Pet Sitting At Home Or Do Your Dogs Go To A Boarding Kennel?

Your bags are packed and you are ready to take off for a few weeks to unwind and get away from it all. Your best friend/s however won’t be going with you. The question is; will you enlist the help of a local pet sitter service, or will you send them to a dog boarding kennel while you are on holiday? Both approaches have their advantages.

This is not a black and white, or a straight out yes or no situation. This is something you clearly need to have a good think about as you weigh up what is in the best interests of your pet/s. Financially speaking, if you are going away for extended periods, the costs certainly do increase substantially with the boarding kennel option.

Kennels can be a really good option. The good ones are professional, trained, experienced and able to make sure your pet/s will be fed and have a clean kennel. There will be (usually) plenty of other animals around so that can also be seen, at least on some levels, as a positive. Many dog owners use kennels or professional pet minders to look after their pets and are happy to do so. There is however a considerable cost involved here, and as pet owners know, it can be expensive…particularly if you are away from home for a considerable time.

On the other hand you have the pet sitter service option. This can be done either at your home (house sitting and pet sitting all in one), or it can be done at someone elses home as they look after your pet for you at their place. Both approaches can work really well.

The ultimate decision depends on what you are comfortable with, and of course the needs of your pet/s. Will taking your pet/s out of their home cause them stress or anxiety? Will it increase the likelihood of harm or danger to them as they are introduced to a new environment? After all, what is this new environment like? How might your pet react to being taken out of its home environment? – remembering that it is already having to deal with its owner/s not being there.

Something to consider here is that your holiday is anything but that for your pet – particularly if it is placed into the wrong situation. Going from a familiar, comfortable family home environment surrounded by owner/s that love them, is a stark contrast to being sent to a noisy and stressful environment as some professional dog kennels can be. It is anything but a holiday for your pet – it is more like a hard labour prison camp! It can cause stress and anxiety for your pets as they get the double whammy of not just having to leave home while you are away enjoying yourself, but they don’t have you with them either. For some pets it is a very difficult experience.

The advantages of having your pet looked after in your (and importantly its) home while you are away, is that you also get someone looking after your house and property for you as well. That is extra peace of mind and one less thing to worry or concern yourself about. It can also be very good value on any number of levels.

The key here though is to make sure you choose the right person for the job. The best way to do this is to look for a proven professional house sitter, someone who is experienced, trusted, and has runs on the board so to speak.

How can you tell?

Here are a few tips to help you find the right person to house sit and pet sit in your home:[green_tick_1_list width=”100%”]

Word of mouth and personal recommendations are always good if you can get them – note that they do not guarantee a good experience for you or your pets. These recommendations are often given on a whim, or based on little proven demonstration or evidence of the persons experience or attitude.
Does the house sitter have genuine testimonials, references or feedback you can see – and importantly, check if required?
Does the person have a web presence like a personal website or, to a much lesser extent, a facebook page for example?
Do they take the time to talk or write (a good website can demonstrate this perfectly) about what they do?
What else do you know or find out about them?
Are they professional, trustworthy and respectful of your home, your pets and your belongings?
What is your feel about this person?
Are you comfortable having them stay in your home?
Do they like animals – and does your pet/s like them?
Will they exercise your pet/s?
Have they pet sitted a dog before for example? What is their experience with pets like yours?
Are they clean. How can you tell or measure that?
Do they exercise good judgement and initiative in and around the home and property?[/green_tick_1_list]

There are other considerations of course. The key is to do your due diligence, and to not just accept any person into your home and into your pets life. Ask questions. Ensure communication is clear. Have additional contacts nearby if something happens while you are away. Delineate what is expected during the stay – and do it in writing.

Do you need a pet sitter or a house sitter? Would you like to learn more about what I do, and when I am available? To find out more, please go to the contact me drop down menu at the top of the page. If you know someone who might need or be interested in my house sitting, pet sitting or other services, please recommend, like and share my website with them.

*Craig Hedge is a Professional house sitter and pet sitter based in Hobart (nipaluna), Tasmania, Australia.
https://www.craigshousesitting.com
He is also a Professional Coach and author of the Instinctive Living self help ebook and audiobook series available on Amazon, Audible and iTunes.
https://www.audible.com/author/Craig-W-Hedge/B0767ZFK1Z

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you housesit outside of Tasmania?

Yes. I am always open to housesit throughout Australia and around the world. The future is open!

Why should my pets stay at home anyway?

Clearly there are good arguments for pets to stay at home instead of being sent to expensive, and at times noisy and crowded boarding kennels. Your pets can get stressed. The fact you are leaving them may be challenging enough for them. Add a noisy environment and take them out of familiar surroundings, and it can multiply the stress for your loved ones. As someone who is very familiar with assessing risk, the risk of stress increases when these situations are undertaken - particularly with sensitive pets who are used to being looked after.

Do you walk and exercise pets as part of your housesitting assignments?

Yes. Again this is negotiable and is determined on previously mentioned variables and the individual requirements of the home owner.

How much do I charge for dog sitting and house sitting?

My services are generally FREE of charge. Of course, it is dependent on the situation - and each housesit is different. Generally speaking, the more responsibilities or tasks may equate to additional costs. Much depends on the conditions within and around the housesitting assignment. In simple terms it is not just about what I can provide for you - it is also about what you can provide for me. It is a give and take situation. As a professional who knows the value of trust, security, experience and great service delivery, I know that paying peanuts usually results in acquiring monkeys. The more the stay works for me, the more negotiable I am. To be clear, my service is predominantly a FREE SERVICE.

What if something happens during the house sit like a problem or emergency for example?

This is where a plan is important, as well as contact details for various friends, family and services. My blog on the Home Page discusses this in more detail.

Why do I housesit and petsit?

At the end of 2014 I left my career at the Department of Treasury and Finance and decided to live my life in new and different ways - I needed a change. These days I am pursuing other interests and passions that work very well with house sitting. These include my writing and blogging, my life coaching, and my more flexible and adaptable approach to living all around the world. For now, house sitting and pet sitting works very well for my lifestyle.

What do you do as a house sitter?

This is dependent on what is required and negotiated. I offer a number of services and value adds for home owners during the housesitting assignment. See My Services on the Home Page for more information. Please also note that I am flexible and open to any roles and responsibilities that may be required during a home stay.

What duration do house sitting assignments generally go to?

Housesitting stays are negotiable. They can range from 1 night up to 12 months. It depends on my availability of course and the location.

How should I prepare my home and property for house sitting?

I suggest you write down a list of what needs to be done. You should also provide a contact list relating to any emergencies that might happen, or services that may be required during the housesitter stay. A good idea is to look at my blog on the Home Page of the website where I discuss these things in much more detail.

Can I find a house sitter to look after my house and pet/s as well as continue to rent my accommodation at the same time?

Yes. Each assignment is negotiable. I am flexible and adaptable to most situations. I understand that sometimes those staying in the home may not be as reliable or accountable in relation to the care and maintenance of your property and pets. With many home owners now using services such as Airbnb to rent out rooms, this is something that can be negotiated for the housesitting assignment.

Who pays for the household costs while I have a house sitter staying on the premises?

Each housesitting and petsitting assignment is negotiated and negotiable. Generally speaking, household costs are covered by the home owner during the housesit assignment.

Why should I use Craig's Housesitting services instead of a house sitting membership site or an agency?

My service is professional and it is operated solely and wholly by myself. Why is this important? Because entrusting your information and your assets to one trusted person considerably reduces the risk (and my working background centred around risk assessment and management) and maximises the level of confidentiality and security. I am a trusted housesitter with demonstrated long term results. Experience and reputation counts when you are trusting your major asset/s and your pets to be looked after and cared for.

Do I need to complete or sign a written contract for the housesitting or petsitting assignment?

No. My service is flexible and adaptable. Whilst I am more than happy to draw up a contract, this is not necessary. What is a requirement is that there is an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of both parties, and clear lines of communication prior to, and throughout the assignment.

How do you know that I am a trustworthy and reliable person?

I have provided around 30 testimonials and references on this website from my personal life coaching, my travelling and Workawaying in Australia and overseas, and through my housesitting and petsitting assignments. Prior to the end of 2014, I spent 10 years working for the Tasmanian Government in Compliance where I worked in a highly regulated and professional environment that required a high level of responsibility, autonomy and integrity. My role was to audit, licence, and regulate Tasmanian liquor and gaming premises. This was a position that required personal and professional responsibility, accountability and trust.