We often get inquiries about "house sitting" or staying overnight with the pets which is something we do not do. This post will explain what services we do offer and why we do not provide any overnight options.
First, what is "pet sitting"?
Pet sitting is a term used for many different pet care options. There is no industry standard for what defines "pet sitting" other than we take care of pets in some way. It is up to the individual pet sitter or business to decide what options they can provide.
The variety of options "pet sitting" includes:
staying overnight in the pet's home
overnight boarding at the pet sitters home
staying with the pet all day, or most of the day
caring for the pet in the evening after their work shift
day care services at the pet sitters home
pet taxi (pick ups and drop offs) for doggy daycare or groomer appointments
'drop in' visits at certain times of day
basic chores like cleaning the litter box or picking up poop
staying at the pet's home for a few hours
long walks, hikes, runs, or trips to the dog park
services for dogs only
just small dogs
a particular breed
cats only
other pets like reptiles, birds, guinea pigs, rats, and so on
farm animal care
The services provided will depend on the pet sitter's schedule, experience and preferences, their personal obligations, whether they have young children, housing, transportation, client demand, pet's needs, financial needs, and many other factors that play into each individual's decision-making.
It is important to look carefully at the services offered by each particular pet sitter or business and ask questions if anything is unclear or needs more explanation.
What a 'drop in' visit includes
A 'drop in' pet visit means that the pet sitter will drive to the pet's home and will spend a certain amount of time at each visit covering the basic needs of the pets.
This will typically include dog walks, potty breaks, breakfast, dinnertime feeding, and putting the pets to bed. Other chores we take care of include litter box scooping, poop patrol, cage clean-up, cleaning up pet messes, and so on. The length of each 'drop in' visit will also vary, and is unique to that pet sitter or business and can be either a set time or dependent on the individual needs of the pets or the pet sitter. Some pet sitters may also have add-ons like a special fun activity, extra playtime, longer walks, etc.
Common pet parent expectations and misunderstandings
Expectations and options vary wildly and there are often misunderstandings about pet sitting in general.
Not all pet sitters offer the same services or commitment of time
There is an expectation by some pet parents, if not most, that a pet sitter will stay at their home. I have had some inquiries where the person was very surprised that I did not offer overnight options or did not stay at their house all day. When I get that question I try to explain that they should search for the term 'house sitter' or use 'overnight' but that some pet sitters may only offer boarding at their own home or are out at work during the day so they need to find out what time each pet sitter will be there with their pets.
Many pet sitters only petsit part-time or as a side gig and work at a more traditional job which means they are out of the house for a good chunk of the day. They may only be available certain days of the week or on weekends. They may have a family and pets of their own so need to go home to take care of their other obligations. Very few pet sitters are able to stay with the pets 24/7 or may only be able to sustain that commitment for a very short period.
Pet sitters are individuals and need free time and their space just like everyone else. Burn out is rampant in our profession so we have to find a balance between our client's expectations, the pets' needs, and our own well-being. And, what that ends up looking like will vary significantly between businesses and individuals as well as over time.
Ask lots of questions and read carefully
It is important to not make assumptions and ask a lot of questions to ensure you can find the right pet sitter for you and your pets.
read their service listings carefully
ask clarifying questions
ensure you clearly explain YOUR expectations regarding time spent with the pets
ensure you have a clear understanding of what they can and cannot do before you leave on your trip
calculate the cost of the services, tax, and any additional fees to ensure it works with your budget
If you make the wrong assumptions you may be disappointed with the service.
What the pet needs
Another commonly held idea is that pets need someone to be with them overnight because that is what they are used to.
My pet cannot stay by themselves
It can be unfathomable to pet parents to leave their pet at home alone, maybe because they are concerned that their pet will be stressed or feel lonely. Maybe their dog cannot make it through the night without a potty break. They may previously have had a bad experience and want to make sure someone is with the pet just in case. Some pets may have separation anxiety and cannot be left alone for long. Or they may have a medical condition that puts them at a higher risk without continual monitoring.
There are many other reasons why pet parents prefer someone to stay with the pet overnight or for the whole day. That is understandable, and if that is what you are looking for there are pet sitters that provide that service. But not all pet sitters.
Adjusting to a 'drop in' service
If you work from home and spend most of your time with your pet they may not be ready for a 'drop in' service. This is more common now since so many people work remotely and younger dogs may not be used to being by themselves for more than a typical shopping trip or dinner out at a restaurant.
I would argue that, with the exception of true separation anxiety or serious health or behaviour concerns, in many cases the dog can adjust to a 'drop in' schedule. This may be particularly easy if they respond well to food puzzles, special treats or chews, calming pet music, and enjoy a good nap after a good walk.
It is something you can train them on, and get them used to with a shorter trip like a night away to start, then if it goes well try 2 or 3 nights, then gradually work them up to a full week vacation.
Why 'drop in' visits are a good option
From experience, someone does not need to stay overnight with all pets. Many pets do their own thing and are perfectly comfortable with spending the night alone.
The most obvious examples would be dogs that do not sleep in their human's bed with them. If they stay in a crate or their own bed on the floor or in another room it may make little difference to them if someone is sleeping in the house or not.
What makes a dog a good candidate for a 'drop in' service:
they typically make it through the night without issue
they tend to sleep later and can wait to go outside for their potty break
they are used to you being at work for longer shifts
you have a busy or irregular schedule normally so they are flexible and can adapt to change
they do not get stressed out being alone or are comfortable spending a lot of time with the other pets in the household
they do not howl, cry, or bark incessantly when left alone
they will not chew up your furniture if left alone
they do not have any serious health concerns that requires continual monitoring
they enjoy going out for walks as much as relaxing at home
they get overly stressed in strange places, like a kennel or someone else's home
they have had a bad experience at a kennel
they do not enjoy the company of other dogs
they prefer to stay home normally
Cats are typically excellent candidates, as are most other animals, particularly if they are a bit shy, dislike new places, or cannot be easily transported.
A backup plan
The 'drop in' pet visit service is a good backup plan:
if you prefer to have a friend or family member stay but they are not always available
if your regular house-sitter is unavailable
the kennel is fully booked
if you like to plan ahead for an emergency
It allows your pet to at least stay where they are most comfortable. And, the basic needs of your pet are covered. This can also get your pet comfortable with new experiences and helps when something unexpected does happens and your regular house sitter can't be there or needs assistance. Sometimes it takes a village!
When 'drop in' visits are not a good fit
There are many reasons why it may not work and that is okay. We try our best to point people to another option and can realistically only fit in so many pet visits per day.
Here are some common situations when 'drop in' visits are not a good fit
your dog is not friendly with strangers and/or is defensive and protective of their home turf
you have a fixed budget and a kennel is the most affordable option (or better yet a family member!)
your dog has separation anxiety and/or gets destructive when bored or left alone for too long
you do not have enough time to introduce your dog properly to the pet sitter
your dog needs to be kept busy or is super active and a daycare may be the best option to tucker them out
your pet is terrified of strangers
your pet is a flight risk if someone enters your home
we are booked solid!
What Furryornot Petcare does and does not offer
We only offer the 'drop in' visit service for pets. We do not provide any overnight or "house sitting", boarding, or day care options.
Why we do not offer other services
My personal preference is to be at home. I am a homebody and enjoy my space, my cats, my coffee and snacks, my normal routine. When I launched Furryornot Petcare in 2011 I did not initially offer overnight services but kept getting asked. Eventually I decided to add that since the demand was there and that kept me really busy and helped build up my business. But, over the years I struggled with my schedule and lack of free time. It was causing me to burn out which is a difficult situation to be in.
The 'drop in' visits were helpful and popular with a lot of clients and that was keeping me really busy. And, as I started to get help with the pet visits (my "Helpurrs") it became clear that I could not pay a fair hourly wage for covering any overnight bookings. So I had to do them myself.
I no longer wanted to work all day and then be at a client's all night, leaving me no time at all to spend with my own pets and sleep in my own bed. So, I stopped offering that service to new clients, and eventually my exisiting clients either switched to 'drop-in' visits or no longer needed the service.
My schedule is still full but at the end of the day I can at least go home and see my own pets, do laundry, have a snack, and just be in my own space and wind down.
What that means for you and your pets
Our 'drop in' visits range between 10 to 60 minutes, depending on your pet's needs and your budget.
For dogs, we typically schedule either a midday or mid-shift potty break or walk or may visit in the evening if you are at an event. If you have a puppy or a senior that needs extra potty breaks we can schedule 2 short potty breaks during your work day. If you are away for work or on vacation we will visit 3 or 4 times per day. That typically covers the potty breaks (or walks) and feedings. It is a customizable plan, but our limit is 4 visits per day to keep our schedule more manageable.
Cats may have one or two visits per day depending on their dietary or health needs. Other pets may have one or two visits depending on their needs and habitat setup, such as birds that need to be covered at night, or lights and heat lamps that need to be turned off and on.
Where we fit in
We offer on-leash dog walks, potty breaks, cat and creature sitting.
We have many clients that use us as well as a house sitter or daycare. Sometimes it really does take a village and we are happy to assist when we can.
If you have a house sitter that is out during the day or has a special event we can visit the pets and fill in those gaps.
If your house sitter or family member just can't manage your big dog on a walk we can help with that.
If your dog goes to daycare during the day but needs to be fed and taken out for a walk in the evening we can help with that.
If your dog goes to the kennel but you need someone to feed the cats, fish, or other pets we can help with that.
If you have an unusual pet that your regular pet sitter is uncomfortable with we can help with that.
Are 'drop in' visits for everyone? No. But it can be a good fit for many pets, and we are here to help when it is needed.
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