Finding pet care while on vacation can be as easy as asking family or friends to leave food and water for your animals.
While this is generally a cheaper option, professional pet sitters can do more for your furry friend in an emergency. This kind of in-home pet sitting keeps your dog or cat in familiar surroundings, letting the care come to them.
If your pet is a senior or has special needs, this is an option worth considering. Professional dog sitters generally ask for higher rates than your loved ones will, but they’re qualified and more experienced with tasks like giving medication or leash training.
In-home pet sitting
- Catalog of local sitters
- In-home socialization with other dogs
- Secure payment platform through the Rover app
- Daily doggy updates
- Care for cats too
In-home boarding combines the best perks of pet sitting and traditional boarding.
Instead of leaving your pets at home, an in-home boarding professional can watch your furry friend at their home. You’ll have to bring your pets to their location, but they get all the comforts of staying at a house while you’re away.
Like kennel owners, in-home boarders require a license and qualifications to charge for their services. So you can feel satisfied knowing your pets will get exercise, medications, food, and water during your trip.
In-home boarding for dogs is more common, but you can find these same services for cats, birds, fish, and other small pets.
Dog boarding services
If an in-home dog sitter isn’t the best option while you’re on vacation, you can board your pet at a kennel with other pups.
Research to find the most reliable pet boarding services in your area. The best dog-boarding services have puppy play areas for your best friend to meet other dogs and stay entertained while you’re away.
You can also board cats when you leave on vacation, but their enclosure is not as social as the dog areas.
Get a pet cam
- Barking alerts
- Easy setup
- Compatible with Alexa
Whether you’re in a different state or a different time zone, pet cameras let you see your furry friend whenever you miss them.
Pet cameras suffice on their own if you’re gone for short periods, but they pair well with pet sitting services. If you don’t know your drop-in pet sitter well, you can see your pet and their sitter through the camera.
The best pet cameras have treat dispensers, two-way talk, and other extras to keep your pets entertained. We especially like the Furbo 360° Dog Camera.
Some pet cams can connect to your security system or act as a security camera while you’re away.