What is a dog sitter? Find out what it really is and then, as usual, my definition.

A Pet Sitter for Dogs

According to Wikipedia, Pet sitting is the act of temporarily taking care of another person’s pet for a given time frame. It commonly occurs at the pet owner’s home, but may also occur at the provider’s home or at a pet sitting place of business or organization. Dog walking is also a form of pet sitting since it involves coming to the pet’s home to provide exercise and companionship.  Having your pets over at the Pet Sitter’s place is actually considered ”boarding” therefore not really recognized as Pet Sitters because they operate under different rules and have to report to government organizations to meet certain standards to avoid spreading diseases.

Dog Sitter or Boarding?

Depending on the type of person you are, if you have a dog, there will be a time when you will have to pick one of the two. I find that saying only two options actually narrows it down. Choices are a bit larger. You can opt for a friend or a family member to come care for your pooch, you can use a cage for daily use.  Boarding families or retirees are also an option. Ok, fine but how will I know which is right for me? To answer this question, you will have to know yourself, your dog and your options. Also, you will have to determine if you need the service once in a while or on a daily basis because that might vary the type of help you will need. Here are a few things to think about:

• What options do you have? In my area, boarding services, friends
• How long can you leave your dog? (Don’t be shy, some owners miss their dog more than the other way around lol That’s right Boston Terrier owners, I’m talking about you )
• Do you mind having a stranger (at first) in your home?
• Does your dog have special needs that makes it easier to care for him at home?
• Is your dog anxious when riding in a car? (going to the boarding place may be a challenge)
• Do you want your dog to play with one human or many dogs?

Once you have determined these factors, you can probably decide which one you need for the situation. Now, let’s look at what each offers.

Pet Sitters Pros and Cons

6 Good Reasons to Hire a Dog Sitter:

• your dog will feel safe at home
• less travelling with or without cumbersome items
• it saves time
• if you have other pets, they can be taken care of as well
• your house is safer not only from burglars but from forgotten windows or leaking tap
• dog sitters can help with plants and gardens too!

Obvioulsy, nothing is all perfect. There are chances of a snoopy dog sitter going through your stuff and the fact that you might not fit with the first come but hey, that can happen in boarding kennels as well!

Boarding kennel and doggy daycare pros and cons

6 Good Reasons to Chose Boarding or Doggy Daycare:

• your dog gets to socialize
• you don’t have a stranger in your house
• your dog can stay overnight
• they sometimes have an easy access to a vet or even on site if anything happens
• it’s usually cheaper
• your dog gets to spend more energy therefore becomes healthier and has less unwanted behavior (in case you’re a Boston Terrier owner, he will be a bit more tired, it should give YOU a chance to breathe lol )

So again, there are some disadvantages. The biggest one being the travelling of your pooch and the operation hours might be less flexible.

As Promised, My Definition of a Pet Sitter

Well, I could not add any more to the definition I stated at the beginning of the article. I will admit that when we first got Ivar , I didn’t know about dog sitters much. I knew a lot more about doggy daycares because there are not many pet sitters in our area. We have found a couple of retirees who love dogs and have decided to open a boarding/daycare and they are just great people so I actually never used a sitter. They are wonderful with him. The lady literally falls asleep on her rocking chair with Ivar on her lap every time he’s over there. Whenever we call the to make a reservation, she can’t wait for that moment! You would too if you knew Ivar 😉

We have also tried the family. I have to say I’m 50/50 on that. It all comes down to the right person in the end but families have tendencies to bend the rules we ask them to follow. Remember that when you leave and the rules are not the same, it can cause anxiety and bad behavior in your dog when he comes back home. If you go with family, go with the strictest person you can get to avoid discussions you’d rather not have because after all, they’re just laying a hand.

I must admit, I am not comfortable with a stranger in our house so I probably never will but, we should never say never! Right Arlene? My wife said we’d never get a dog but now that she fell in love with Ivar, she wants a second one lol

Thank you all again for reading me, I really appreciate it. I hope we have taught you something here and come back often for some more good stuff!

Hey, Oh! I almost forgot. My definition of a dog sitter is a selfless person with a profound desire to care for your loved pooch, whether they do it from home or at your home, I don’t really care, I only care my Ivar is in good hands.

J-F Blanchette

Get more infos on this topic:  Pet Sitters International