How to Become a Pet Sitter (And the Secrets No One Tells You About the Job)

A pet sitter is in charge of the care and well-being of another person’s pet while that person is unable to take care of the animal themselves. The job of a pet sitter boils down to keeping an animal (or animals) happy, healthy, and clean.

Most often, pet sitters take care of pets when the owners are out of town. However, pet sitters may also be needed at certain hours of the day (like when the owner is at school), or even when the owner is there and preoccupied (like if they need someone to look after their pet while they’re working from home).

Pet sitting duties may include:

• Feeding
• Grooming
• Exercising the animal
• Playing with them
• Socializing them
• Cleaning up after them
• Observing the animal’s health and safety
• Administering medications (which may include injections)
• Taking measures to care for the animal in case of emergency
• Sending updates to the owner

You won’t always need to do all of that. It depends on the pet and your agreement with the owner.

Pet sitters can be charged with caring for a wide range of animals—from dogs and cats to rats and lizards—so if you’re allergic to or dislike a certain type of animal, make sure you set your profiles or business pages to reflect what kind of pet sitting you’re willing to do.

Many pet sitters double as house sitters, performing additional tasks like watering plants, doing light housekeeping to keep the home clean, and collecting mail. However, it’s up to you and the client to discuss these additional tasks and negotiate fair compensation.

Cats and dogs need different types of care

If you want to become a dog sitter, you’ll need to be able to give lots of love and affection and be prepared to go on frequent walks. Dogs require plenty of attention from sitters.

Cats also need care, but becoming a cat sitter requires pretty different skills and personality traits. You’ll spend a lot more time indoors. Instead of walks, you’ll clean out their litter box.

Cats are also more likely to be skittish and hide in the home while the owner’s away. Whichever type of sitter you want to become, you should be well versed in the animal’s body language and be able to easily spot signs of distress or agitation.

Pet sitting vs. pet boarding

Pet sitting always involves visiting the client’s home where their pet lives and providing care there. You may take dogs out for walks, but the job is based at your client’s home.

If you’re really wondering how to become a dog sitter in your own home, then the job you’re really interested in is dog boarding. Pet boarding specifically involves caring for pets in your own home while the owner is away.

Pet boarding usually involves dogs—think doggy daycare. However, you can also offer pet boarding services for cats and any other type of animal you want.

Anyone over the age of 18 can become a pet sitter. However, some people are better suited to the job than others. An ideal pet sitting candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:

• Love of animals
• Patience and empathy
• Pet emergency response and first aid training (including pet CPR)
• Pet care certification (this isn’t necessary, but having one can earn you higher pay)
• Physical fitness
• Reliability
• Communication skills
• Animal grooming know-how

Depending on the area where you plan on becoming a sitter, it may also be important for you to have access to a reliable vehicle for pet transportation.

How to build credentials for pet sitting

One of the big appeals of becoming a dog sitter or other type of pet sitter is that there aren’t really any formal pet sitting requirements. You don’t need fancy qualifications or a college degree. All you really need is basic pet care skills and a love of animals.

With that said, pet sitting is becoming an increasingly competitive field. If you’re wondering how to become a pet sitter with no experience or references, a good place to start is boosting your resume with some pet care qualifications. Below are a few popular options to consider.

Get trained and certified

Getting pet-care certified isn’t necessary, but it can net you higher rates and make you a more competitive candidate for any pet sitting listing. For example, Pet Sitters International offers an exam that you can pass to earn a professional pet sitter certification.

Getting specialized training and certifications can better prepare you for the job, especially if you look for programs that teach pet emergency response and first aid.

Join an organization

Joining an association like the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) can give you access to resources, job opportunities, training, and other members of the pet-sitting community.

Get proper insurance

Getting insured may be in your best interest as it can protect you legally and financially in case of pet-sitting accidents that you’d otherwise be held responsible for.

Pet care insurance can provide you with:

• Legal protection against claims of personal injury or property damage
• Financial protection against claims of physical property damage 1

Some pet sitting apps offer their own pet care insurance. For example, one Rover pet sitter we spoke to, Deirdre B., says that Rover offers insurance coverage for pet care providers.

“Part of the fees you pay to Rover includes insurance coverage. I utilized their insurance,” she said. However, not all platforms offer this coverage. If you’re working through a different pet care service, it’s worth checking their terms of service.

Pet sitting may sound easy enough, but it definitely isn’t a job for everyone. When you’re on the job, there’s no such thing as a break, as you need to be keeping an eye on the animals under your supervision at all times.

It can be exhausting (emotionally and physically), stressful, and messy. Make sure you have the desire and abilities required before taking on work as a pet sitter.

If this still sounds like the right gig for you and you’re ready to become a dog sitter or pet sitter—on the side or full time—you have two options to get your pet sitting business underway.

1. Sign up for a pet sitting platform

One of the easiest methods of becoming a pet sitter is to create an account with a dog-sitting or pet-sitting platform that will match you up with pet-owners in need of your services.

There are plenty of great pet sitting websites and apps. Here are just a few of the most popular platforms:

• Rover
• Wag!
• Care
• Pet Sitters International (PSI)

You can also use a house sitting site like TrustedHousesitters to find pet sitting opportunities, but these don’t offer any monetary compensation. Instead, you get free lodging in someone’s home while they’re away.

We spoke to a Rover pet sitter, Jennifer D., who recommends using a pet sitting app when you’re first starting out, noting that it’s a great way to gain exposure. “With the background check on file, potential clients can feel safe having you stay in their home and they have access to reviews from previous clients,” she added.

Deirdre, who has experience both pet sitting on Rover and running her own pet sitting business, likes using Rover because of a few perks that it offers over working fully independently.

“Rover provides links to useful training resources, such as dog handling, understanding 1099 forms, and consulting tax professionals,” she said. She also praised the platform’s ease of use and the fact that they allow you to accept credit card payments.

2. Start your own pet sitting business

Rather than working through a third-party platform, you may want to set up your own website to run your pet-sitting business. Setting up a website is easy enough these days; just use a website builder like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace.

The difficult part will be drawing attention to your website and setting up a payment system if you want clients to be able to pay online. As for reeling in clientele, you’ll need to put extra effort into the next step of this process.

Advertising your services

Whether you’re pet sitting through a third party or setting up a business with your own website, you’ll need to get the word out about your services.

There are quite a few ways to advertise and what methods you choose will depend on how much work you’re willing to do (and have time to do). It also depends on what kind of advertising is built into the platform you’re posting on.

Places you can advertise your pet-sitting services include:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Local radio
• Craigslist
• Word of mouth
• Bulletin boards
• Handing out business cards
• Pet stores
• Pet Sitter International’s sitter locator

Starting an LLC

If you want to take your pet-sitting business to the next level, open an LLC, or Limited Liability Company. LLCs are business structures that can be opened by an individual or a group.

The benefits of opening an LLC as a pet sitter include:

• Protections for your property (including your car, house, and savings)
• Tax benefits
• Credibility

As the name implies, LLCs serve to limit the liabilities of their members. Unfortunately, being a pet sitter does expose you to liabilities, as accidents can happen on the job resulting in injury, property damage, and even loss of life.

This step isn’t necessary if you’re just dipping your toes into the world of pet sitting, but it’s a good idea if you’re planning on turning this into a long-term career.

Kari Dearie was a pet sitter for roughly 7 years, working with different families, in different cities, and under different circumstances. The job was usually a way of making extra cash on the side, but it was sometimes her only means of income.

Here are some pros and cons she shared from her own experience as a professional pet sitter.

Pro: It’s fun!

Getting to run around and play with animals is just a good time. If the animals are well behaved and friendly, the job can be a real joy.

Jennifer told us the best part about pet sitting is getting that experience of having your own pet for a brief time. She currently only has cats and doesn’t have the time to have a dog of her own.

“It’s fun for an animal lover like myself to get to spend time with all different types of pets,” she said. “This gives me the opportunity to spend time with a variety of animals. Basically, I get to borrow the experience of owning that pet for a short time.”

Deirdre similarly told us that her favorite part of pet sitting is being able to play and cuddle with pups and cats. However, she noted that all this fun also has a big drawback. “My least favorite is the end of the stay. You get attached to the fur babies, even if it is for a short amount of time.”

Con: It’s stressful

Most jobs are stressful because the tasks are hard, the workload is heavy, or you have to interact with difficult people. When it comes to pet sitting, the animals are usually lovely and the work isn’t particularly difficult if you have experience with pets.

However, you’re in charge of the safety and wellbeing of someone’s pet—a beloved part of their family. Carrying that responsibility can take a toll. You may find yourself constantly worried about the animals eating something bad or darting in front of a car during a walk or simply getting sick on your watch.

The unfortunate reality is that accidents do sometimes happen on the job. Be prepared to shoulder the emotional burden of caring for someone’s loved one and the possibility that something could go wrong.

Pro: A lot of clients tip

People appreciate someone taking good care of their pet and want to show that appreciation. Many pet sitters say that clients will leave you a tip on top of the pet-sitting bill, which can be a pleasant surprise. Some may also leave you small gifts, like food for you to enjoy while they’re away.

Part of the pet-sitting job is tending to the owner’s needs as well. You need to stay communicative, send them pictures or videos, and assuage anxieties they may have about leaving their animal in someone else’s hands. But your hard work and empathy will more often than not be rewarded generously.

Con: Some animals are naughty

When we imagine ourselves spending time with pets, we envision sweet, precious fur angels. But reality doesn’t always match fantasy. Different animals have different dispositions and have received different training. Some have behavioral or emotional distress issues.

You may be tasked with watching a badly behaved animal, an animal with severe anxiety, or just an animal you don’t get along with. Other times, you may be dealing with animals with poor training, like a dog that makes a mess in the house—one that you’ll need to clean up.

Jennifer commented that routines play a big role in how challenging a dog sitting job is. “A person new to pet sitting should take time to learn the owner’s routine and stick to it as closely as possible,” she said, emphasizing that all pets are creatures of habit. “Sticking to their schedule helps minimize disruption to their daily routine.”

How much you’ll make as a pet sitter will depend on your pet sitter qualifications, experience, location, and services. Pet sitters generally charge per visit, based on the duration. To give you a basic idea, a Pet Sitters International survey found that the average pet pet sitter rate was around $22 for a half-hour drop-in visit but $72 for an overnight sit.

Keep in mind that if you’re using a pet-sitting platform, some of what you make will go to the service. For instance, if you want to become a sitter on Rover, you’ll need to sacrifice 20% of your earnings. Running your own pet sitting business, on the other hand, allows you to keep 100% of your earnings.