A professional dog sitter or boarding: the differences

This week is Professional Pet Sitter week! Our dogs are part of our family but can’t always join our daily activities. In this case we have to look for someone to watch our four-legged companions. You can choose between a professional dog sitter or a boarding facility. They both look after your dog, but there are some differences. There are also pros and cons for both. While we are a boarding facility, we’d like to show you wat a pet sitter does and what the differences are. In this blogpost we compare and give you the knowledge you need.

This is a dog sitter

A professional dog sitter is a person that comes to your house to take care of your dog during the time you’re away. This can be a visit multiple times a day or staying for the whole day or overnight. When you hire a sitter, you explain the routine of the dog and what he or she needs during the day or night. The sitter then uses a key to go into your home to let your dog go out for a walk and potty breaks. It is personalized care in your dog’s familiar environment. Some sitters have multiple houses to visit per day, which can cut the time with yours short.

This is boarding

Boarding the dog at a facility means your dog is going somewhere else than being in their own environment. The facility is more a kennel-like environment with other dogs and staff to take care of them. During boarding there is a structured setting with potential for socialization with other dogs. While a lot of boarding facilities don’t offer personalized care and customization, we thrive to do that for every dog that comes in. Instead of being in the kennel most of the day, the dogs go out in the fenced in yard or on a 7 acres field on a long leash for a run. Most boarding facilities also don’t do enrichment, while we see what the dog likes and what games fits best.

The difference between a dog sitter and boarding

The differences between a dog sitter and boarding are day and night. It is good to know these differences before you decide for your dog.

The first difference is the location where your dog will stay. A dog sitter visits your home to give food and water and go outside for potty breaks. Boarding means your dog is going to a dedicated facility. Some dog sitters can stick to your dog’s schedule and routine, while a boarding has a more standardized schedule. Keep in mind that this is not always the case. Some dog sitters have multiple dogs to visit and some boarding facilities, just like Connecting K9, can work around schedules to give the dog what it needs. The last difference is with socialization. Boarding facilities often allow dogs to interact with each other, if it is possible and you give permission. Some boarding facilities also don’t give one-on-one time or only for an extra fee. A pet sitter provided one-on-one attention and won’t bring your dog to another place to interact.

Things to consider

Before choosing between a dog sitter and boarding, there are a few things to consider. Your dog’s temperament is one of them. If your dog is social and enjoys being around other dogs, boarding might be the best option. When the dog is anxious around new dogs, then a sitter can help you out. Our boarding facility also offers a quiet space for dogs that are anxious, so they don’t have to be around the other dogs all the time.

The medical needs of your dog can also change the decision you make. While dog sitters might be able to provide more personalized care, your dog’s medical needs can be monitored at your home. Some boarding facilities don’t offer options for specific medical needs. Dogs with medication are welcome at Connecting K9!

The length of your trip can also be a factor while deciding. For short trips a dog sitter in your neighborhood can help take care of your dog. Especially if it is only for two days. For longer stays it is better to look at a boarding facility. At Connecting K9 we offer options for every length of time!

Last but not least, your budget can play a role in choosing between a pet sitter and boarding. A dog sitter offers services for a low price. Most of the time the sitter comes over for a short time every visit, so the prices can stay low. Boarding is sometimes more expensive. It depends on the location and facility what the prices are.

Why choose Connecting K9

While hiring a pet or dog sitter can have a lot of benefits for your dog, choosing Connecting K9 can give you more. We thrive to give all dogs the attention and care they need. Dogs get one-on-one time but can also socialize with other dogs with your permission. Even though there is a standardized structure, we also make sure we don’t ignore the routine the dog is used to. For example, if your dog is free fed, we can do that instead of on our regular feeding times. If your dog is used to walks, we bring it to our field to run and play when weather permits. We want to make sure that every dog feels comfortable in our care.