also include the zip code (ascending order) of the service area for 13 of the companies.

You will have to go to 14 of the websites for the companies that service many Philadelphia neighborhoods. Most of them show maps of their service areas or list the neighborhood names. It would have been too difficult for me to convert everything to zip codes. Here is a zip code map for Philadelphia to help you decide if they are in your area.

Also, 2 of the companies do not list the zip code or neighborhood that they service. You’ll have to contact them directly to see if they service your area.

The highest rate for in-home dog sitting is $100 per night, the lowest is $50 with an average of $75. I also have cat in-home sitting rates which are similar though tend to be a little lower.

In-Home Dog Sitting Rates by Zip Code (as of 9/4/19)

19103
Dog School: the in-home dog sitting rate is $65-$100.

19121
The Pet Nanny: the in-home sitting rate is $75 for dogs and $55 for cats.

19123
Pet Parent Allies: the in-home dog sitting rate is $75
Dog School: the in-home dog sitting rate is $100.

19127
Manayunk Pooch Schoochers: the in-home dog sitting rate is $75.

19130
Dog School: the in-home dog sitting rate is $100.
The Pet Nanny: the in-home sitting rate is $75 for dogs and $55 for cats.

19143
P.U.P.S.: the in-home sitting rate is $60 for dogs and $45 for cats.

19145
The Dog Enthusiast: the in-home dog and cat sitting rate is $75.

19146
Dog School: the in-home dog sitting rate is $100.

19147
For Paws Philly: the in-home dog sitting rate is $85.

19148
Phila Paws & Claws: the in-home dog sitting rate is $50.

19152
NE Phila Pet Sitting: the in-home dog and cat sitting rate is $80.

In-Home Dog Sitting Rates for Many Zip Codes

The companies below that service many neighborhoods may or may not offer in-home dog or pet sitting in each area. You will have to check their website to see if they are in your area. I linked to their service area page if they have one:

Fetch Pet Care: the in-home dog sitting rate is $75.

Happy Tails of Philly: the in-home dog and cat sitting rate is $65.

iheartwalkies: the in-home dog sitting rate is $70.

Little Characters: the in-home dog and cat sitting rate is $75.

Monster Minders: the in-home dog sitting rate is $100.

Phila Pet Care Co: the in-home dog and cat sitting rate is $75.

Philly Fit Dog: the in-home dog and cat sitting rate is $72.

Philly Puppy Love: the in-home dog sitting rate is $50.

PHL Pets: the in-home dog sitting rate is $60.

Queenies Pets: the in-home dog sitting rate is $95.

Spotwalk: the in-home dog and cat sitting rate is $89.

Tails of Philly: the in-home dog and cat sitting rate is $60.

Walk It Like A Dog: the in-home dog and cat sitting rate is $80.

Walk This Way: the in-home dog and cat sitting rate is $85.

Here are the two companies that do not provide a location:

Pups on Passyunk: the in-home dog sitting rate is $70. (I assume they are on, or near, Passyunk Ave.)

Super Steps: the in-home dog sitting rate is $70 and the cat sitting rate is $60.

Disclaimer: I am not endorsing any of the pet businesses listed on this page. I do not personally know any of the owners. This is simply a listing of in-home cat & dog sitting rates that I compiled for people needing that service.

Additional Pet Service Rates

I have an article on the rates and cost for every type of pet service. The article is called Pet Service Rates but it also includes other subjects like Philly dog parks, pet-friendly hotels, 24-hour emergency vets, and adoption locations. Check it out if you are interested in other pet services located in the city.

The post In Home Cat, Dog, Pet Sitting Rates for Philadelphia, PA appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.

There are 23 pet service businesses based in Philadelphia that offer dog sitting and list their rates on their websites. That is out of a total of 63 pet service related websites that I have found. However, there are two things to cover when it comes to dog sitting and the rates you are looking for.

First is that there are other sites that MAY offer dog sitting though they list the service under the term “pet-sitting”. I have a separate upcoming article on pet sitting rates in Philadelphia that you should also read if you do not find a company in this article offering dog sitting in your area.

Secondly, there is the confusion, or misunderstanding, of pet service terms when it comes to people who own dogs. Some of the terms used interchangeably, or incorrectly, by dog owners are sitting, boarding, in-house sitting, and dog daycare. Dog walking may also be included in this list. I have a brief definition of these terms on my Services & Rates page. If you want an in-depth description of those terms, then read my article Definition of Dog Walking, Pet Sitting & Pet Boarding.

Brief Definition of Dog Sitting

This article is focused on dog sitting, meaning 3 walks per day with feedings while you are away. Your dog sitter goes to your home for a morning, afternoon and evening visit. Note: I’ve found the most common dog sitting requests take the form of weekends with 1, 3 & 2 visits. What that means is a Friday night visit, 3 visits on Saturday and a morning and afternoon visit on Sunday. If this sounds like what you want, then keep reading. If this is not what you want, then definitely read my posts with descriptions for the other related services.

Notes on the Dog Sitting Rates Table and Companies

Dog Sitting Rates, Fees & Costs

• “Min” values: This is the minimum or standard rate for each company. It may also be a discounted rate for a certain amount of visits per week. If you see a dash under this column, then that company doesn’t have a dog sitting rate for that visit time.
• “Max” values: This is a higher rate that usually includes fees for night or weekend visits. If you see a dash under this column, then the “max” dog sitting rate for that company is the same as the flat rate under the min column.
• Companies with the highest rates: The highest rates may be for companies based in center city where driving and parking is difficult. Everything downtown cost more. If they do not service those areas then I’d say that they should lower their rates. One reason for high rates may be because they prefer one visit time length over another. And so they make the less desirable times a higher rate. I do the same.
• Additional fees: Oh boy. This is where some sites are confusing with so many exceptions that it’s hard to figure out the total cost. I already mentioned nights and weekends, but holidays also fetch a high fee. There are also extra costs for a second dog or additional pets like cats.
• Daily cost: If you are trying to figure out how much your total cost will be, just multiply the min rate by the # of visits per day. You’ll have to also add night and weekend fees for any visits that occur at those times.

Length of Dog Sitting Visits and Service Areas

Some companies give a rate for a visit with time ranges, e.g. 15-20 minutes, or 20-40 minutes. I’m personally skeptical of that. Why don’t they just tell you the rate for the EXACT length of the visit? Somehow I don’t think it will be on the long end if they are busy. Keep that in mind.

Here are some of the service areas that I found for each site. If you see a “+” sign and a number, then that is the number of additional surrounding neighborhoods that the company services. If you know you live close to the service area listed, then they may also service your area. Here is a zip code map for Philadelphia if you are new to the city.

• Center City: Center City Pets, Fetch Pet Care
• Fairmount: Fairmount Pet Service. Fairmount +2: Pet Posse, Philly Bow Wow, Andrew’s Pack
• Fishtown: Mary Pawpins
• Manayunk: Manayunk Pooch Schoochers. Manayunk +2: City of Paws
• NE Philly: NE Phila Pet Sitting
• Northern Liberties +2: Bow Wow Meow
• Rittenhouse: Rittenhound
• South Philly +1: Bark Park, Phila Paws & Claws
• West Philly: Fresh Prints of West Philly
• Companies that service MANY neighborhoods: Happy Tails of Philly, PhilaPets, Queenies Pets, South Paw, Top Tails, Walk This Way, ZDogWalkers
• Unknown (I couldn’t find which neighborhoods these companies service): For Paws Philly, Madeleine’s Paws & Claws, MJS Pet Sitting, Pups on Passyunk

Philly Dog Sitting Rates (as of 9/4/19)

Disclaimer: I am not endorsing any of the pet businesses listed on this page other than my own. I do not personally know any of the owners. This is simply a listing of dog sitting rates that I compiled for people needing that service.

Additional Pet Service Rates

I have an article on the rates and cost for every type of pet service. The article is called Pet Service Rates but it also includes other subjects like Philly dog parks, pet-friendly hotels, 24-hour emergency vets, and adoption locations. Check it out if you are interested in other pet services located in the city.

The post Dog Sitting Rates for Companies Servicing Philadelphia, PA appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.

There are thousands of searches per month by people trying to find reliable and trustworthy services in their area. And finding a dog sitter is just one of those searches. I’m going to cover the best methods on how to find a dog sitter in your area.

In other articles, I cover similar steps for finding dog walkers, pet sitters, cat sitters, dog boarding, and dog daycare in your area. This is the main article with detailed steps. For the related articles, I’m going to refer to the steps here and just give an outline to follow but with additional steps that are particular for the different type of pet services.

By the way, I’m a dog walker and pet sitter so I have a lot of insights in this area. I have to think about methods on how I want clients to find me.

Let’s start off with the assumption that you didn’t wait for the last minute to find a dog sitter. The breakdown of methods I cover are (in order from ideal to “Oops, I forgot to find a dog sitter”):

1. Recommendations from dog owners you know
2. Recommendations from dog or pet owners you meet
3. Online recommendations
4. Smart online research

I’m starting with how to find a dog sitter near you because it is the most difficult one to cover. Not because dog sitters are hard to find, but because, for dog owners, walking, sitting and boarding get lumped together. I believe I am the only dog walking and pet sitting site that actually has a definition of terms section. You can read all the definitions on my Services and Rates page, but I’ll give a brief overview here.

Dog Walking, Dog Sitting, Dog Boarding & In-House Sitting

Dog walking is for people who need their dog walked mid-day while they are at work. That one is simple.

Pet sitting for a dog involves your sitter going to your place to take care of your dog. Dog boarding is when you drop your dog off at a facility or at your walkers’ or sitters’ home. And In-house sitting is when your walker or sitter stays at your place. All three types of services involve feedings and multiple walks a day for your dog. These are the services that get mixed up.

Pet sitting for a dog (or dog sitting) involves two feedings and typically three walks per day: morning, mid-day and evening. Dog boarding and in-house sitting for a dog also involve two feedings and three walks a day, but your dog gets much more interaction than with pet sitting.

Pet sitting is the cheapest option with in-house sitting being the most expensive. Dog boarding costs fall between those two but usually closer to in-house sitting rates. It’s up to you to choose which option is best for your dog. I’m only covering how to find a dog sitter in this article.

Method #1: Dog sitters recommended by people you know

Friends and family

How do you find an accountant, auto mechanic, or plumber? Recommendations! Asking people you know and trust is by far THE BEST method for finding services.

Someone reading this may think that the best way is to find a family member or friend to pet sit your dog. Ummmmm, no. I’m often contacted on short notice by someone needing pet sitting because the person they asked to watch their dog can’t do it. It is a good option, but it’s just not a 100% reliable option.

So call, text or email people you know who own pets. Even if they don’t use a pet sitter, they may know someone who does. Keep in mind that “dog sitting” and “pet sitting” is the same thing. A person who does cat-sitting for one of your friends most likely also offers dog sitting.

Method #2: Dog sitters recommended by Dog Owners You Meet

Do you live in a building with other dog owners? Do you sometimes run into neighbors who own a dog? Grab your leash and take your dog for a long walk. Just start chatting and eventually say something like, “By the way, do you have a dog sitter?” You need to know how to read body language. Don’t bother if the person looks like they are in a rush like in the morning on a weekday.

Also, go to grassy areas where dog owners are sure to be. Check out dog parks, dog-friendly beaches, picnic areas or local parks with hiking trails. Take your dog to places where you see other people walking their dogs.

Recommendations from dog-friendly businesses

How many pet shops are near you? Is your vet near you? I guarantee you they will have recommended pet service companies. The employees at small local pet shops are possible candidates. Or they may have friends who are pet sitters.

I know here in Philly there are dog-friendly bars. Go out for a bite and a drink if you have any in your neighborhood. Ask the owners or patrons if they know any dog sitters.

Recommendations from neighborhood groups

I know there is a Fairmount Running group in my neighborhood. You may have running or biking groups in your town as well. Don’t run or bike? Not the athletic type. There is a group here in Philly called Philly Sport & Social. They have everything from baseball, to kickball to dart leagues. And I believe they are all co-ed. Join a kickball or dart league and start talking about your dog with anyone who has a dog.

The point is to meet as many people as you can to get honest in-person recommendations. These methods may not be that good if you need a dog sitter in a very short amount of time.

Method #3: Online Recommendations

Local community sites and forums like Nextdoor.com is a great option. I often see posts on Nextdoor from people asking for recommendations for various services. Hopefully, there is a section on the site for your neighborhood. This is not as good as face-to-face meetings with dog owners, but you will get replies from other pet owners in your neighborhood.

Another option is pet based sites that list pet service companies. Check out the top three links on my Links page. These sites allow you to search for pet services by zip code without requiring you to create an account. They are resource sites for professional pet based businesses. Just keep in mind that you will only see pet service businesses that pay to be listed on those sites. So it’s not a comprehensive listing of pet service companies in your area.

Method #4: Online Searches

That leaves us with Google – when all else fails, just “Google it”. And now we are back at the beginning: searching for “find a dog sitter near me”. And this may be your best, and only, option if time is a factor. Here are some tips if you waited until the last minute to find a dog sitter: reviews, testimonials and website domain age.

Reviews

You can find reviews on Yelp, Facebook, Google Business and many other sites. Most of the time the reviews are positive, but not all the time. Use low reviews for places to avoid. However, don’t overlook companies that don’t have any reviews. Everyone is busy with things to do. Adding reviews for your dog sitter is rarely a priority. I had to ask my clients to help me out by writing reviews for me. Some walkers and sitters have websites but are not internet savvy.

Testimonials

Many sites, including mine, have a testimonials page with quotes from clients. They may also have photo galleries of the pets they watch. As a result, they will be able to provide references and contact information for existing clients. I don’t get asked for references anymore. I assume because of my reviews, testimonials and my Google Business listing which has my address and contact information.

Age of business

You can check how long the website has been on the internet, which is about how long they have been in business. If the business has been around for a while, you can assume that they must be doing something right.

The footer of web pages often shows a copyright date indicating the age of the site. Or you can copy the home page address and paste it into any Domain Age Checker tool. Mine is 9.3 years old as of August 2018, though I started my business 10 years ago. I created my site in March of 2009.

That’s about it. The best methods are recommendations from face-to-face meetings with other pet owners. I sincerely wish you luck! Please comment below or contact me if you have any questions or different methods of finding a dog sitter.

The post How I Would Find a Dog Sitter Near Me and in My Area, If I Was You! appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.