What is Dog Sitting?
Dog sitting is similar to babysitting only you’re watching people’s dogs instead of human children! If you are a dog parent, then you’ll know just how important it is to get a trustworthy and competent individual to care for your dog while you are away from home.
Why do Owners Need Dog Sitting?
When travelling away from home, for both short and longer trips it is not always possible to take your dog with you, and that is the time you may need to call on the services of a dog sitter.
What are the Main Dog Sitting Options?
There are five main options open to Dog Parents when traveling away from home:
- Ask Family or Friends to help
- Use Dog Boarding Kennels
- Take your Dog with you on the trip
- Use an in-house Dog Sitter
- Send Dog to a Pet Sitters Home
The Pros and Cons
The Family and Friends Dog Sitter
If they live close by then family and friends are often the first go-to for Dog parents needing a dog sitter. Parents, Siblings, and Friends will normally board the dog in their own homes.
Pros – This is a great alternative as the dog already knows the individuals and is happy in their company – otherwise why else would you be using them for dog sitting!
Con’s – You may need to arrange your time away around your family and friends’ availability for dog sitting. Would they be competent in case of an emergency with your dog? Do they have other pets that may cause your dog stress? Are they happy to continue being your dog sitter, even when it may not be convenient for them?
The Boarding Kennels Dog Sitter
Traditionally dog boarding kennels were the second choice behind family and friends to look after your dog, well that was before we had some other alternatives – but for the time being, let’s look at the dog boarding kennel option.
In Boarding Kennels, dogs are allocated a kennel space for the duration of their stay, where they eat, sleep and spend their day – broken up by whatever exercise is offered by the kennel staff.
Pros – Boarding Kennels are normally (depending upon your country) licensed by the local authority and subject to checks and controls. This assures dog owners of minimum acceptable standards of hygiene and operation.
Cons – Dogs are creatures of routine and their stress levels can become heightened by unfamiliar environments, smells, and other dogs’ behavior. Kennel costs can be a major expense add-on for a family getaway budget – especially if you have more than one dog!
“Boarding kennel stress is a generic term used for when dogs encounter a state of mental or emotional strain and tension during or after a kennel stay. It can manifest in several ways including aggression, fear, anxiety, shaking, whining, or other noticeable changes in behavior“.
Take your Dog with you
There are now a large number of hotels and accommodations offering dog-friendly stays, so you can travel and take your dog with you. A google search for ‘dog-friendly hotels’ offers a huge choice and it is just a matter of where and when to go!
Pros – Taking your dog with you on a trip is a great way to avoid expensive kennel fee and you don’t have to fit your travel arrangements around the availability of family and friends.
Con’s – Let’s face it, we love our dogs and their company, but sometimes we just can’t take them with us. Weddings, Overseas trips, Work trips – you get the idea!
In House Dog Sitter
House Dog Sitting has soared in popularity over the last few years, not least because dog parents are now more tuned in than ever to their dog’s needs. Dogs thrive and love being in familiar environments following their normal routines, and that is best served at home.
Dogs are less stressed by their owner being absent from the home if everything else stays the same. Same bed, same food, same smells, same sounds and same pet companions. Compare that to being in a dog kennel, a different home or even a place with other unfamiliar and strange pets.
Pros – Familiarity, stress free routine and comfort for your pets.
Con’s -Pet Sitters staying in your home watching the pets.
Send Dog to a Pet Sitters Home
Many ‘pet sitting’ websites promote the idea of your dog going to a pet sitters home to be looked after. Dogs are despatched to ‘dog sitters’ homes and can often find themselves in the company of a number of other ‘looked after’ dogs for the duration of their stay.
In the dog world these dogs are ‘strangers’ and as such their behavior can invoke stress and anxiety.
Pro’s – Easy to find a local pet sitter offering to take care of your dog.
Con’s – Require Local Authority Licence to take care of multiple dogs in same household, frequently not insured, dog can suffer from stress in close proximity to other strange dogs.
Conclusion
There are many options for pet owners to choose from but make sure the one chosen is the best one for your fur family and will ensure they have a great time while you do!
Angela Fagan is the CEO of Trust My Pet Sitter
With Trust My Pet Sitter, you can relax knowing that your pet is in good hands. We provide 24/7 customer support so you always have someone to call if there’s an emergency. Sign up today and see for yourself how easy it is to use Trust My Pet Sitter!
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