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 Linden dog sitters
Recent success stories from people in the Linden area.
Judy G.
1. How do you feel you got value for the service you received?
Madi spoke to me on my level and demonstrated each task. I would rate it a 5 (out of 5, highest value).
2. Can you speak to the communication skills of your Trainer with both the canine and human elements, her knowledge, user-friendliness, professionalism?
First of all, Madi was amazing with our Lulu. She literally had her eating out of her hands and Lulu followed and remembered what was taught the following session. It is apparent Madi’s knowledge of behavior is applied consistently, with compassion and experience.
3. What were your priorities/expectations for the training, and do you feel they were satisfied?
My main expectation was for my girl to be more calm and less demanding of attention when guests arrive at our home. Madi explained that because Lulu is so young, her excitement is overwhelming. She gave us great suggestions using a distractor such as the Kong toy to help redirect the dog’s energy. We find that when we are caught off guard by a visitor, our girl calms down faster than she did before. We continue to work on this skill.
4. Would you recommend your Trainer, Madi, and what is the best way to recommend her, in your view? I would only recommend Madi to clients that plan to follow through and work consistently with their dog. There is no magic, although watching Madi with my dog was magical. Word of mouth is good but advertising would have helped me find her faster.
Judy took the Triad option (three lessons).
NY/NJ Dog Trainer, Delray Beach Dog Trainer
M. F.
Our pets love going to the Dawg Vacation House. They are well cared for and working with the owners is a breeze. I’ve also had a few last minute changes and requests and they have been extremely accommodating.
The Dawg Vacation House of NJ
Maureen S.
She was excellent. She took care of our pup and also gave us some good advice. We liked her very much.
Pampered pets
Morrigan
Aly helps me for almost a year with my dog, as I work all day and I don't have much time for walks. She takes care of Scott very lovingly and he loves her very much.
Aly Dog sitter
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