Dog Sitter Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for a dog sitter job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a dog sitter. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a dog sitter.
Who is a Dog Sitter?
A Dog Sitter is someone who looks after a dog when the owner is not around. It is similar to babysitters, just that in this context, they are dog-sitting. They look after animals daily while their owners are away on vacation, business, or even at work. While dog sitters also host dogs in their own homes, they frequently visit customers’ houses to perform this and perhaps spend the night there.
Dog sitting is a very straightforward job, but it needs a lot of compassion and attention to detail. Dog sitters are responsible for ensuring the dogs in their charge are fed, active, and cared for. They must watch over the dogs to prevent them from getting into mischief and ensure they receive timely medical care if they are sick or hurt. They must also ensure that the dogs remain secure and healthy.
Dog sitters will need to walk the dogs they take care of many times daily. Larger indoor dogs may also require additional activity to keep them from becoming bored. Playing with them could be necessary to keep them interested and amused.
If a dog is sick or hurts while in their care, dog sitters must contact the owner and take the animal to the veterinarian. Dog owners must fill out a thorough contact form with their contact information, their veterinarian’s contact information, and any pertinent details regarding the animal (such as age, breed, weight, prior medical conditions, and medications) for you as a dog sitter. The owner should do this so if there is an emergency and the dog owner is unavailable, you can take the dog to a veterinarian.
As a dog sitter, you may choose to be self-employed and have a regular dog-walking business and provide dog-sitting services when clients travel. Some dog sitters appoint extra staff members to broaden their service area, boost the number of clients they can serve each week, and serve as a fallback in case they become sick or leave on vacation. Additionally, you may increase their income by starting a franchise and granting licenses to dog-sitting service providers to use their well-known brand name.
Dog Sitter Job Description
What is a dog sitter job description? A dog sitter job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a dog sitter in an organization. Below are the dog sitter job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a dog sitter job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of the dog sitter include the following:
- Clean litter boxes and cages, groom, exercise, and care for the dogs.
- Complete an injury/illness form and report any injuries or illnesses to a veterinarian when the owner is not around.
- Feed and give water according to the client’s instructions, which may be extremely specific and must be adhered to exactly as stated.
- Take dogs to the vet for checkups or shots.
- Groom dogs by washing them, cleaning out their ears, brushing their teeth and fur, and cutting their nails as needed.
- Give dog owners regular updates, which includes speaking with them over the phone or via email and sending them pictures and videos of their dogs.
- Meet with prospective customers to obtain business, promote services offered, and detail how dog sitting works.
- Observe both inside and outdoor play to guarantee the dog’s security.
- Respect clients’ residences and private property, which includes cleaning up any dog accidents when providing dog-sitting services on-site.
- Respond to client requests for additional services, such as bringing up mail, watering plants, or opening and shutting blinds or drapes.
- Meet with dog owners to explain dog-sitting responsibilities and collect important pet care information.
- Give dogs their medicine according to pet owners’ guidelines.
- Take dogs on exercise as required, which includes regularly walking dogs.
Qualifications
- A high school certificate, GED, or its equivalent
- A bachelor’s degree in any course (optional)
- Certification in pet training
Essential Skills
Here are the skills you require to excel as a dog sitter:
- Basic First Aid for Animals
- Dog Grooming
- Flexibility
- Punctuality
- Friendliness
- Dog Care
- Dog Training
- Dog Behaviour
- Organizational
- Patience
- House Sitting
- Reliability
- Situational Awareness
Basic First Aid for Animals
The ability to treat illnesses and injuries in dogs is known as canine first aid. This may entail giving medication, treating wounds, and putting bandages on them. To handle any health concerns that could emerge while caring for dogs, dog sitters should be familiar with the fundamentals of canine first aid. You may learn about canine first aid online or by enrolling in a pet first aid course at your neighborhood community center.
Dogs can suffer from several ailments, such as heatstroke, water poisoning, and convulsions. Knowing the basics of animal first aid will assist you in treating these problems and helping you decide whether to send the dog to the doctor. Consider developing a basic pet first aid kit, learning how to treat wounds, and being familiar with the signs of various ailments. Additionally, you can seek official training in pet CPR and first aid by earning a certification.
Dog Grooming
Dog sitters proficient in dog grooming can better take care of their canine customers. Knowing how to groom dogs may be helpful while taking care of them since it enables you to maintain a clean, healthy coat for your customer. Knowing how to wash them, clip their nails, and trim their fur is all part of pet grooming. This can assist you in giving your dog clients the finest care possible.
Flexibility
Being flexible is having the capacity to change course and adapt to changes when necessary. Dog sitters frequently need flexibility since their schedules are subject to alter at any time, necessitating last-minute changes to their plans. For instance, a dog sitter who has an afternoon appointment might need to reschedule their day if they receive a call informing them that the owner would be returning early.
Punctuality
Being able to arrive on time for appointments or meetings is being punctual. Being on time is crucial as a dog sitter since it demonstrates to your customers that you are trustworthy and responsible. Additionally, being on time guarantees you ample time to finish all of your responsibilities before leaving the house. For instance, being on time entails showing up a few minutes before chosen time or the exact time chosen.
Friendliness
A dog sitter should greet their customers with friendliness and warmth. This makes it possible for you to establish a good rapport with the pet owners, which could make you feel more at ease looking after their animals. To make the dogs feel secure around you, you should also be nice when engaging with them. Being amiable can help you build rapport with them and increase their likelihood of obeying your directions.
Dog Care
Given that it entails taking care of someone else’s dog, dog sitting is a skill many dog sitters should have. While their owners are gone, dogs can be fed and entertained when they are being cared for. Knowing how to care for various dog breeds can help you give each dog the proper attention.
Dog Training
Being proficient in dog training will make you a more successful dog sitter. Dogs may require basic obedience training, such as learning to walk on a leash and comply with orders to sit or stay. Teaching dogs new skills, such as how to relieve themselves outside rather than indoors, is a part of dog training.
Dog Behaviour
Your understanding of how dogs behave and respond in various situations is known as animal behavior. For instance, if a dog is terrified of loud noises, you may use this skill to make them feel secure. Dog behavior skill is crucial for any dog sitter since it enables you to comprehend the emotions that the animals of your customers may be experiencing and the reasons for their conduct.
Organizational
Organizational skill is the ability to monitor several duties and obligations. As a dog sitter, you can be responsible for various tasks during the day, including feeding the dog, cleaning their home, and taking them on walks. You can make sure you do all your responsibilities on schedule by being organized.
Patience
When taking care of dogs as a dog sitter, you need to be patient. You could find yourself waiting for a dog to act or waiting for them to settle down after being agitated since they can be unpredictable. When teaching a dog, you must also have patience because it may take time for them to pick up new abilities.
House Sitting
Dog sitters frequently provide house sitting as a service. It includes keeping an individual’s house and yard up and running while away and caring for their dogs. Because many clients want to know their houses are secure while they vacation, this ability might assist you in finding employment as a dog sitter.
Reliability
The ability to keep your word means you are reliable. As a dog sitter, you can be required to give someone’s dog your full attention for several days or even weeks at a time. Being dependable may assist foster customer confidence and guarantee that dogs get the attention they require. You can use this skill to plan yourself so you know your availability for work and your schedule.
Situational Awareness
Situational awareness enables you to spot possible dangers and safeguard animals. When walking a dog, this ability comes in handy very well. For instance, if the dog exhibits aggressive tendencies, you could avoid strolling close to other animals. When allowing a pet to wander free in the backyard, you could also employ situational awareness. You may guide them away from the object and, if required, remove it if you see them eating something they shouldn’t be.
How to Become a Dog Sitter
Below are the steps to becoming a dog sitter:
Step One: Complete High School
Dog sitters must possess a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. Many dog-sitting jobs, however, might not need this qualification. Having a bachelor’s is optional as many who get this job do not use their bachelor’s degree to get it.
Step Two: Obtain Experience in Dog-sitting
Although most dog-sitters do not require formal training, many dog-sitting businesses or dog owners choose those with experience working with dogs. Offering dog-sitting services to friends and family or working in a veterinary facility qualifies as necessary experience.
Step Three: Achieve a Relevant Certificate
Dog sitters can advance in their employment by earning certifications or taking training courses about pets. A career in dog sitting should begin with training in animal first aid and CPR.
Step Four: Join a Pet or Dog-sitting Group
It might be advantageous and help your reputation as a dog sitter to join a nonprofit dog-sitting group in your vicinity. It can also help you meet people who can help you get a better job whenever you want to switch to a new employer or organization.
Where to Work as a Dog Sitter
Usually, dog sitters take care of the dogs in their customers’ houses while the owners are away. They could also work in kennels or shelters for animals. Some dog sitters are independent contractors, while others work for pet-sitting businesses. Dog sitters normally work during the day, but to fit their customers’ schedules, they could also work late into the night or on the weekends. They could also work at night to take care of dogs who need to be fed and exercised at night. Although they could collaborate with other dog walkers or animal care professionals, dog sitters normally operate alone. Dog sitters may have to lift and transport hefty dogs, and their employment may also be emotionally taxing because they may have to care for ill or injured animals.
Dog Sitter Salary Scale
In the United States, a Dog Sitter can expect to make $16.49 per hour on average. While ZipRecruiter reports hourly pay ranges from $6.73 to $38.46.
In the United Kingdom, the average dog sitter makes £35,000 a year, or £17.95 an hour. More experienced ones earn up to £56,063 yearly, while entry-level roles start at £25,350.
In Canada, a dog sitter makes an average of CA$48,750 a year or CA$25 an hour. Most experienced professionals earn up to CA$85,800 per year, while entry-level roles start at CA$33,150.
In Australia, the typical wage for pet sitting is AU$40,172, which works out to AU$19 per hour.
In Germany, the average wage for pet or dog sitting is €26,159 or about €13 per hour.
Salary varies due to different factors like location, employer, years of experience, etc.