Dog sitting: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What dog sitting is

A dog sitter cares for your dog at your home or at the sitter's home while you are away. The sitter feeds, walks and supervises your dog, and the care is planned around your dog's routine, health and comfort.

Signs you need it

  • You are travelling for work or leisure and need your dog cared for in its usual routine
  • Your dog does better in a home setting than in a kennel
  • You need a sitter who can give your dog extra attention and company
  • You have a dog with medical needs that require a steady routine and close attention
  • You want a sitter who will send updates while you are away

What the pro does

  • Meets you and your dog to learn its routine, its food, its medication and its triggers
  • Sets up a care plan with feeding times, walk times, and any rules for the house or yard
  • Feeds, waters and walks your dog on the agreed schedule
  • Supervises play and rest, and keeps your dog away from hazards in the home
  • Gives medication only as you have written it on the care plan, and records each dose
  • Sends you updates with photos or notes and tells you about any problems right away

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The number of days and nights of care, and whether the sitter stays overnight
  • The number of dogs in the home and how much attention each needs
  • Whether the care is at your home or the sitter's home
  • How many walks and visits are included each day
  • Whether medication, grooming or special feeding is part of the care
  • How often you want updates during the stay

What a written quote should spell out

  • The dates, the times and the number of nights of care
  • Whether the care is at your home or the sitter's home, and any travel fees
  • The walks, feedings and medication steps included
  • Whether updates, photos and an emergency plan are included
  • The cancellation terms and what happens if the dates change

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Are you insured, and do you have pet first aid training?
  • Will you follow my dog's medication and feeding plan exactly?
  • What is your plan if my dog gets sick, hurt or lost?
  • Can you show me how you have cared for dogs like mine?
  • How often will you send updates, and how do you send them?
  • Do you have other pets in your home, and how do you keep them separate?
  • What rules do you have for visitors, other dogs and the yard?

Red flags

  • Will not meet your dog before the first stay
  • Does not ask about your dog's medications, allergies or health history
  • Leaves your dog alone for long periods with no check
  • Keeps your dog in a crate or a small room for most of the day
  • Does not have an emergency plan or a vet they will use

What you can do yourself

You can prepare for a sitter by writing a clear routine with feeding amounts, walk times, medication steps and your vet's contact information. Leave a spare leash, your dog's bed and a few favorite toys. Hire a sitter for any overnight stay, any dog with medical needs, or any trip where your dog will be alone for long hours.

Licenses and permits

A license is often not required for dog sitting, but rules differ by state and city. Ask for proof of pet first aid training, a current insurance policy and a written emergency plan.

Dog sitting questions

Should my dog stay at the sitter's home or mine?

It depends on your dog. Dogs that are anxious when left alone often do better at home with a sitter, while some dogs enjoy a home with other dogs. Ask the sitter which setting they recommend for your dog.

What should I leave for the sitter?

Leave the written care plan, the food, the medication with clear labels, your vet's phone number, a key and a spare leash. Note any triggers or things your dog is afraid of.

How do I know my dog is safe?

Ask for updates with photos, check the sitter's references from owners with dogs like yours, and make sure the sitter knows the emergency plan before you leave.

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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