Dog sitting: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering dog sitting

Pet owners hire dog sitters for steady care and peace of mind while they are away. Your care plan, your update routine and your emergency plan are what win trust and repeat bookings.

What customers ask

  • Can you give my dog its medication on time?
  • Will you send me updates while I'm away?
  • What is your plan if my dog gets sick?
  • Will you stay overnight at my home?
  • Can you care for my dog if it is anxious when left alone?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the dog's age, size, health needs, medication, routine and any triggers.
  • Meet the dog and the owner before the first stay, and go through the care plan step by step.
  • Write a care plan that covers feeding, walks, medication, rules for the home and the emergency contact.
  • Send updates at set times with photos and notes, and tell the owner about any change at once.
  • Put the dates, the visit or overnight plan, the updates and any travel in the quote.
  • Ask for the vet's name and phone number, and confirm the owner has approved the vet for emergencies.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of dogs in your care, shown with the owner's permission
  • A list of your services, such as drop-in visits, overnight stays and home sitting
  • Your pet first aid training and the date it was completed
  • Your insurance status and your emergency plan, described in plain words
  • The types of dogs you care for and any limits you set on age, size or health

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a check-in visit before the next trip
  • Suggest a dog routine guide for a client who wants to keep the routine at home
  • Offer a regular sitting plan for a client who travels often

Licenses and permits

A license is often not required for dog sitting, but rules differ by state and city. Keep your business registration, any local business license your city or county requires, and a current insurance policy, and list your training and insurance on your profile.

Questions

Do I need a license to sit dogs for pay?

A license is often not required for dog sitting, but rules differ by state and city. Check your local city or county rules for business licensing, and confirm any rules that apply to caring for dogs in your home.

What do I do if a dog gets sick while in my care?

Call the owner right away, follow the emergency plan, and contact the vet the owner listed. Do not give any medicine that is not on the written plan.

Should I take dogs into my home?

Only if you have the space, the time and the insurance to do it safely. Set limits on the number of dogs and the type of dogs you care for, and put them in your client terms.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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