In-home Dog Sitter

If you are one of those animal lovers that always stop strangers on the street and ask to pet their dogs, this might be the profession for you. Dog sitting is a new business opportunity for dog lovers who work at home. Lots of people have dogs that can't just simply left with friends and other family members when they leave home or go on trips. Some dogs require special medical care and 24/7 supervision. As a professional dog sitter, you will take care for people’s dogs while they are away. Similar with fostering a dog, a dog sitter is like a temporary owner. The sitter is responsible for feeding, walking and playing with the dog as well as giving medication if needed. Since professional dog sitters usually have lots of experience with dogs, people nowadays trust them to take care of their fur babies. Pet sitting has became one of the most popular business for starters who love to work with animals. Many websites now offer services that connect dog owners with pet sitters around the country. If you want to become a dog sitter but don’t want to deal with the complicated licensing process, those websites provide an easy way for you to start your business. But before rushing to sign up as a sitter, there are many things that you need to take into consideration. When considering become a dog sitter, many people fail to understand that dogs, like human, requires the same amount of respect and care. Yes, you have a business relationship with the dog owner, but professional dog sitters need to recognize their responsibilities of actually taking care of someone’s family member.

Before starting the business, why don't you take a moment and think everything through. Do you have enough experience with animals or you just feel it’s easy money? Do you have enough time to take care of someone’s dog or it will end up being home alone all day? Are you physically capable of handling certain breed? Are your pets friendly to dogs...etc. If the answers are positive, then we may proceed to the most serious questions: What kind of dog can you sit? What sizes? What ages? If you don't have the energy and time to take care of a puppy, it's best to limit the option to adult dog that is already trained. Dog sitting requires individual attention to every dog. It’s different from the dog boarding kennel or the dog hotels we used to know. It provides better services since it’s in a home environment and there are usually less than 3 dogs per household.

There are several guidelines that could help you to better understand your situation.

What's your lifestyle?

The first thing you may consider is your lifestyle. Most dog sitters work at home while taking care of the dogs. How much time can you spend with the dog everyday? Most owners don’t leave their puppies to the dog sitters, but what if someone has that request? Are you capable of house train the puppy? For the first 4 months, the puppy requires 100% attention since it just left its mother and littermates and haven't adapt to the new environment yet. It's important to train a puppy from a early stage. Your schedule will decide your dog's daily routine. Are you flexible enough to take the dog on a walk at least three times a day? Dogs are social animals that require a lot of interaction with both human and its kind. Do you have time at least once a week to take the dogs to the dog park? If you are not sure about the answers, forget about dog sitting large breeds like husky or even small ones like Jack Russell Terrier and Miniature Pinscher. Those breeds will destroy your house if they don't get enough exercise everyday. In this case, you may consider to limit your sitting options to lower energy level dogs. Some breed, for example Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Maltese and Shih Tzu would be a better choice for someone who does not have a very active lifestyle. All dogs need exercises but these breeds have typically lower energy level. On the other hand, If you consider yourself a sports enthusiastic, high energy dog may be a good buddy to go hiking with you on the weekend. Also, some owners would love to have their dogs go on different adventures with you when they are away.

Where do you live?

The size of your home and the surrounding environment are also important when considering the size of the dogs. Is there a dog park near your house or at least some grass that could let the dog do its business? Is your neighborhood safe to walk the dog? Do you have a yard for larger dogs or highly active dogs? Is there any veterinary near your house? Many people fail to think about these questions before starting the business. Dogs won't chew up your sofa for no reason. Mostly it's because of frustration and lack of exercise. According to dog psychologist many canine behavior problem can be traced to pent-up energy. When a dog is frustrated and bored, it may lead to excessive barking, chewing and even aggression. So, be sure to fully examine your environment before decide what kind of dog you can take home.

How much should you charge?

It really depends on the services you could offer to the dog owners. Some dog sitters would give bath to the dogs and bring them to the dog park everyday, which would add a little extra to the average fee. According to the popular dog sitting website “Dogvacay”, the average rate is about $45 per day with 24/7 supervision and around $35 if the sitter won’t be home all day. The rate for large dogs (40-80 lbs) and giant dogs (80 lbs +) are usually higher than the small and medium dogs.

Get to know the dog and its owner in advance

If you are ready to have the first furry client home, the first thing is to meet the dog and its owner in advance. Dogs, like human, have different personalities. Some are quiet, some are hyper and some may be aggressive. To provide a better service, it’s important to know the dog’s temperament and habits before take it home. For those people who already have pets at home, you should also bring your pets when you meet the owner and the dog. Sometimes adult dogs that are not spayed or neutered can be very territorial. So, in order to prevent dogfight it’s better to know that information ahead.

In-home dog sitting is a great opportunity for any animal lovers that are passionate about starting a home-based business. It not only fulfills the needs of those dog owners that need to be away from home, but also gives the dogs a loving environment to enjoy their short “vacation”.


Source:

"Professional Pet Sitting - A Career For You?" NAPPS. National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, n.d. Web. 11 July 2015.

"Become a Pet-Sitter or Dog-Walker." Entrepreneur. SmallBizBooks, 27 Dec. 2006. Web. 11 July 2015.

Heikkila, Teija. "Starting A Dog Boarding Business." National Kennel Sales. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 July 2015.

Halvorson, Chad. "7 Tips For Great Pet Boarding Business Management."When I Work. N.p., 3 Sept. 2013. Web. 11 July 2015.

"9 Pet Businesses to Start Today." Entrepreneur. N.p., 17 Oct. 2005. Web. 11 July 2015.