General Questions

• What is Rover.com?

  Rover.com helps you find a real home for your dog to stay while you travel. Founded on the belief that dogs deserve to stay in safe, loving homes while their owners travel, Rover.com is building a community of dog-lovers to fulfill that vision. Started and run by dog owners/fanatics, Rover.com is enabling a cage-free experience for dogs, at a more affordable price for their humans than traditional options for boarding a dog, and taking the guilt out of the decision to leave Rover home.

• How does Rover.com work?

  If you are planning to travel out of town, and you can’t take your dog with you, Rover.com is here for you! Create a free profile on Rover.com (it’s easy and only takes a moment!) and browse hundreds of dog-loving host homes near you. Once you’ve found the perfect sitter, book a reservation. If you wish, schedule some time to meet and see the home to introduce your pooch. Pay your sitter securely through the Rover.com transaction system using your credit card or PayPal account. Rover.com will hold these funds until after your dog has been cared for to make sure you are satisfied! If you are a sitter, you can create your profile, upload photos, set your rates, let others know what types of dogs you will host and your availability for hosting!

• Is Rover.com right for my dog? How is boarding a dog on Rover.com different than a kennel?

  We believe that dogs prefer homes to kennels and other dog boarding options and we believe that there is a great sitter for any dog on Rover.com. You can find the perfect home for your pooch by browsing Rover.com's awesome profiles, and you are always encouraged to schedule time with your host prior to the stay! This time can be helpful introduce your dog and view the home where he'll be staying. Still not sure if Rover.com is the right dog boarding option for you? Please contact us at support@rover.com! We'd love to hear from you!

• What does it cost to join Rover.com?

  Nothing! It is completely free to join.

• Is Rover.com safe?

  Yes! Rover.com is committed to providing a secure environment for dog owners and dog sitters. We encourage everyone to have a full and honest profile with their services, experience, home and pictures. We also enable users to login via Facebook, identifying them through the popular social network and encourage a meet and greet before the actual stay.

• Can I meet the host before I leave my dog?

  Once you have chosen a host, you are encouraged to schedule an in-person 'meet and greet' to introduce your dog and see the home.

• How do I pay?

  We accept all major credit cards, or you can use your Paypal account. Transactions through Rover.com ensures that your payments are secure.

• What is the cancellation policy on Rover.com?

  We know that plans can change. If you need to cancel your Rover.com reservation, contact us at support@rover.com. You’ll receive a full refund, in all cases, if you cancel with more than 24 hours notice to us. In the case of an urgent cancellation (within the 24 hour window prior to your scheduled booking) you will be refunded 50% for all fees up to a 7 day booking, and 100% of everything thereafter!

  Example: For a weekend stay with a sitter, you will be refunded 50%. For a 4-week vacation, you will only be charged 50% for the first 7 days and the remaining 3 weeks are refunded in full!

• What should I bring when I drop off my dog?

  One of the cool things about Rover.com is that you can provide your dog with an experience more like his own home environment. Help your sitter by providing his own food, bed, a toy he loves. We also recommend providing instructions including information about your dog's daily routine, eating habits, exercise (don't forget his leash!), likes and dislikes, and any unusual or specific behaviors. Finally, remember to bring any medications your dog may be taking.

Host Questions

• Should I host dogs in my home?

  Hosting dogs in your home is a personal decision. If your home or apartment is dog friendly and everyone in your household is comfortable and excited to have a dog in your home- Congratulations! You are a great dog host candidate. It’s free and easy to list. If you are new to Rover.com, create a profile including a full description with pictures of yourself, your home, and your dogs (if you have any).

• How much does it cost to list my services on Rover.com?

  Nothing. It is completely free to create a profile. Rover.com takes a service fee at the time of a transaction. The fee starts at 15% and can go as low as 3%.

• How do I get paid for dog sitting on Rover.com?

  You can choose to receive a cash payment from Rover.com at anytime, or simply store the value earned in the form of "Rover Bucks" for use later. You can use your Rover Bucks for dog services in the future or redeem them at anytime. Your funds will be available three days after the dog in your care is returned to his or her owner.

• Can I control which dogs I accept for sitting and dog boarding?

  Yes. You are in full control which dogs you want to host in your home or dog sit based on your own preferences and requirements. You can set these preferences in your profile.

• What are Certification Badges?

  Whether you are looking for a host with professional training and certifications such as First Aid, or you prefer a host who is donating a portion or all of their proceeds to a dog-related charity, Rover.com makes it easy to identify these hosts by displaying badges on their profiles.

• What is "Promote to Craigslist"?

  Promote to Craigslist is a feature which will help to get more exposure to your Rover profile by utilizing the popular nationwide classifieds service Craigslist. We do not expose your email when your ad is pushed to Craigslist. Instead, it is anonymized through their service.

• Do I need to be licensed and bonded/insured?

  No. At Rover.com we offer a wide variety of options for dog owners, ranging from professional sitters to dog-loving neighbors down the street. Sitters profiles are constantly reviewed and our goal is to encourage a community of only the most loving dog-owners to use Rover.com

• What should I do if I am unable to dog sit or already booked?

  You can indicate your availability in the calendar function of your profile.

• Should I keep in contact with the owner while they are away?

  Absolutely. We encourage that you provide daily updates such as messages and sending pictures of the dog. There is nothing like seeing a picture of your happy dog while away.

• How does the "Last Minute" request work?

  If you’re a member of our last minute list, Rover.com will contact you directly with last minute requests for dog sitting in your service area. Please contact us at support@rover.com to be part of the last minute program.

• I’m a dog walker, not a sitter. Can I use Rover.com?

  Yes. Rover.com is primarily devoted to dog sitting and dog boarding, but it is already being used by walkers. You can use the description section to list your dog walking services.

• How can I get a Featured Listing on Rover.com?

  Getting a featured listing on Rover.com is easy. If you are a great sitter and want to gain more exposure on Rover.com, we will provide a high visibility priority search for your Rover.com profile. You might want to offer a limited promotional pricing for Rover.com members. For example, you might agree to offer 1st time Rover customer 10% discount off your regular price. Please contact us at partners@rover.com for more information on featured listings.