Pet sitter for sweet but special (and anxious) dog?
We are looking for a dog sitter for our 5 year old rescue dog, Tofu. We have a regular pet sitter who has a very busy schedule and cannot watch him as often as before. Tofu has some well managed health problems that he is on medication for and also has anxiety that he's on medication for. He is a very sweet dog but requires lots of space--he wants to be near you but doesn't want to be touched. :) We are looking for a trusted person who would be willing to stay at our beautiful Rockridge home with him when we go out of town. The job requires walking him twice a day, sleeping at our house at night, feeding him, and giving him his medication in the morning at night (just pills rolled up in bread). We would also like the person to spend at least a few hours a day at the home with him so he isn't too lonely. We are looking for someone who is incredibly responsible, has experience with and loves dogs, and could understand how to make our anxious boy feel safe. We are fine with the dog sitter having a friend or their partner stay at our home as well but absolutely no parties. This person could be a grad student or an adult--just looking for the right person. Does anyone know someone or have any suggestions? Tofu cannot be boarded or stay at another person's house because of his anxiety. We are looking to pay around $75 per night. Thanks so much!
Parent Replies
Hi, I think your hoped for rate is below market due to the special needs (medication). We have looked into this for our dog with attachment issues and believe it to be more like 80-100/night for in home care for a dog without special needs.
I also have a high-needs dog and totally understand wanting to be sure you find a super responsible attentive person so you don’t make your dog’s troubles worse.
I think you’re way underestimating the cost for this though. I generally pay $150-200 a day for what is basically 24 hour a day care. It’s too expensive to leave town often but at least when I go I know I don’t have to worry.
I have two anxious dogs who can be reactive (barking) on walks. I've had good luck finding people on Rover that are understanding of my dogs needs. You can schedule a meet and greet (no charge) before booking them to make sure it is the right fit. However, I've found that pet sitters charge for overnight stay and additional walks/drops are a separate fee.
You might be interested in Trusted House Sitters. I used them once to stay with my dogs when I was out of town and it was great. My sister also traveled internationally by pet sitting through them. We both has good experiences. Sitters are vetted and come with reviews. You can interview them. Free to both, as you get pet sitting and they get a place to stay. https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH…
happy to recommend our sitter who stays at our house with a somewhat high strung dog (and 3 cats)! Rachel, 510 772 4829
and I think the rate is reasonable just fyi!
I have Mrs. Cristina Lim take care of my dog when I travel. She quickly earns the trust of animals, respecting their individual pace. She helps my dog feel secure, and Hypo is consistently delighted to see her. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking a caring experience for their pet when they are unable to be home themselves. Her phone number is 925 255-6734.