You might prefer to bring your dog on every trip you take—and they might wish they could join you, too—but there will be times when they have to stay behind.
Leaving your dog with a sitter can help make sure they get plenty of one-on-one attention and playtime, often in the comfort of their own home!
For many dogs, sitting is a better, less stressful alternative to kennel boarding. However, like any other type of pet care, dog sitting will add some costs to your travel budget.
Read on to learn more about the average dog-sitting rates in various situations and different UK cities, based on national data from real pet sitters on Rover.
Dog Sitting Costs by Services
Dog sitting can include a range of services. The three main ways a sitter can look after your dog include:
- Drop-ins: Your sitter will stop by your house to refill food and water, let your dog out for toilet breaks, and give them some attention and playtime
- Sitter boarding: Your dog will stay at your sitter’s house while you’re gone. They may stay alone or with other dogs.
- In-house sitting: The dog sitter will stay overnight in your house while you’re gone. Depending on your arrangement, they may take care of other house-sitting chores.
The exact rate for these services will vary by your area’s cost of living, but this chart shows the average sitting rates compiled from sitters across the country.
| Service | Rate per day | Rate per week | Rate per month |
| Drop-in visits | £20 (per visit) | £140 | £600 |
| House sitting in your home | £33 | £231 | £990 |
| Dog boarding in the sitter’s home | £40 | £280 | £1,200 |
Note: These prices are accurate as of July 2026, as pulled from Rover’s data.
Hourly vs. flat rates
Most professional pet sitters charge a flat rate per visit or per night rather than by the hour.
This is because hourly rates can quickly add up, especially for overnight stays or for dogs who need more extensive care, such as medications or daily grooming. That said, some sitters may charge hourly for brief tasks, like drop-ins or dog walking.
Before booking, it never hurts to ask your sitter about a potential hourly rate, especially if you think your dog will only need brief care or your sitting situation isn’t straightforward.
To tip or not
Unlike in the US, tipping a pet sitter isn’t standard practice or expected in the UK. Most sitters set their own rates to fully cover their costs. However, if they go above and beyond, such as handling an emergency, giving them a small gift, a review, or a tip can be kind and well-received gestures.
Factors that Influence Rates
A sitter’s background and area of expertise will affect the rates they charge. Your dog’s needs will also influence the rate, as will the time of year and the amount of notice your sitter has for the job.
Some common factors that affect dog sitting rates include:
- Experience: Sitters with a long history of pet sitting have more demand and can charge higher rates than those just starting out.
- Certification: Some sitters may go the extra mile with certifications, like the Fear Free certification for pet sitters, which trains a sitter to keep a dog’s stress levels low. You can also look for IMDT and APDT certifications, which indicate that potential sitters have experience training and handling dogs with kindness.
- Special needs: Sitters may charge higher rates for dogs who need medication, have mobility issues, or require extra supervision.
- Multiple dogs: Every extra dog will increase your sitter’s rate.
- Puppies: Puppies need more frequent toilet breaks, more supervision, and may not be fully obedience-trained, all of which can require more time and attention from a sitter.
- House maintenance: If your sitter will be staying in your home, you’ll typically need to pay more if you ask them to handle other household chores, such as collecting the post or taking out the rubbish.
- Location: The cost of living in your area plays a big role, as does the need to drive to remote houses for drop-in visits.
- Holidays: During the holiday season, when travel spikes, a sitter might charge extra due to the increased demand for their services.
- Last-minute requests: Some sitters charge a rush fee for clients who book close to the sitting dates.
Before booking, ask your sitter what their base rate includes and enquire about any additional charges for your situation, such as the holiday season, extra dogs, or special-needs dogs. Remember that add-on fees can vary depending on the type of dog-sitting service you choose.
Professional vs hobby sitters
Of course, professional pet sitters aren’t your only option for dog care. You can always ask a trusted friend, neighbour, or relative to drop in while you’re away to visit your dog, or to let your dog stay at their place.
These arrangements can work wonderfully if your dog doesn’t need extensive care, especially since they’ll stay with someone they already know instead of a stranger.
That said, if your dog has medical needs, is reactive, or otherwise needs more extensive care, a professional sitter might give you more peace of mind when you’re away.
Average Dog Sitting Rates in Rover’s Top 16 UK Cities
Wondering how your city’s cost of living will affect what you pay?
This chart shows the average dog-sitting rates for 16 of Rover’s top cities, compiled from recent sitter data for each location.
| Cities | Drop-in visit (30 minutes) | House sitting | Dog boarding |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £18 | £35.50 | £34.79 |
| Birmingham | £12 | £30 | £30 |
| Reading | £14 | £35 | £30 |
| Leeds | £12 | £30 | £30 |
| Glasgow | £12 | £30 | £30 |
| Cardiff | £12 | £30 | £30 |
| Sheffield | £12 | £30 | £30 |
| Liverpool | £12 | £31 | £30 |
| Edinburgh | £12 | £30 | £30 |
| Nottingham | £12 | £30 | £30 |
| Leicester | £12 | £30 | £28 |
| Coventry | £12 | £35 | £30 |
| Southampton | £12 | £32 | £20 |
| Swansea | £12 | £40 | £20 |
| Portsmouth | £11 | £35 | £20 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | £12 | £30 | £20 |
Note: These prices are accurate as of July 2026, as pulled from Rover’s data.
Tips for Hiring a Dog Sitter
The best sitter for your dog isn’t always the one with the lowest rates. Good sitters will help your dog feel safe and comfortable throughout their stay—and leave you feeling like your dog is in good hands.
It’s always a good idea to have a public meet-and-greet with your prospective sitter so they can meet your dog and you can see how they get along. When vetting a sitter, these question ideas can get you started off on the right paw:
- How much time do you spend with each dog per day or per visit?
- How many dogs do you care for at once?
- What experience do you have with special-needs dogs or with giving medication?
- What will you do in the event of an emergency? Do you have pet first aid training?
- Do you have any certifications, such as a Fear Free certification or pet first aid training?
- How do you enforce boundaries with dogs? Do you use positive reinforcement training?
- How often do you provide updates? Will you send me pictures or videos?
- Do you allow pets on furniture, like sofas and beds?
Rover makes it easy to find experienced, local dog sitters and walkers who can meet your pup’s exacting standards. They can give you regular photo updates, so you know your dog is safe and happy. Plus, every sitter goes through an internal background check, with reviews from past clients easy to see.
Find a sitter for your dog today!
