

As much as you love your dog, you happen to be a career person, too. At times you will have to prioritize work over tending for your dog. Thankfully during these instances you have two options with regards to dog care.

1. Licensed dog sitter (in-home)

It is easy to find an in-home dog care giver nowadays. All you have to do is do a quick search online and voila, you will be treated to a horde of professional options. Or at least options claiming professionalism. Be mindful in picking the real deal from all the clutter.

Yes, your top concern is not the difficulty of landing an in-home sitter. Your top concern here is whether you feel your dog will be amenable to staying in a strange house with a strange human that’s not their own. If this is not a problem, by all means dial that number and set a date with your chosen sitter.



What you can expect from an in-home dog sitter is dog care akin to what you provide your dog. This means familial dog care. Not stiff and strictly professional care, but gentle and loving companionship, including play time and maybe even cuddles. To be on the safe side, work with a sitter who can show you a NAPPS Certification.

Also, you will have to consider these:

In-home dog sitting is best for dogs that feel most at home in a, well, home setting. This is as opposed to a doggy day care or a kennel club.

Do a thorough house check prior to signing up with an in-home dog sitter. You want to ensure that your dog will be staying in a clean and safe environment. If the sitter you’re considering has children in their household, or other pets for that matter, assess your dog’s readiness for these inevitable interactions. If you think your dog is not suited for such a crowded setting, look elsewhere. Meanwhile if you feel your dog will enjoy this large company, see if they–these other pets and children–will be friendly to your dog.

Do not forget to conduct a background check on your applicants. Ask for professional references as well, and don’t forget to give these refs a call.

Make sure that your hired sitter will not deviate from your agreed routine or schedule. If they have other responsibilities to cater to, such as errands and the likes, you might as well find another.

Expect to shell out between $30 and $50 for the services of an in-home dog sitter.

2. Kennel club or vet boarding

If you don’t already know, kennels typically offer boarding services to dogs. This is also true to a lot of veterinarians. What these options share is that the service they provide is more on the professional and un-homey kind.

Typically these places will have a safe enclosure for your dog where they will be spending most of their days. Some kennels may provide scheduled indoor or outdoor runs. Others don’t. Here it pays that you learn exactly how your pet will be handled or managed.

If your dog is suffering from a specific health condition, vet boarding affords you and your pet lots of advantages. The downside is how vet clinics can sometimes be stressful places. In the end it’s your call.