Having a pet sitter come and stay at your home can be an excellent care option for many dogs while you’re on holiday. House sitting gives pet parents peace of mind that their pups will be in their own environment where they feel safe and comfortable. However, whether you choose house sitting may depend on house sitting prices in your area.
According to recent Rover data on the cost of caring for a dog, guardians can expect to pay £33 per day for house sitting with a dog. This number, however, is just an average, as house sitting prices vary depending on where you live, what your dog needs, and how long you want your sitter to stay at your home.
We’ll cover average dog sitting prices based on length of stay and location. We’ll also share insight on “hidden costs” and discuss which pups might benefit the most from having a sitter in your home.
What Does Dog Sitting in My Own Home Cost?
Hiring a house sitter to watch your dog means hiring someone to stay in your own home and supervise your pet while you’re away. They might also take on small household tasks like watering plants and sorting the post.
How much people charge for dog house sitting will depend on the length of their stay. The longer the visit, the greater the cost. On average, most sitters charge the following house sitting rates.
- £31-£55 per night
- £217-£385 per week
House Sitting Costs By City
The average cost of pet house sitting is £31-£55 per night. But where you live in the UK will impact house sitting prices. Since the cost of living tends to increase closer to big cities, the cost of house sitting services usually fluctuates in the same way.
| City | Average Cost |
| London | £35.50 |
| Birmingham | £30.00 |
| Reading | £35.00 |
| Leeds | £30.00 |
| Glasgow | £30.00 |
| Cardiff | £30.00 |
| Sheffield | £30.00 |
| Liverpool | £31.00 |
| Edinburgh | £30.00 |
| Nottingham | £30.00 |
| Leicester | £30.00 |
| Coventry | £35.00 |
| Southampton | £32.00 |
| Swansea | £40.00 |
| Portsmouth | £35.00 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | £30.00 |
There’s a remarkably consistent baseline of £30 a night across the UK, with only a few high-cost-of-living areas like London (£35.50) and Reading (£35) poking their noses above this. Surprisingly, though, Swansea is the most expensive UK city for house sitting at an average of £40 a night, and cities like Portsmouth and Coventry equal Reading at £35.
Although it’s hard to pin outliers like Swansea, Portsmouth, and Coventry to a trend, it might be that on a local level, there are simply fewer house sitters to go round. This means they may be able to charge a premium due to high demand. Larger cities near these, like Cardiff, Southampton, and Birmingham respectively, may have more sitters available in the area but a similar cost of living.
What Raises the Cost of House Sitting?
How much you pay a house sitter will also depend on your individual pup. Here’s a look at a few factors that typically increase dog house sitting costs:
Puppies
Puppies are adorable, but they’re a lot of work, especially in the first six months. Your sitter will be dealing with things like teething, toilet training, and constant management to keep them out of harm’s way.
If hiring a house sitter to come to your home to watch your puppy, expect an additional £13-£27 per night.
Senior dogs and dogs with medical needs
If you have a senior or a pet with medical issues, you’ll need a sitter who has experience caring for these types of dogs. Your sitter should be comfortable and knowledgeable in specialised care, such as giving daily pills, managing a strict diet, or finding creative ways for your dog to exercise.
With this individualised care, house sitters will likely charge extra.
High-needs dogs
We love our reactive, anxious, and high-needs dogs, but sometimes it’s hard to find someone who knows how to handle their quirks. House sitters who are well-versed in behaviour will likely charge accordingly.
Dogs with separation anxiety often require around-the-clock care, since it’s too stressful for them to be alone. Reactive dogs can also benefit from constant care, which helps maintain their schedule and put them at ease. If you have a high-energy breed that requires additional care, your house sitter may charge extra for additional services like long walks or transporting your pup to doggy day care or dog training services.
When paying for 24-hour dog care or additional services for your reactive or high-energy dog, expect to pay a premium.
Multiple dogs
Most house sitters calculate their overnight rates for just one animal and will charge more for an additional dog, cat, or other pet. This additional cost covers the extra responsibilities of feeding, exercising, and caring for multiple pets.
Expect to pay more for each additional dog or pet.
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School Holidays and Bank Holidays
House sitting when the kids are off school, or the country is celebrating national holidays, costs more and needs to be booked in advance, since there’s usually an increase in demand. This is especially necessary around the festive period.
Plus, the sitter is choosing to spend time with your dog instead of taking a holiday or spending time at home with their own family. Travel in larger cities may also be more congested with lots of traffic, making it more difficult to get to your home.
During the holidays, anticipate that rates may increase and budget accordingly.
Should you factor tips into your budget?
Tips aren’t standard. However, some house sitters go above and beyond to take care of both your pet and your home, sending constant updates, handling veterinary emergencies, and doing small tasks like watering your plants or collecting your post. If you’d like to show your appreciation, you can bring home a souvenir or leave a small gift.
Is House Sitting Right for My Dog?
Having a sitter come to your home is more expensive than other boarding options, like having your pup stay at doggy day care or boarding them at a kennel. But it also comes with more specialised care than you’d have at these places.
Ultimately, whether or not you think house sitting is worth it will depend on your budget and your dog’s individual needs.
A dog sitter at your home might be a good fit for you if you have a:
- Puppy or high-energy dog that requires constant attention, exercise, and management
- Dog with separation anxiety who needs 24-hour care
- Reactive dog who isn’t comfortable being around other dogs (or humans) in traditional boarding facilities
- Senior or dog with medical issues who needs specialised care, like giving medication
- Unspayed or unneutered dog, as most day care and kennels won’t accept dogs who aren’t neutered
Conversely, house sitting might not be beneficial if you have a:
- Limited budget for dog boarding
- Friendly dog who does well being around other people and dogs
- Dog who needs extra-specialised health care at a veterinary practice
It’s also important to note that, unlike dog boarders and kennel facilities, house sitters don’t need an Animal Activities License (AAL) to come to your property and look after your dog. While this may broaden your pool of potential sitters, it means that no governing body is overseeing the conditions they keep for your dog.
Rover’s verified reviews and the sitter star rating are useful ways to make sure you’re connecting with a trusted house sitter. However, you can arrange a meet-and-greet so you can discuss your dog’s needs and work out which sitter can best meet them.
Alternatives to dog sitting
If having a sitter come to your home isn’t a reasonable option for your personal situation (or budget), that’s okay! There are other options you can choose from, including:
- Boarding at a kennel. At an average cost of £30-£50 per night, traditional kennels are often the most affordable option. They won’t come with a lot of frills or individualised attention, but your dog will get plenty of food, water, and exercise. They often also have opportunities to interact with other dogs.
- Boarding at a sitter’s home. This type of overnight boarding is typically quite affordable and will still give your dog individualised care. Just note that your sitter may also be watching other dogs or have their own pups at their home. Costs may be slightly higher than boarding in kennels due to the level of individualised care, but they can often cost the same or less depending on the individual boarder.
- Staying with friends or family. Friends and family are often a cheaper (sometimes free!) option. They do, however, come with fewer safeguards. For example, professionals will often have pet business insurance that can help pay for any broken items, whereas friends and family don’t.
- Drop-in visits. Booking drop-in visits is a great alternative if you only need a sitter for a day. However, it’s likely not going to provide sufficient care if you’re leaving your dog alone for several days. You can usually expect to pay £27 per hour for drop-in visits.
