Do I have to have a fenced in yard to sit a dog?
I would like to join Rover and start dog sitting, but I dont have a fenced in backyard. Is this a problem?
3 Answers
Hi Stephanie,
No you do not have to have a yard to dog sit. Just take pictures of your place and let the dog owners know how often you will be able to take their dog(s) on walks. I have a few friends who dog sit that do not have yards.
Liz
I don't have a fenced yard, so what I've done instead is shown pictures of the areas around my home where we most frequently take the dogs for the kind of run-around-and-play exercise they would get in a yard. We have a large field about a block away that is nearly fully fenced, and I always discuss with the owners what level of freedom they are comfortable with their dog having.
I've also invested in a couple training leads, which are generally between 15-30 ft in length, to give dogs the opportunity to run around and play without worry of them getting free and running off. I'll use these even with dogs who generally are reliable off-leash as I'm getting to know them, either holding onto the loose end or letting it drag nearby, until I'm confident in their recall. Be aware that long leads are not always strictly legal (a lot of leash laws stipulate a maximum leash length of 6 or 8 ft), so keep that in mind when you're using them off of your own property.
You definitely don't have to. A yard is a plus, especially for big dogs, but just an apartment is fine, depending on the dog's activity level. I agree with Laura - take pictures of the areas around your home as well as inside of it to show where you'd be taking the dogs.
Comments
I honestly think the pictures on my account are the biggest draw. People see pics of us and the dogs on hikes, and of our other Rover guests having a blast, and they think "my dog would love that!" They want their dogs to have a great time, and you can't see that with just home/yard pics.