How to Become a Pet Sitter

PET CARE

How to Become a Pet Sitter

3 min read
May 16, 2023

Today, there are numerous options if you’re looking for an animal health career. However, if you want to work with animals but prefer playing with them rather than treating them, you may want to look into becoming a pet sitter.

Fortunately, it’s fairly simple to become a pet sitter as there are really only three steps to get started on this interesting career path.

Keep reading to learn more about what it takes to get paid to take care of other people’s pets.

1. Do Your Research

Before you jump into working as a pet sitter, it’s important to take a few minutes to learn more about the career to make sure it’s something you want to pursue and that you’ll be good at. This will help you avoid wasting time and money only to discover pet sitting just isn’t for you.

Here are some things you need to learn about before getting started:

  • Job responsibilities
  • Necessary skills
  • Required personal qualities
  • Expected working hours
  • Work conditions
  • Anticipated salary

Once you’re sure your personality fits, that you can do the job well, and that you’ll be able to earn enough money as a pet sitter to support yourself or your family, it’s time to move onto the next step.

2. Get Qualified

Although you don’t technically need any training to work as a pet sitter, if you’re pursuing this as your primary career rather than a side job, it’s important to show people you know what you’re doing. This will also help you land a job with an employer if that’s the path you choose.

One of the best resources for a pet sitter is Pet Sitters International. With this organization, you can get everything you need to learn about caring for pets.
They also offer a pet sitting certification. This looks great on a job application and can help you gain work independently since it shows you took the time to learn your trade and that you have the necessary education to handle any situation involving pets.

You may also consider looking for a local or online college that offers courses in animal welfare. Some may offer certificates or even degrees while teaching you what you need to know to care for all types of animals in various situations.

3. Find Work

Once you have a certification or two, it’s time to start looking for work as a pet sitter. There are three ways to find a pet sitting job so you can choose the one that’s best for you. You can also use a combination of these to get even more work.
Independently.

This can be the most difficult way to find new clients since you’re running your entire business on your own. However, it can also be more rewarding since you get to make and set your own hours.

To work as an independent pet sitter, you’ll be responsible for finding clients, maintaining a schedule, and making sure you get paid.

4. Use an Online Platform

There are several online platforms you can find that are designed to help pet sitters connect with people in need of pet sitting services.

Some allow clients to contact you which eliminates your need to seek out people, but you often have to pay to join or the platform takes a cut of your pay. However, if you don’t have the time, skills, or budget to market yourself, it’s worth it.

5. Look for an Employer

Your final option is to work for one employer who offers pet sitting services. This can provide you with a steady income and could even come with additional benefits.

The biggest downside to having an employer is you do lose some of your freedom since you’ll need to work the hours they give you. However, it also doesn’t require the extra work of finding and communicating with clients.

6. Start Learning More About Pet Care Now

Now you know how to become a pet sitter. As you can see, there are only three steps - though each one may take some time and work to complete. However, doing so will provide you with an exciting career which will allow you to spend your work hours playing with and caring for animals!

If you want to start learning more about pet care now to prepare yourself to be the best possible pet sitter, check out the pet care section of our blog. There, you’ll find tons of articles to help you on this career path.

Protect your Pets

Enroll in 3 Easy Steps

Nothing in this article should be construed as financial, legal or veterinary advice. Please consult your own advisors for questions relating to your and your pet’s specific circumstances.

1 Pet Insurance offered by MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company (“IAIC”), a Delaware insurance company, headquartered at 485 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022, and Metropolitan General Insurance Company (“MetGen”), a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886, in those states where MetGen’s policies are available. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is the policy administrator authorized by IAIC and MetGen to offer and administer pet insurance policies. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC was previously known as PetFirst Healthcare, LLC and in some states continues to operate under that name pending approval of its application for a name change. The entity may operate under an alternate, assumed, and/or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions as approved, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois), and such other alternate, assumed, or fictitious names approved by certain jurisdictions.