Advice for being a successful sitter on Rover

Sitter Resources / Getting Started

Quick Tips: Adding New Services

By Faye Murphy |

Adding new services to your Rover profile is a great way to reach more pet owners, earn more money, and learn some new skills. In this article, we’ll share some quick tips to help you get off to a great start with any service.

 

Doggy Day Care

The owner’s pets stay at your home during the day. Drop-offs are usually around 7-9 a.m. and pickups are around 4-6 p.m.

Quick tips:

  • Be conservative when setting your number of open spaces per day. Remember that if you offer dog boarding, you might have day care and boarding dog guests at the same time.
  • Confirm pick-up and drop-off times with the owner before the booking begins.
  • Keep a close eye on interactions between big and small dogs to keep everyone safe and happy.

 

Dog Boarding

The owner’s pets come to your home and stay overnight.

Quick tips:

  • Be sure to dog-proof your home. Keep your belongings secure and your doggy guests safe by taking a few extra precautions. Remember, damage to the sitter’s property is only covered by any personal insurance you’ve invested in.
  • Always be prepared. Invest in baby gates, exercise pens, enzyme spray, and carpet cleaner.
  • Set the tone by always being on time for Meet & Greets, pickups, and drop-offs to earn the owner’s loyalty and trust.
  • Separate every pet you’re caring for when you’re not home to keep everyone safe.

 

Dog Walking

You’ll take the owner’s dog on a walk around their local area.

Quick tips:

  • Arrange ahead of time how (and when) you’ll get and return the owner’s house keys.
  • If you’re walking more than one dog for an owner, confirm your rate—is it per walk or per dog?
  • Confirm how long the walk will be with the owner (they’re usually 30 minutes).
  • Ask the owner if their dog has any triggers so you can avoid them. A trigger could be other dogs, cats, small animals, people on bicycles or skateboards, etc.
  • Ask the owner if the dog has up-to-date tags and a microchip.
  • Planning to walk dog from multiple different owners at once? Make sure each owner is comfortable with this first.
  • Bring a fixed-length leash in case the owner only uses a flexi-lead, which can snap.

 

Drop-In Visits

You’ll visit the owner’s home for 30 minutes to feed and play with their pets.

Quick tips:

  • Confirm everything the owner would like you to do during your visit—remember that drop ins are usually about 30 minutes long.
  • Arrange ahead of time how (and when) you’ll get and return the owner’s house keys.
  • Does your owner’s home have an alarm system? Ask ahead of time and make sure you know how to use it.
  • Never leave a pet alone in a garden between drop-in visits, even if the pet parent says it’s okay. Remember: Pet safety is our top priority, and unattended pets can be escape artists.

 

House Sitting

You go to the owner’s home and stay overnight, taking care of their pets and home.

Quick tips:

  • Arrange ahead of time how (and when) you’ll get and return the owner’s house keys.
  • Discuss whether you can have guests and if so, who they would be. Of course, only invite people you trust and always respect the owner’s wishes.
  • Bring your own groceries, tidy up after preparing food, and don’t smoke inside unless the owner says it’s okay.
  • Don’t accept overnight dog boarding bookings during a house sitting stay. If you want to offer dog walking to other clients, that’s okay—just make sure to mention it.