Life happens, and at some point you may find yourself looking for puppy sitting services while you take a vacation or head out of town for work.
Not all dog sitters are created equal, and some dog sitters may not even take on puppies. Since there is no regulation on pet sitters, it is the responsibility of the owner to choose a reliable pet sitter.
If you're like me, you wouldn't want to leave your pup with just anyone while you're off the grid! I do my research to make sure that both my dogs and the pet sitter are comfortable. This post will teach you all the things to look for in a pet sitter, especially when it comes to our youngest canine family members!
Puppy Sitting
Puppy Sitting Near Me
The best place to start with finding a puppy sitter is asking people you already know and trust if they would be willing to care for your dog while you're away.
The next best option is to hire someone who is highly recommended by people you already know and trust. So ask around in your circle of friends, colleagues and family to see who they would (or wouldn't!) recommend.
If you're out of luck on the 1st and 2nd degree connections, you can try reaching out to professional communities. There could already be an established pet sitting company in your area that's found with a simple search on the internet. Or, try reaching out to your veterinarian or a local pet store as they may know of some services or have staff members that offer puppy sitting services!
Puppy Sitting Rates
Overall, puppy sitting rates will be higher because, as you may know, puppies do require a little more work than dogs. Dog and puppy sitting rates vary greatly though since there are many variables that determine the cost of your sitter's stay. The price of a puppy sitter is dependent on your location, the experience your sitter has, how far away your sitter lives and how many animals will need care.o
Related: 2023 Overnight Dog Sitting Rates
You can expect the range for one puppy for one day of care to range from $20-$150 with most rates falling between $25-$75 a day. This could increase or decrease depending on how many dogs you have or the specific needs of your puppy.
Dog Sitters at Their Home
Some dog and puppy sitters are able to open their home for puppy sitting. Use caution when letting your dog stay in someone else's home, especially if you don't know the person. There are no regulations on who can open their home to a dog, let alone a puppy. Plus, most animals are more comfortable in their own home, especially when their owner isn't around.
Removing your dog from their home environment to a place they've never been for a few days to a few weeks could cause a lot of anxiety in the dog, no matter the age, and could result in your pet not eating, destructive behaviors, short or long term separation anxiety or GI upset.
To avoid these, it's best to let your dog or puppy visit the environment a few times before dropping them off for a long period of time to gauge their comfort level. Plus, it's not a bad idea to check out the place yourself!
Puppy Sitting App
There are tons of dog sittings apps out there! The most popular dog sitting website is Rover, which allows you to profile several potential dog sitters, sort through reviews and arrange a meet and greet your potential sitter before booking. After booking your sitter's stay, you will get updates through the app and receive a summary after each visit your sitter completes.
Just like other service apps, the website or app is responsible for connecting you with people in your area who offer services and help facilitate that service. As the owner, you are responsible for selecting the individual you'd like to complete the job.
Other common places to find pet sitters:
While Rover does a background check for criminal history on their sitters, it does not verify any other qualifications that could be listed in an individual's profile.
Questions to ask a Dog Sitter
In order to confirm you've found a trustworthy person, here are some questions to consider ask during the meet and greet:
- How long have you been working with animals?
- Have you ever worked with a puppy or dog at this age?
- Do you have an experience with this specific breed or type of animal?
- Do you have transportation in case of an emergency?
- Are you comfortable giving oral/injectable medications? (if necessary)
- Can you get the mail or take care of a specific project while I'm away? (this is one that is often forgotten)
- Do you have any other responsibilities that you will need to tend to while puppy sitting?
Puppy Sitting Jobs
Related: Dog Sitting Jobs | How I made $920 in a Week of Dog Sitting
Think you might enjoy puppy sitting? Puppy sitting isn't all cuddles and zoomies, but it is a ton of fun and a great way to gain experience, get letters of recommendation and make money.
In order to be a pet sitter you'll need to:
- Be reliable and trustworthy
- Have transportation
- Be familiar with dog behavior
- Have experience with dog care
- Have a cell phone or landline in order to keep in touch with the owner.
If you have all of these things, you could be a dog sitter! Start with letting family and friends know that you're able to watch their pets for them, and
Now you should have the information you need to pick out the perfect person for your puppy sitting job!
