Pet sitting costs

You've chosen to turn to a pet sitter to look after your pet while you're away. A great choice! This solution, which is becoming increasingly popular, offers many advantages. But how much does a pet sitter really cost? The following article will answer these questions and more.

A pet sitter free of charge!

Using a pet sitter does not necessarily mean going through a specialised company. By definition, a pet sitter is a person who looks after your pet. Therefore, you can very well ask for help from a member of your family, a friend or even a neighbour. Usually, you will not have to pay a single penny to have your dog looked after in your absence.

In case you have found a pet sitter in your social circles, it is very important that you together go over all the details of what is required, even if your friend or family member knows your pet very well: it is one thing that he might play with your dog and cat from time to time, and another to take over the full responsibility.

Make sure that it is clear how often your pet should be fed and how much, how often your dog goes for a walk and of course do not forget to mention any medications he is taking and how to properly administer them.

Calling on a pet sitting company

For several years now, many companies specialising in pet sitting services have been flourishing on the Internet. However, don't rush to the first site that comes along. Don't forget that using a pet sitter means entrusting your precious companion to a stranger. Choose your sitter carefully as your pet deserves the highest level of care.

Holidog, the leading pet sitter service in Australia, offers you this guarantee of trust through the many pet sitter available in your area. Once the ideal pet sitter has been found, several parameters must be taken into account to determine the price of the service.

Read here to find out more about how how pet sitting works.

How much does it cost?

First of all, does it concern pet sitting at home or with a host family? Pet sitting in the Australia, when done at your own home, averagely costs 11 Australian Dollars per day. On top of that, the pet sitter will have to pay for the travel expenses - car, public transportation - to get to your home - these should be taken into account.

The cost of care is usually less than half for small pets, such as rabbits, for example. Be aware that for dogs, breed and size can play a role. The price for looking after large dogs, which need a lot of exercise, can go up to more than 20 dollars per day. Bigger animals, like horses, cost a lot more.

Other things to know

The longer you are away, the bigger the bill will be. Normally, food expenses are your responsibility, so in case your pet runs out of food and the pet sitter has to pay for it out of his own pocket, you will have to reimburse him. The same goes for any veterinary costs, provided that the pet sitter can show you a bill.

Host family rates are more or less the same. Here, on the other hand, you will not have to pay any travel expenses. The price per animal generally decreases if you have several pets to be looked after. Finally, be aware that prices can vary greatly between regions, between the city and the countryside. In particular, prices in Sydney and Melbourne and their surroundings will be higher than in the rest of Australia.

One last piece of advice

Last but not least, beware of prices that seem to good to be true. Favour pet sitters with good ratings and some previous experience if your pet is difficult to handle. If your pet is going to stay with a host family, make sure that you visit the house beforehand to make sure it is suitable.

For more information about the various aspects of pet sitting, have a look at our complete pet sitting guide.