Do you need to get free lodging in your subsequent trip? Or are you in search of methods to make further money? Maybe you’re a digital nomad looking for methods to scale back housing prices. If that’s the case, it’s time to learn to grow to be a pet sitter.
Pet sitting means that you can receives a commission (in cash or lodging) in trade for caring for lovely animals. It’s actually a win-win state of affairs. With loads of gigs accessible globally, pet sitting is an effective way to journey.
I’ve pet sat around the globe; I spent every 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 option to journey.
On this article, I’ll share the necessities to grow to be a pet sitter, how you will discover work, how a lot pet sitters receives a commission, and extra.
What’s a Pet Sitter?
Firstly, earlier than we get into methods to grow to be a pet sitter, you might 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 normally entails staying on the pet proprietor’s residence, however this isn’t at all times the case; it could additionally embrace dropping in to test on the pets, enjoying with them, checking the cat litter, or strolling the canine.
Pet sitting also can embrace letting the animals keep at your personal residence, however this requires a safe and secure set-up. Whatever the particulars, pet sitter duties usually contain offering the animals with security, meals, water, affection, and playtime.
In distinction, home sitters take care of somebody’s residence whereas they’re away; this nearly at all times includes staying on the property. Their duties can embrace caring for a pet, nevertheless it additionally contains watering the vegetation, 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 sorts of jobs have execs 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
If you happen to’re questioning methods to grow to be a pet sitter and not using a diploma, you might be asking what certifications, programs, or expertise you want in an effort to be up for the job.
Fortunately, most purchasers don’t require you to have any official pet sitting certifications or programs, nonetheless, there are some experiences and traits which can be important for thriving as a pet sitter, together with:
Expertise with Animal Care: In an effort to safe pet sitting gigs, you have to emphasize your previous experiences with pet care. This contains feeding, strolling, cleansing, grooming, and enjoying with pets. If you happen to’ve by no means owned any pets earlier than, you’ll be able to achieve some beneficial expertise by pet sitting to your buddies or volunteering at a neighborhood veterinary clinic.
A Love for Animals: If you happen to’re right here to study to be a pet sitter, I think about you have already got a powerful 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: Some of the essential traits that pet house owners are in search of of their pet sitters is duty. They’re leaving their treasured animals and residential within the care of a stranger, they usually want to have the ability to belief their pet sitters fully.
Versatile: In an effort to work as a pet sitter, you need to be versatile. The pet proprietor could have a last-minute request or your in a single day pet sitting dates could 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 important communicator is crucial. From private expertise, I discovered that pet house owners particularly love receiving pictures of their cats enjoying or canine out on walks, because it exhibits that they’re having a good time and are completely satisfied. Being a superb communicator can also be required if and when emergencies or issues come up.
(Optionally available) 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 could definitely improve your credibility as an expert, so it’s nice for these critical a couple of profession in pet sitting. Some certifications embrace the NAPPS and the CPPS.
(Optionally available) Pet First Support Course: Whereas taking and passing a pet first support course isn’t important if you wish to work as a pet sitter, it’s an effective way to extend your credibility and reliability, which in return, could make it simpler to search out purchasers.
I pet sat for 2 years earlier than I received my pet first support certification, so don’t really feel pressured to get it straight away. That being mentioned, having the certification elevated my odds of securing new purchasers, and it made me extra snug with caring for pets with medical points.
Find out how to Grow to be a Pet Sitter (5 Steps)
Now that we’ve gone over the necessities of changing into a pet sitter, let’s get into the 5 final steps on methods to get your first pet sitting place.
These steps will provide help to safe new purchasers no matter whether or not you’re a brand new or skilled pet sitter. The following tips have helped me get pet sitting gigs around the globe, together with constant canine sitting jobs in Vancouver and home sitting gigs in Japan.
I’ve each confidence that these steps will provide help to discover constant pet sitting jobs as properly.
1. Be a part of A number of Home Sitting and Pet Sitting Web sites
To start with, in an effort to discover pet sitting jobs regionally and around the globe, you need to be a part of a number of home/pet sitting web sites.
Fortunately, there are a lot of web sites to select from. Some selections embrace Trusted Housesitters (use this hyperlink to get 20% off), Nomador, MindMyHouse, Home Sitters America, Home Sitters Canada, and Home Carers. Try the following part to study extra about the very best pet sitting web sites.
Alternatively, for those who’re questioning methods to grow to be a canine sitter in your personal metropolis, you’ll be able to search for native jobs on web sites comparable to Certainly, ZipRecruiter, and Rover.
Once I first began out as a pet sitter, I used to be primarily fascinated about discovering free lodging whereas touring. I solely used Trusted Housesitters to search out pet sitting gigs, and due to it being the biggest pet sitting platform on-line, it was straightforward for me to search out alternatives.
Nonetheless, I discover that it’s simpler to search out paid pet sitting jobs regionally. Total, it’s finest to make use of many alternative web sites to increase your choices. Click on right here to enroll with Trusted Housesitters and obtain 20% off the membership payment.
2. Create the Good Profile
When you’ve joined a pet sitting web site or two, it’s time to arrange the right profile.
Before everything, be certain your profile is well-written and error-free, as this can convey your professionalism. Nonetheless, don’t overlook to incorporate a bit of character.
Discuss your earlier pet care expertise, expertise, and why you’re fascinated about pet sitting. Embody any testimonials or previous pet sitting critiques (for those who’re a complete beginner, get some references from buddies or co-workers; see step 3!). And don’t overlook to incorporate some pictures of you with some lovely animals.
Bear in mind to focus in your strengths. I at all times emphasize my expertise, duty, and love for animals in my profile. If you happen to’ve taken any pet first support programs or certifications, be sure you spotlight them.
3. Safe Your References
Subsequent, it’s time to safe your references. That is crucial a part of getting began as a pet sitter, as having previous references, critiques, and testimonials makes you appear extra reliable and reliable.
If you happen to’re questioning methods to grow to be a pet sitter with none expertise, you’ll be able to at all times search for some native alternatives. Pet sit to your buddies or household, discover native job postings, or supply to stroll your neighbor’s canine and easily ask the house owners to write down a evaluation afterward.
It’s also possible to ask for some character references from your folks, 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.
Total, no matter whether or not you’re a newbie or an skilled pet sitter, it’s important to incorporate references and critiques to construct belief with potential purchasers.
4. Discover and Apply for the Finest 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 permit you to specify your search to locations, dates, size of keep, and species of animals. Many pet sitting web sites may also allow you to specify the kind of job, comparable to home sitting with pets, drop-in visits, or canine strolling.
After you’ve discovered and browse 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 attractive and informative utility message.
Introduce your self, speak about their pets, spotlight your previous related expertise, and clarify why you’re the best alternative for them. Be sure to ask some questions in regards to 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 at all times wish to tailor my utility 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 caring for nervous and shy rescue cats.
5. Put together to 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 superb match, they’re prone to attain out and ask for those who’re fascinated about an interview. You’re one step nearer to securing a pet sitting job. All you need to do is ace the interview.
So, what’s one of the simplest ways to organize for these pet sitting interviews? I wish to go over the job itemizing and be aware something essential that they may convey up.
Do the pets have any well being points or behavioral issues? If that’s the case, be ready to reply questions in your comfortability and expertise with all these pets.
Whereas the questions and tone of the interview differ per pet proprietor, some commonplace questions embrace:
- Why are you interested by pet sitting for us?
- What’s your earlier expertise with canine/cats/different animals?
- What are you planning on doing throughout the pet sit?
- If you happen to’re touring from abroad, what are your journey plans like?
And keep in mind, don’t beat your self up for those who don’t get the job in the long run. Pet sitting may be aggressive! Maintain making use of, and also you’ll finally land the right pet sitting gig.
Whether or not you’re questioning methods to grow to be an authorized pet sitter otherwise you’re hoping to safe some home sitting gigs to your subsequent prolonged trip, these 5 ideas are the very best steps to get began.
Find out how to Discover Work as a Pet Sitter
Now that we’ve gone over methods to grow to be a canine sitter and methods to grow to be a cat sitter, let’s increase on the place to search out work as a pet sitter.
These are the 5 finest web sites to search out pet sitting gigs:
1. Trusted Housesitters
If you happen to’re changing into a pet sitter within the hope you’ll get free lodging abroad, then you need to use Trusted Housesitters. The largest pet sitting platform accessible, Trusted Housesitters means that you can 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 finest pet sitting web sites on the market. Nonetheless, you do should pay an annual membership payment to entry Trusted Housesitters’ plethora of alternatives; it prices $129 per 12 months.
I personally wish to view this membership payment as a small funding; I pay $129 upfront, nevertheless it saves me 1000’s 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 price range, so it’s undoubtedly price it.
Goats On The Street readers obtain an automated 20% off the price of the membership payment with Trusted Housesitters. Use this hyperlink for the low cost and particulars.
2. Rover
If you happen to’re fascinated about getting paid to pet sit regionally, then I like to recommend you try Rover. A web site the place you’ll be able to record your pet sitting providers like home sitting, pet boarding, canine strolling, doggy daycare, and drop-in visits; it’s one of the simplest ways to earn cash as a pet sitter.
Rover allows 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 price of vet charges), and offer you entry to an abundance of potential purchasers – it’s price having a look.
3. Nomador
For these nonetheless questioning methods to grow to be a pet sitter, Nomador is likely one of the finest web sites to get began.
Stuffed with worldwide home sitting alternatives, it’s the right platform for vacationers and digital nomads. It does, nonetheless, has a membership payment of $85 per 12 months.
4. MindMyHouse
Much like Nomador and Trusted Housesitters, MindMyHouse is a world home sitting web site that’s good for these trying to grow to be a pet sitter.
With an easy-to-use web site and many pet sitting alternatives, MindMyHouse is an effective way to get began. It’s additionally one of many cheaper choices accessible and prices simply $29 per 12 months.
5. Native Job Listings on Certainly or ZipRecruiter
Lastly, among the finest methods to search out paid native pet sitting jobs is on job platforms comparable to Certainly or ZipRecruiter. By looking current job listings, you will discover native corporations hiring pet sitters and canine walkers for affordable charges.
Nonetheless, the alternatives accessible to you’ll differ primarily based on the place you’re positioned and the time of 12 months. Nonetheless, it’s one of the simplest ways to constantly discover potential, paid pet sitting jobs. This was the case for me, although it took me some time to get employed.
How A lot Do Pet Sitters Make?
Now that we’ve gone over methods to grow to be a contract pet sitter, you might be questioning what the common wage appears like.
Sadly, most home sitting with pet jobs are unpaid as your pay comes within the type of free lodging and utilities. Sometimes, these jobs additionally include further perks, like free car entry, however, many of the listings discovered on web sites like Trusted Housesitters, Nomador, and MindMyHouse gained’t pay.
Nonetheless, when you achieve extra expertise and expertise as a pet nanny and home sitter, you’ll be capable to leverage your experience for cash. Skilled pet sitters can anticipate to make $25 to $80 per evening, relying on the realm, purchasers, duties requested, and your testimonials.
Moreover, jobs that contain drop-in visits and canine strolling are undoubtedly worthy of fee. You may anticipate to make $10 to $25 per 30-60 minute go to. You may record your providers and costs on web sites like Rover; simply be aware that the upper your charges, the more durable it’s to search out new purchasers.
Total, 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 might’ve began charging a lot earlier, I used to be primarily looking for free journey lodging.
Execs and Cons of Being a Pet Sitter
Thus far, we’ve gone over methods to grow to be an expert pet sitter, the necessities of changing into a pet sitter, and the very best pet sitting corporations to select from. However how are you going to make certain if pet sitting is the appropriate match for you? What are the benefits and drawbacks of being an expert pet sitter?
Execs of Changing 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. If you happen to’re pet sitting regionally, you’ll be able to deal with it as a staycation; you’ll lower your expenses on utilities, and also you would possibly even get to dwell some time in some luxurious properties. If you happen to’re touring, pet sitting can permit you to go to new cities with out paying a dime for lodging.
- Spend high quality time with animals: If you happen to crave the corporate of lovely animals however don’t personal pets of your personal, pet sitting is one of the simplest ways to go. This was the best attract for me; once 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 residing nomadically in Japan.
- It’s an effective way to make extra cash: Whereas it’s a bit of unlikely you’ll make a full-time revenue off of pet sitting alone, it’s an important, straightforward, and handy option to make some further money.
- It’s versatile: As an expert pet sitter, you may be self-employed. This implies you’ll be able to select your jobs primarily based in your private preferences, and with an abundance of pet and home sitting gigs accessible, there are a lot of choices to select from.
- It’s among the finest 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 considered one of my favourite components of pet sitting; it allowed me to discover fully new areas of London and Tokyo.
Cons of Changing 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 regularly varies between purchasers and seasons.
- You might need to take care of some tough purchasers: Whereas many of the pet house owners I’ve met have been very welcoming and sort, you often should take care of tough and fussy purchasers. It may be annoying and exhausting to take care of their typically infinite stream of calls for.
- You might need to take care of some misbehaved pets: Pet sitting a very mischievous or untrained animal may be fairly annoying. Caring for a poorly-behaved animal may be tiring; from cleansing up their messes to offering them with a wholesome outlet for his or her extreme vitality.
- Most pet and home sitting web sites cost a membership payment: If you happen to’re questioning methods to grow to be a pet sitter with none expertise, it’s finest to hitch a home sitting web site. Sadly, most of those web sites cost a membership payment. I wish to view it as a small funding for my private freelance pet sitting enterprise.
Find out how to Grow to be a Pet Sitter: FAQs
Listed here are the solutions to some generally requested questions on methods to grow to be a pet sitter:
There aren’t any particular necessities to grow to be a pet sitter, however some fascinating traits embrace a love for animals, expertise with animal care, familiarity with animal conduct and customary coaching methods, stellar communication expertise, and pet first support certification.
One of the best ways to start out canine sitting or cat sitting as a beginner is to realize as a lot pet care expertise as you’ll be able to. This will embrace strolling your folks’ canine or volunteering at a neighborhood veterinary clinic. Don’t overlook to ask them for references.
Pet sitters are undoubtedly in demand, particularly in large cities. Pet house owners know that their beloved animals are way more snug staying at residence than at a pet boarding facility, and pet sitting corporations like Rover and Trusted Housesitters are persevering with to develop and develop to fulfill calls for.
Whereas pet sitting is usually considered as a simple job, it undoubtedly comes with its challenges, particularly when deling with animals which have behavioral points or an extreme quantity of vitality. In an effort to grow to be a pet sitter, you’ll must be affected person, devoted, and accountable.
Sure, as an expert pet sitter, you’ll be able to anticipate to receives a commission $25 to $80 per evening, relying on the situation, variety of pets, and particular pet providers requested. For drop-in visits, you’ll be able to anticipate to receives a commission $10 to $25 per 30-60 minute go to.
If you wish to canine sit in your personal residence, you’ll should have an appropriate set-up. This contains having a safe space only for the canine with all the necessities comprising a clear water dish, mattress, and enrichment (comparable to canine toys!).
Some duties pet sitters have embrace offering the pets with meals and water, enjoying with them, grooming them, giving them their drugs (if requested), strolling the canine, cleansing the cat litter, and preserving the house owners up to date on their well-being.
In Conclusion
I hope this text on methods to get into petsitting has supplied you with the means and the arrogance to get began. Pet sitting is actually considered one of my favourite jobs on the planet; 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 need to begin pet sitting to avoid wasting on journey lodging or to make some further money at residence, there’s nothing higher than getting paid to look after a pet. So, open up your laptops and begin establishing your profiles, it’s time to get began.