Dog sitter rates

Work takes you away from home unexpectedly? You have found the perfect vacation spot but can’t take your pet along? Using a dog sitter might just be the perfect solution for you. You might be wondering about the costs involved?

A dog sitter... for free!

The costs for keeping your dog with a dog sitter vary greatly, first of all depending on who you are going to ask. You have the option to either ask a friend, family member or even a neighbour, or you can use a specialised dog sitter company. Both options are significantly cheaper than commercial dog kennels!

The easiest and cheapest option is to ask friends and family for help. A good friend or family member might even already know your pet and doesn’t need instructions to get along in your house. Asking a friend or relative to be your dog´s sitter will usually not cost you a penny.

In case you have found a friend or family member to take care of your dog, it is still of vital importance that he understands what is expected of him. Have a meeting before you leave and discuss important details, especially if your dog has special needs or a medical condition.

Using a dog sitter company

For the past couple of year, online pet sitting platforms have been flourishing online. Usually, it is a type of online market place where dog sitters and dog owners can find one another. Holidog, for example, has been operating for several years in Australia and has earned its spot as the go-to dog sitter website.

You can book a dog sitter at home. This option has the advantage of your pet not being moved to a strange place with a whole new environment. Booking a dog sitter who visits your pet at home is especially recommended for dogs who don't like to move house much. If your dog is social and does not mind a change of environment, you can also consider leaving your dog with a host family. This has the advantage that you do not need to let a stranger into your home.

Dog sitter rates

Dog sitter rates vary according to the service provided by the dog sitter, the location, the breed and size, amongst others. Prices for a dog sitter in Sydney or Melbourne or other big cities are generally higher than in smaller towns. Holidog shows the rates of each dog sitter on their profiles to make it easy for you to choose the person that best fits your needs and your budget.

If the person comes to your home, you’re looking at rates of about $11.00 per day. Keep in mind that you’ll also have to pay for the dog sitter’s travel costs. Large dogs that require long walks can set you at about $20.00 a day. Beware of very low prices. Look for people who have lots of positive reviews. An experienced person is better if your dog requires special care or tends to be difficult to handle.

Other things to keep in mind

Some of the costs will have to be covered by you such as transportation to and from the dog sitter’s home and pet food that they might have to buy. The same goes for unexpected vet visits. If the dog sitter has expenses for the pet during the pet sitting job, they can keep the receipt and ask you to pay you back for everything.

Our website allows you to chat with pet sitters previous to the booking which gives you a chance to get to know them and ask questions. You can be sure to get in contact with honest and reliable dog sitters offering high-quality services through Holidog.

Become a dog sitter

After having read the article above, you might think that you yourself could become a dog sitter. With 9.9 million dogs in Australia and dog owners living a busy life, the demand for dog sitters is very high. There are several ways to find dog sitter jobs depending on where you live, your level of experience and your availability.

You can also create a profile on specialised pet sitting websites. Make sure you pick a reputable company that has a large user base. Holidog is a great place to start your dog sitting adventure. You can create your dog sitter profile for free and be discovered by thousands of dog parents in your area. Holidog offers you the freedom to choose which services you wish to offer, for which price and when you are available to do so.