How much do dog sitters charge? Dog sitter rates explained

One of the most popular questions our TrustedHousesitters team is asked is, ‘how much do dog sitters charge?’ And our answer is always the same: our pet-loving members don’t charge (so you'll be pleased to hear that there's no such thing as dog sitting rates here!), which is just one of the many reasons why pet sitting is the best alternative to dog kennels. They sit purely for the love of pets and the chance to stay somewhere new.

However, knowing how much a dog sitter near you would normally charge is a great way of working out just how cost-effective your TrustedHousesitters membership is - and what you could be spending on rather than dog sitter rates. It can also give you a good idea of what to pay a friend for dog sitting for the day.

So to help you with your pet care calculations, we’ve done some sniffing around and found the average cost of a dog sitter.

Average dog sitting rates

According to research completed by Thumbtack, the average dog sitter rate in the US is around $20 to $40 a day. Similarly, our exploration across different salary sites suggests the average cost of the UK dog sitter is around £25 a day, so it seems that pet sitter prices don't vary too much between the UK and US.

Of course, dog sitting rates depend on a number of factors other than country including responsibilities, special requests, location within the country, but mainly the length of time. And here’s what Thumbtack tells us about the average dog sitter rate per time period:

• Drop-in dog sitter rate: $25 for 30 minutes
• Drop-in dog sitter rate: $32 for an hour
• Overnight dog sitter rate: $75 to $85 per night
• Dog sitters charge $5 extra per additional pet

So, depending on the length of your trip, amount of pets, and your local dog sitting rates, your TrustedHousesitters membership can save you a lot, with no dog sitting rates exchanged! But the real benefits of letting your dog stay with a member of our kind and caring community go far beyond money… We’ll tell you more about that later. 

But first, let’s dig a little deeper on dog sitter prices, what are their average rates are and the difference in cost and service between dog sitting and dog boarding. 

How much do dog sitters charge in the UK?

According to pet adoption portal Wamiz, the average salary of a pet sitter in the UK is £24,218 per year. Of course, the dog sitter cost will vary depending on what your pet sitter does, but here’s a quick summary of average dog sitting rates:

• £10 to £15/hour for looking after pets for a few hours while the pet parents are at work or away
• £10 per hour for dog walking (per dog)
• From £25 for looking after an animal overnight
• Around £25 a day for looking after a dog

And we know you're here because you're wondering how much to pay dog sitter, but remember that with TrustedHousesitters, our dog sitters are here for the love of pups and a place to stay, so you won't need to exchange anything but trust.

Dog sitting price factors

Lots of things can affect pet sitting pricing. The average rates we’ve given you are just an indication of what’s to be expected, but the dog sitting rate can go up easily if you have more than one dog, or if your beloved Fido needs special care. 

To help you out, we’ve summarised some of the things that influence how much to pay a dog sitter: 

• Type of dog - How much exercise does your dog need? Are they a quiet and cuddly Saint Bernard or an energetic Husky? Do you have an adorable but very hyper puppy that requires extra attention? All of this will factor into the price you end up paying your dog sitter. 
• Location - Where you live and are located impacts dog sitter rates. Apparently, dog sitting in urban areas and big cities is dearer than in the countryside. 
• Time - How many hours will you need a dog sitter for? How involved do you need them to be? If you want them to be there 24/7 for your pet you may have to pay a premium. 
• Medical Care - Same goes for dogs that need medical care, depending on the type of medication and how it’s administered. 
• Extra dogs - Naturally, it’s not the same looking after one pooch as looking after five or six. Dog sitters usually charge extra for each additional dog they need to look after. 
• Holidays - If you need a pet sitter during popular holidays, then you may have to pay your dog sitter more. That's because those dates tend to be popular and also because you’ll be expecting the sitter to give up their free time to care for your four-legged friend. 

Benefits of dog sitting with TrustedHousesitters

1. Your dog can stay safe and happy at home

Above the financial savings, pet parents choose to connect with caring sitters from TrustedHousesitters so that their pets can stay in their own home — the one place vets agree all dogs feel safe and happy.

2. You know they’re with a pet lover like you

All TrustedHousesitters members join to make memories, not money. So when they apply to care for your dog, they’re doing it purely to spend time with your pet. This means pet parents like you can set off with the peace of mind that your dog is with a like-minded pet lover who really wants to be there.

3. Return to a happy dog and safe home

After your trip, there’s no need to stop off at the boarding kennels or local dog sitter’s house — you can head straight home, where your beloved dog will be waiting with a wagging tail. What’s more, with a reviewed, referenced, and verified dog sitter in your home, you can be sure your house has been kept safe and secure while you’ve been away.

What does a pet sitter do?

Pet sitters are pet lovers that will look after your pet while you’re away - on a holiday, at work or on a break - and whilst you can make the most out of their care if you’re a Trusted Housesitters member, it’s good to remember some basic tasks every dog sitter needs to do. So, here’s a quick summary of the most common pet sitting services: 

• Keep your dog(s) company and give them all the love and attention when you’re not home
• Give them food and fresh water
• Take your dog for walks, exercise and fresh air
• Clean any dog-related mess that may happen
• Take your furry friend to their vet appointments if you can’t
• Give your pooch their medicine if they take something (& they are qualified to do so)

What does a TrustedHousesitters dog sitter do?

From feeding and walking to playing fetch in the park, you can find sitters offering a wide range of services for varying prices. But if you connect with a TrustedHousesitters sitter, they’ll step seamlessly into your dog-walking shoes and maintain all parts of your pet’s routine at no extra cost — that’s belly rubs and ear scratches included.

How does it work? Pet parent members detail their dog’s needs on their online listing and then sitters will only apply if they are prepared to perform these responsibilities. Whether it’s slow walks to ensure your pup gets plenty of time to sniff and soak up the smells or you need someone who can confidently administer medication, you just need to ask.

To get an understanding of the level of care our canine-loving members provide, take a look at what Sophie the lovely Retriever has to say about her sitters, Patrick and Dee:  

'They took care of my brother Stanley who is blind and made sure he was always safe and also got his special medications. I can be a bit of a brat but I loved them so much I think I won them over. They were always cleaning the house too! Mom was super excited about that when she got home. They were so caring and even made sure we got our daily walks to all our favourite poo and pee places.'

To learn more about Sophie and Stanley’s sitter, take a look at their story. Sent to us by their pry parents, it’s just one of thousands submitted for the 2018 Sitter of the Year Awards.

Now you know how much to pay a dog sitter, which is nothing if they’re a TrustedHousesitters member. But has this left you with even more questions? You’re not alone. When pet parent members learn they don’t have to pay their dog sitter, they begin to wonder…

House sitting etiquette for pet parents

If you're new to the wonderful world of welcoming sitters to care for your furry family, you've probably got heaps of questions cropping up. Have them answered over on our blog on all things house sitting etiquette, where we dive into our most frequently asked questions from pet parents.