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How To Grow to be a Pet Sitter in 2023 (5 Easy Steps)

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Do you wish to get free lodging in your subsequent trip? Or are you on the lookout for methods to make further money? Maybe you’re a digital nomad in search of methods to scale back housing prices. In that case, it’s time to discover ways to turn into a pet sitter.

Pet sitting permits you to receives a commission (in cash or lodging) in trade for taking good care of lovely animals. It’s actually a win-win state of affairs. With loads of gigs out there globally, pet sitting is a good way to journey.

I’ve pet sat around the globe; I spent per week taking care of a Husky combine in Glasgow, a month and a half with a Frenchie in Tokyo, a couple of weeks with a rescue cat in Brussels, and weeks with a Saluki in Kobe. It’s by far my favourite strategy to journey.

On this article, I’ll share the necessities to turn into a pet sitter, how you’ll find work, how a lot pet sitters receives a commission, and extra.

What’s a Pet Sitter?

Firstly, earlier than we get into turn into a pet sitter, it’s possible you’ll be questioning what a pet sitter is, and what the distinction is between a pet sitter and a home sitter.

Pet sitters take care of somebody’s pet whereas they’re away. This often entails staying on the pet proprietor’s house, however this isn’t all the time the case; it may well additionally embody dropping in to test on the pets, enjoying with them, checking the cat litter, or strolling the canines.

how to become a pet sitter

Pet sitting also can embody letting the animals keep at your personal house, however this requires a safe and protected set-up. Whatever the particulars, pet sitter duties sometimes contain offering the animals with security, meals, water, affection, and playtime.

In distinction, home sitters take care of somebody’s house whereas they’re away; this nearly all the time entails staying on the property. Their duties can embody taking good care of a pet, nevertheless it additionally consists of watering the crops, preserving issues clear, and taking care of the backyard.

I’ve expertise with each home sitting with a pet and pet sitting solely (the place I dropped in to test on an animal). Each varieties of jobs have professionals and cons however the principle distinction is that though you get free lodging with home sitting, you’re extra prone to receives a commission as a pet sitter.

Now that we’ve established what pet sitters and home sitters are, let’s get into how one can begin pet sitting.

Necessities to Grow to be a Pet Sitter

In the event you’re questioning turn into a pet sitter with out a diploma, it’s possible you’ll be asking what certifications, programs, or abilities you want to be able to be up for the job.

Fortunately, most shoppers don’t require you to have any official pet sitting certifications or programs, nevertheless, there are some experiences and traits which are important for thriving as a pet sitter, together with:

pet sitter and dogs are ready to walk

Expertise with Animal Care: With a view to safe pet sitting gigs, you have to emphasize your previous experiences with pet care. This consists of feeding, strolling, cleansing, grooming, and enjoying with pets. In the event you’ve by no means owned any pets earlier than, you may achieve some useful expertise by pet sitting on your mates or volunteering at an area veterinary clinic.

A Love for Animals: In the event you’re right here to be taught to be a pet sitter, I think about you have already got a robust love for animals! Pet house owners like to see their pet sitters have a transparent and apparent affection for his or her beloved animals.

Accountable and Reliable: One of the essential traits that pet house owners are on the lookout for of their pet sitters is duty. They’re leaving their valuable animals and residential within the care of a stranger, they usually want to have the ability to belief their pet sitters fully.

Versatile: With a view to work as a pet sitter, you must be versatile. The pet proprietor might have a last-minute request or your in a single day pet sitting dates might get modified and even canceled and so flexibility is essential to thriving as a pet sitter.

Nice at Speaking: Pet house owners love receiving frequent updates on how their beloved pets are doing, so being an ideal communicator is important. From private expertise, I discovered that pet house owners particularly love receiving photographs of their cats enjoying or canines out on walks, because it reveals that they’re having a good time and are joyful. Being a very good communicator can be required if and when emergencies or issues come up.

(Non-compulsory) Pet Sitting Certification: Having a pet sitting certification undoubtedly isn’t a requirement. I’ve been pet sitting for years with out one. Nonetheless, it may well definitely improve your credibility as an expert, so it’s nice for these severe a couple of profession in pet sitting. Some certifications embody the NAPPS and the CPPS.

(Non-compulsory) Pet First Support Course: Whereas taking and passing a pet first help course isn’t important if you wish to work as a pet sitter, it’s a good way to extend your credibility and reliability, which in return, could make it simpler to seek out shoppers.

I pet sat for 2 years earlier than I acquired my pet first help certification, so don’t really feel pressured to get it straight away. That being mentioned, having the certification elevated my odds of securing new shoppers, and it made me extra snug with caring for pets with medical points.

Tips on how to Grow to be a Pet Sitter (5 Steps)

Now that we’ve gone over the necessities of turning into a pet sitter, let’s get into the 5 final steps on get your first pet sitting place.

These steps will make it easier to safe new shoppers no matter whether or not you’re a brand new or skilled pet sitter. The following pointers have helped me get pet sitting gigs around the globe, together with constant canine sitting jobs in Vancouver and home sitting gigs in Japan.

A woman is petting an adorable cat.

I’ve each confidence that these steps will make it easier to discover constant pet sitting jobs as effectively.

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1. Be part of A number of Home Sitting and Pet Sitting Web sites

To start with, to be able to discover pet sitting jobs regionally and around the globe, you must be a part of a number of home/pet sitting web sites.

Fortunately, there are lots of web sites to select from. Some selections embody Trusted Housesitters (use this hyperlink to get 20% off), Nomador, MindMyHouse, Home Sitters America, Home Sitters Canada, and Home Carers. Take a look at the subsequent part to be taught extra about the perfect pet sitting web sites.

Alternatively, in the event you’re questioning turn into a canine sitter in your personal metropolis, you may search for native jobs on web sites similar to Certainly, ZipRecruiter, and Rover.

Once I first began out as a pet sitter, I used to be primarily eager about discovering free lodging whereas touring. I solely used Trusted Housesitters to seek out pet sitting gigs, and because of it being the biggest pet sitting platform on-line, it was simple for me to seek out alternatives.

Nonetheless, I discover that it’s simpler to seek out paid pet sitting jobs regionally. General, it’s greatest to make use of many alternative web sites to broaden your choices. Click on right here to enroll with Trusted Housesitters and obtain 20% off the membership price.

2. Create the Good Profile

When you’ve joined a pet sitting web site or two, it’s time to arrange the right profile.

Firstly, be certain your profile is well-written and error-free, as it will convey your professionalism. Nonetheless, don’t neglect to incorporate a bit of character.

Discuss your earlier pet care expertise, abilities, and why you’re eager about pet sitting. Embody any testimonials or previous pet sitting opinions (in the event you’re a complete beginner, get some references from mates or co-workers; see step 3!). And don’t neglect to incorporate some photographs of you with some lovely animals.

Bear in mind to focus in your strengths. I all the time emphasize my expertise, duty, and love for animals in my profile. In the event you’ve taken any pet first help programs or certifications, you’ll want to spotlight them.

3. Safe Your References

Subsequent, it’s time to safe your references. That is an important a part of getting began as a pet sitter, as having previous references, opinions, and testimonials makes you appear extra reliable and reliable.

In the event you’re questioning turn into a pet sitter with none expertise, you may all the time search for some native alternatives. Pet sit on your mates or household, discover native job postings, or supply to stroll your neighbor’s canine and easily ask the house owners to write down a assessment afterward.

It’s also possible to ask for some character references from your mates, household, or employers. Once I first began pet sitting, I requested my outdated boss to write down me a reference to focus on my reliability and duty.

General, no matter whether or not you’re a newbie or an skilled pet sitter, it’s important to incorporate references and opinions to construct belief with potential shoppers.

4. Discover and Apply for the Greatest Jobs

So, you’ve joined a couple of pet sitting web sites, written a killer profile, and included your prime references. Now, it’s time to seek for your good pet sitting job.

Most home sitting web sites mean you can specify your search to locations, dates, size of keep, and species of animals. Many pet sitting web sites can even allow you to specify the kind of job, similar to home sitting with pets, drop-in visits, or canine strolling.

After you’ve discovered and skim by way of some nice pet sitting job listings, it’s time to use to them. To take action, you’ll must ship the pet house owners an enticing and informative software message.

Introduce your self, speak about their pets, spotlight your previous related expertise, and clarify why you’re the perfect selection for them. Be sure that to ask some questions concerning the job itemizing (and particularly, their furry member of the family), and finish the message by saying that you just’d love the chance to interview.

I all the time wish to tailor my software message to the itemizing; I point out their pet’s title typically, and I emphasize my earlier related pet care expertise. For instance, if the job itemizing is for a timid feline, I spotlight my expertise taking good care of nervous and shy rescue cats.

5. Put together on your Interview

After the pet house owners have thought of all their functions, and in the event that they really feel you can be a very good match, they’re prone to attain out and ask in the event you’re eager about an interview. You’re one step nearer to securing a pet sitting job. All you must do is ace the interview.

So, what’s one of the best ways to organize for these pet sitting interviews? I wish to go over the job itemizing and observe something essential that they could convey up.

Do the pets have any well being points or behavioral issues? In that case, be ready to reply questions in your comfortability and expertise with these kinds of pets.

Whereas the questions and tone of the interview fluctuate per pet proprietor, some commonplace questions embody:

  • Why are you curious about pet sitting for us?
  • What’s your earlier expertise with canines/cats/different animals?
  • What are you planning on doing throughout the pet sit?
  • In the event you’re touring from abroad, what are your journey plans like?
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And bear in mind, don’t beat your self up in the event you don’t get the job ultimately. Pet sitting could be aggressive! Maintain making use of, and also you’ll finally land the right pet sitting gig.

Whether or not you’re questioning turn into an authorized pet sitter otherwise you’re hoping to safe some home sitting gigs on your subsequent prolonged trip, these 5 suggestions are the perfect steps to get began.

Tips on how to Discover Work as a Pet Sitter

Now that we’ve gone over turn into a canine sitter and turn into a cat sitter, let’s broaden on the place to seek out work as a pet sitter.

The golden retriever dog works with the pet sitter.

These are the 5 greatest web sites to seek out pet sitting gigs:

1. Trusted Housesitters

In the event you’re turning into a pet sitter within the hope you’ll get free lodging abroad, then you must use Trusted Housesitters. The most important pet sitting platform out there, Trusted Housesitters permits you to discover an abundance of home sitting alternatives around the globe.

With a 24/7 vet hotline, nice customer support, and an easy-to-navigate web site, Trusted Housesitters is likely one of the greatest pet sitting web sites on the market. Nonetheless, you do should pay an annual membership price to entry Trusted Housesitters’ plethora of alternatives; it prices $129 per 12 months.

I personally wish to view this membership price as a small funding; I pay $129 upfront, nevertheless it saves me hundreds of {dollars} on lodging a 12 months. I’ve used Trusted Housesitters to journey to international locations like Japan, the UK, and Belgium on a finances, so it’s undoubtedly value it.

Goats On The Highway readers obtain an computerized 20% off the price of the membership price with Trusted Housesitters. Use this hyperlink for the low cost and particulars.

2. Rover

In the event you’re eager about getting paid to pet sit regionally, then I like to recommend you try Rover. A web site the place you may listing your pet sitting companies like home sitting, pet boarding, canine strolling, doggy daycare, and drop-in visits; it’s one of the best ways to earn cash as a pet sitter.

Rover helps you to get began totally free, however they take a share of your wage out of your bookings. They provide 24/7 assist (which incorporates vet help), the Rover Assure (which incorporates reimbursement for up $25,000 value of vet charges), and offer you entry to an abundance of potential shoppers – it’s value having a look.

3. Nomador

For these nonetheless questioning turn into a pet sitter, Nomador is likely one of the greatest web sites to get began.

Full of worldwide home sitting alternatives, it’s the right platform for vacationers and digital nomads. It does, nevertheless, has a membership price of $85 per 12 months.

4. MindMyHouse

Just like Nomador and Trusted Housesitters, MindMyHouse is a global home sitting web site that’s good for these seeking to turn into a pet sitter.

With an easy-to-use web site and plenty of pet sitting alternatives, MindMyHouse is a good way to get began. It’s additionally one of many cheaper choices out there and prices simply $29 per 12 months.

5. Native Job Listings on Certainly or ZipRecruiter

Lastly, probably the greatest methods to seek out paid native pet sitting jobs is on job platforms similar to Certainly or ZipRecruiter. By looking latest job listings, you’ll find native firms hiring pet sitters and canine walkers for affordable charges.

Nonetheless, the alternatives out there to you’ll fluctuate primarily based on the place you’re situated and the time of 12 months. Nonetheless, it’s one of the best ways to constantly discover potential, paid pet sitting jobs. This was the case for me, despite the fact that it took me some time to get employed.

How A lot Do Pet Sitters Make?

Now that we’ve gone over turn into a contract pet sitter, it’s possible you’ll be questioning what the common wage seems to be like.

Sadly, most home sitting with pet jobs are unpaid as your pay comes within the type of free lodging and utilities. Often, these jobs additionally include extra perks, like free automobile entry, however, a lot of the listings discovered on web sites like Trusted Housesitters, Nomador, and MindMyHouse received’t pay.

Man handling out a salary to a pet sitter.

Nonetheless, when you achieve extra abilities and expertise as a pet nanny and home sitter, you’ll have the ability to leverage your experience for cash. Skilled pet sitters can anticipate to make $25 to $80 per evening, relying on the realm, shoppers, duties requested, and your testimonials.

Moreover, jobs that contain drop-in visits and canine strolling are undoubtedly worthy of fee. You’ll be able to anticipate to make $10 to $25 per 30-60 minute go to. You’ll be able to listing your companies and charges on web sites like Rover; simply observe that the upper your charges, the more durable it’s to seek out new shoppers.

General, don’t anticipate to make an excessive amount of cash at first. I used to be home sitting with pets totally free for 2 years earlier than I began requesting fee, and though I may’ve began charging a lot earlier, I used to be primarily in search of free journey lodging.

Execs and Cons of Being a Pet Sitter

To date, we’ve gone over turn into an expert pet sitter, the necessities of turning into a pet sitter, and the perfect pet sitting firms to select from. However how are you going to make sure if pet sitting is the appropriate match for you? What are the benefits and drawbacks of being an expert pet sitter?

pros and cons of being a pet sitter

Execs of Turning into a Pet Sitter

  • Free lodging and utilities: One of many largest perks of pet sitting is that you just get a free place to remain. In the event you’re pet sitting regionally, you may deal with it as a staycation; you’ll lower your expenses on utilities, and also you would possibly even get to reside some time in some luxurious properties. In the event you’re touring, pet sitting can mean you can go to new cities with out paying a dime for lodging.
  • Spend high quality time with animals: In the event you crave the corporate of lovely animals however don’t personal pets of your personal, pet sitting is one of the best ways to go. This was the best attract for me; after I first began out as an expert pet sitter, I couldn’t personal any of my very own pets as a result of I used to be dwelling nomadically in Japan.
  • It’s a good way to make more money: Whereas it’s a bit of unlikely you’ll make a full-time revenue off of pet sitting alone, it’s an ideal, simple, and handy strategy to make some further money.
  • It’s versatile: As an expert pet sitter, you could be self-employed. This implies you may select your jobs primarily based in your private preferences, and with an abundance of pet and home sitting gigs out there, there are lots of choices to select from.
  • It’s probably the greatest methods to journey: Pet sitting supplies you with the chance to go to the much less touristy areas of a metropolis and uncover some hidden gems. That is certainly one of my favourite components of pet sitting; it allowed me to discover fully new areas of London and Tokyo.
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Cons of Turning into a Pet Sitter

  • The wage isn’t excessive, constant, or dependable: Whereas it’s nice to receives a commission to cuddle and look after some animals, the wage isn’t nice. It additionally steadily varies between shoppers and seasons.
  • You may need to take care of some difficult shoppers: Whereas a lot of the pet house owners I’ve met have been very welcoming and sort, you sometimes should take care of tough and fussy shoppers. It may be demanding and exhausting to take care of their generally limitless stream of calls for.
  • You may need to take care of some misbehaved pets: Pet sitting a very mischievous or untrained animal could be fairly demanding. Caring for a poorly-behaved animal could be tiring; from cleansing up their messes to offering them with a wholesome outlet for his or her extreme power.
  • Most pet and home sitting web sites cost a membership price: In the event you’re questioning turn into a pet sitter with none expertise, it’s greatest to hitch a home sitting web site. Sadly, most of those web sites cost a membership price. I wish to view it as a small funding for my private freelance pet sitting enterprise.

Tips on how to Grow to be a Pet Sitter: FAQs

Listed here are the solutions to some generally requested questions on turn into a pet sitter:

What {qualifications} do I must be a pet sitter?

There aren’t any particular necessities to turn into a pet sitter, however some fascinating traits embody a love for animals, expertise with animal care, familiarity with animal conduct and customary coaching methods, stellar communication abilities, and pet first help certification.

How do I turn into a pet sitter with none expertise?

The easiest way to begin canine sitting or cat sitting as a beginner is to achieve as a lot pet care expertise as you may. This will embody strolling your mates’ canines or volunteering at an area veterinary clinic. Don’t neglect to ask them for references.

Are pet sitters in demand?

Pet sitters are undoubtedly in demand, particularly in large cities. Pet house owners know that their beloved animals are way more snug staying at house than at a pet boarding facility, and pet sitting firms like Rover and Trusted Housesitters are persevering with to develop and develop to satisfy calls for.

Is pet sitting exhausting?

Whereas pet sitting is usually considered as a straightforward job, it undoubtedly comes with its challenges, particularly when deling with animals which have behavioral points or an extreme quantity of power. With a view to turn into a pet sitter, you’ll must be affected person, devoted, and accountable.

Do pet sitters receives a commission?

Sure, as an expert pet sitter, you may anticipate to receives a commission $25 to $80 per evening, relying on the situation, variety of pets, and particular pet companies requested. For drop-in visits, you may anticipate to receives a commission $10 to $25 per 30-60 minute go to.

Tips on how to turn into a canine sitter in your personal house?

If you wish to canine sit in your personal house, you’ll should have an acceptable set-up. This consists of having a safe space only for the canine with the entire necessities comprising a clear water dish, mattress, and enrichment (similar to canine toys!).

What duties do pet sitters have?

Some duties pet sitters have embody offering the pets with meals and water, enjoying with them, grooming them, giving them their drugs (if requested), strolling the canines, cleansing the cat litter, and preserving the house owners up to date on their well-being.

In Conclusion

I hope this text on get into petsitting has supplied you with the means and the arrogance to get began. Pet sitting is really certainly one of my favourite jobs on the earth; not solely do I get to save cash whereas visiting costly locations, however I get to spend high quality time with lovely animals.

Whether or not you wish to begin pet sitting to save lots of on journey lodging or to make some further money at house, there’s nothing higher than getting paid to look after a pet. So, open up your laptops and begin organising your profiles, it’s time to get began.

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