What Do Those Dog Sitting Rates Get You?

You work long hours. You just got a puppy. You are going on a trip.

These are all reasons why people hire a professional dog sitter.

Since 2002, Bella’s House and Pet Sitting has been dog sitting in Scottsdale, Arizona. We have enough stories to write a book, but one topic in particular we hear almost on a weekly basis.

I had a dog sitter and they (insert comment here). We hear anything from “forgot to give our dog their meds,” “had a party,” “drank all our alcohol,” “we couldn’t reach them for days via phone,” “forgot to visit my dogs,” “my house was trashed when I got back home,” and worse.

dog sitting rates

Professional dog sitters are nothing like a family member, your co-worker, or your neighbor. They are not even someone who “sorta does it on the side.” Professional dog sitters are people who have dedicated their lives to caring for other people’s dogs. Here are three questions to ask yourself:

1) Do they do it for their full time job or is it just something they do on the side for extra money? When you hire someone to care for your home and your dogs – you want it to be their first priority. If pet sitting full-time isn’t what puts a roof over their head and food in their mouth, then I would rethink hiring them for your fur kid. (The exception of course is the professional who is trying to get their business off the ground.) Their dog sitting rates can also give you a good understanding of this.

2) Do they have a backup plan? Let’s face it. Life happens. What would happen if another dog they were caring for were sick and they had to spend the whole day in the ER? Would your dog suffer? Likewise, what would happen to them if, God forbid, they were in a car accident? Who would take over? How long would it be before their family and friends knew something was wrong and know how to take over the business? A professional will have a Plan B and even a Plan C.

3) How detail-oriented are they? A professional dog sitter will do everything in their power to ensure that your dog’s routine goes uninterrupted. It is their job to act as YOU when you are not there. They will ask all sorts of questions about feeding, sleeping, playtime, potty, and exercise routines.

There is a big difference between a dog sitter and a professional dog sitter. Professional dog sitters will care for your home and dogs like their own. They will be available by the phone when you call, they will have bonding and insurance, and they will have contingency plans. Make sure to have this mental checklist in your head next time you are talking to someone about their dog sitting rates.

Bella is the Pack Leader for Bella’s House & Pet Sitting, a Scottsdale pet sitter. BHPS is a national award-winning professional pet sitting service that provides dog walking, dog and cat sitting, puppy sitting, happy hour let outs, overnights, pet taxi’s and a whole lot more. If you have any questions about finding a professional pet sitter in your area, contact Bella and she would be happy to assist you.