Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on HomeGuide.
How much do dog sitters charge?
Dog sitters charge$10 to $20 per hour for a drop-in visit or $35 to $65 per night, depending on your location. Dog sitters may charge more for holidays or if your home is outside of their service area. Costs may also increase if your dog has special needs.
Do you tip dog sitters?
While dog sitters do not expect a tip, tipping 15% to 20% of the total bill is common. Tip on the low end if your sitter did everything they agreed to do. Consider tipping more if they exceeded your expectations or handled any unexpected problems or emergencies.
What do dog sitters do?
Dog sitters come to your home and care for your dog while you are away. Drop-in visits typically last 30 minutes and include feeding, walking, and some play or cuddle time. Overnight visits may be at your home or the sitter's home and give your dog more time and attention than a drop-in visit.
Hiring a dog sitter gives your dog more personalized attention than a pet boarding facility and is a great option for dogs who deal with separation anxiety, dogs who do not do well in a kennel or around other animals, and older, less agile dogs.
Do dog sitters stay overnight?
Most dog sitters offer drop-in visits and overnight options, with overnight stays typically costing more. Many dogs do fine with only drop-in visits for feeding, walking, and some attention. Consider overnight sittings if your pet has high separation anxiety or needs more attention than a short visit provides.
How do I choose the best dog sitter near me?
When searching for a dog sitter, be sure to:
Choose a sitter who has a licensed and insured business.
Ask if they belong to any professional organizations, such as the National association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), Professional United Pet Sitters (P.U.P.S.), or the Association of Pet Sitting Excellence (APSE).
Review their profile and feedback on HomeGuide and Google.
Ask for and check their references.
Arrange a meet and greet beforehand to make sure he or she is a good fit for both you and your dog.
What questions should I ask when hiring a dog sitter?
Ask the following questions to ensure you find the best dog sitter near you:
What experience do you have?
Do you specialize in specific animals or breeds?
Do you belong to any professional organizations?
Are you trained in pet CPR?
Can we schedule a meet and greet beforehand?
What is included in your standard rate?
What is the rate if I have more than one dog?
How and when do I pay for the service?
Do you offer dog monitoring service?
How long do you stay?
Can you give my dog medication?
Do you offer any house-sitting services in addition to dog sitting?
What is your protocol if there is an emergency or if my dog needs immediate medical attention?
How do I get in touch with you while I'm away?
Will you update me after each visit?
Reviews for Chicago dog sitters
Recent success stories from people in the Chicago area.
Dave J.
Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Reliability, Responsiveness, Value
We found Susie through HomeGuide and are so happy that we did. She is absolutely amazing. We have a 5 year old rescue bulldog/beagle and we were having trouble with her pulling hard on the leash and being very reactive to movement be it a squirrel, rabbit, a leaf blowing, etc. both on her walks, in our yard, and in the house. She would go into a frenzy at times yelping very loud and sounding like she was hurt. Susie came over and within an hours time was able to get our dog to sit, go down, wait, leave it, to look at you, and to not pull on the leash. She spent over three hours here working with our dog, going over nutrition, and giving us the advice and the tools we need to continue working with our dog. Our dog is much improved and it is a work in progress, but if we spend the time training her and being consistent we know that everything Susie showed us will work. Susie also followed up within 48 hours and we know that we can always call her and have her come for another visit. We are very glad that we did this and would not hesitate for a moment to recommend her to anyone. - Dave and Teresa Jackson
Wind Dancer Referrals LLC
Page B.
Friendly and experienced guy, didn't mind all of my specifications and managed to fullfill the request for my dogs. Very good service.
South Suburban Paws of Chicago- Pet services.
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