Getting ready to leave and prepare your dog for overnight dog sitting?
If you're anything like me, you're tempted to leave a big long list for the pet sitter all to ensure your dog is just as happy with the pet sitter as they are with you.
In this post, you'll learn all about how to prepare for your dog's overnight pet sitting experience.
Overnight Dog Sitting Near Me
There are a few options you have for pet care when preparing to leave town. These options include overnight boarding, drop in visits from a pet sitter or overnight, in-home care for your dog.
Most dogs will be the most comfortable if you hire someone to come to your home. This may not be true if you have a dog who is very territorial or aggressive, but most dogs prefer to keep their routine and welcome the pet sitter into their home.
When the pet sitter comes to you, your dog can sleep where they normally sleep and feel comfortable throughout the day. Your dog will be able to stick to their normal schedule as the pet sitter should be following the routine you ask them to.
Related: Puppy Sitting | 7 Tips for How to Hire The Right Pet Sitter
For example, if your pet normally eats at 6am and has 4 scheduled potty breaks throughout the day, your pet sitter should offer to stick to that schedule, or an agreed upon alternative.
It's up to you to decide if your pet sitter should stay in the house overnight. Some dogs are happy to just have drop in visits, while others may appreciate the company of their overnight guest.
If having someone come stay in the house while you're gone is not an option, the second best option would be for the dog to stay with someone who they already know, or for them to stay in a place they have been before.
This is a good option if you have a family friend who your dog has met and been to their house, or your dog regularly visits a groomer who also does boarding.
Related: 4 Effective Tips for Boarding Your Dog for the First Time
This way, the dog is familiar with the environment and the people, and is therefore less stressed while you're out of town.
How much to pay a friend for dog sitting?
If your friend is dog sitting, or you've hired a friend's kid to come pet sit, the payment amount is up to you and the relationship you have with that person.
*In my professional dog sitting experience, real friends pay the real rates because they understand your value, want to support you, and want quality care for their dog*
However, the amount due for pet sitting is totally up to you and the pet sitter. Whatever you and your friend decide to do, agree to the terms BEFORE your dog goes to stay with them.
Overnight Dog Sitting Rates Near Me
There is no standard rate for dog sitting. So the rate you're able to offer your dog sitter will depend on several factors:
- Experience level
- Are you hiring a 13 year old to come feed your dog and let them out? Or is your pet sitter a licensed vet tech, trains dogs, or has a lot of hands on experience?
- Distance
- Is your pet sitter in your neighborhood or the next town over? Consider the gas cost your pet sitter will need to put in.
- Whether your pet sitter is a business, or just sitting as a side hustle
- If they are a business they likely have less wiggle room and may tell you what it would cost for them to come pet sit.
- How many dogs you have
- The number of dogs and their individual needs will increase the cost of pet sitting.
- How many pets you have
- Are you asking the pet sitter to pet sit for one dog, eight cats and a turtle?
- Any other tasks you want them to complete during their stay
- Do they need to take the trash out? Get the mail? Clean? Laundry?
- Whether they are staying at your house overnight or if they do drop in visits
- Drop in visits may be cheaper depending on how far away your pet sitter lives.
- How much care your pet needs
- Does your pet need medications? Are they free fed? Do they need regular walks? Is your pet sitter required to be in the house the whole time? Consider the work load you're asking your pet sitter to take on.
Overnight Dog Sitting Cost
Generally, the overnight dog sitting cost for a single home with one pet is $15-$50 per night depending on the factors above.
Other costs you'll want to consider is a tip for your dog sitter's stay, a tip for the meet and greet, and any cost associated with a second meet and greet.
It's very nice to tip $5-$10 if you ask for you sitter to come for a meet and greet, but it's not expected, especially if your meet and greet is under a half an hour in duration.
If your sitter is to come for a second meet and greet at your request, then tipping $10-$20 would be fair.
Rover Overnight Dog Sitting Rates
Rover is one of the easiest ways to find a dog sitter. Rover is an app that allows you to browse dog sitters in your area based on the kind of service you're looking for.
Some dog sitters offer to come to your home, while other dog sitters offer for your dog to come to their home when you're away.
Dog Boarding Near Me
The more information you write down for your dog sitter, the less they have to bug you while you're out of town.
I always felt like I was leaving my dog sitter a novel whenever we left for vacation. That's why I created the Pet Sitting Instructions Template!
This is a free printable that you can edit in Canva or just print out and write your answers! Plus, you can even add a picture of your pet, which is so helpful when you have multiple pets.
