House and Dog Sitters: Everything you need to know

What is house and dog sitting?

House sitting involves taking care of someone else’s home while they are away, typically for a short period of time. The duties of house sitting vary, but generally include looking after the house, keeping the property secure and sometimes taking care of plants and pets.

A pet sitter will provide a kind and caring, more personal alternative to boarding kennels, where the dog can stay in a home environment. The pet sitter may take the dog stay in their home, stay at your home with your dog or visit your dog for feeding, walking and company.

Why use a dog sitter?

Finding someone to look after your dog can be stressful for dogs and owners alike. Using a trusted dog sitter can be a kind and caring alternative to boarding kennels, with a much more personal experience for both you and  your dog. Allowing your dog to stay in a home away from home helps them to feel more relaxed and makes their experience more enjoyable.

With Barking Mad it is easy to find a trusted dog sitter in your local area. We believe in providing individual care for every dog and owner, giving you complete peace of mind when leaving your dog with one of our dog sitters. Find your local Barking Mad dog sitter.

How much does a house sitting service cost? 

In some cases house and dog sitting is an unpaid arrangement, where the house sitter can live in the owner’s home in exchange for them taking care of their house and/or their pets. Sometimes a small fee is put in place to cover any expenses while they are looking after the pets.

Why become a dog sitter?

The advantages of using a dog sitter don’t just stop with the owner and their pet. Being devoted dog lovers, the sitters themselves enjoy a very rewarding experience while they are taking care of the animals. Dog sitting on an occasional basis can allow those who can’t commit to a dog full time to enjoy the company of a furry friend. There are many health benefits of looking after a dog, including getting exercise outside, lowering stress levels and helping with loneliness.

How to become a pet sitter

To be a successful house and/or dog sitter, you will need to be dependable, responsible and have a genuine love of both animals and people. You should also be prepared to follow instructions, as well as any rules the owner has set out for you to follow. If this sounds like something you would like to do, you could become a dog sitting host with Barking Mad.

At Barking Mad, we offer a professional home boarding service for your dog. Our team of devoted dog sitters are all dog lovers who will take care of your dog as if it were their own. Host families are experienced, trusted, and vetted in person by the Barking Mad branch owner, meaning your dog will be safe, loved and cared for in a lovely hosts home, where they will follow their usual routine as much as possible.

Find out how the Barking Mad Service works here.