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Leaving your dog home alone for any length of time can be a bit of a headache. If they don’t like to snooze on the sofa for hours you need someone to check up on them.
That’s where dog sitters come in. Hiring someone to give your pup food, attention and exercise while you’re out for the day can mean you’re both a lot happier and more relaxed. If your dog likes constant company, daycare might be the answer, especially if they like making new doggy friends.
And when you need to go away for longer, lots of dog sitters and daycares can offer home boarding, where your dog gets to have their very own holiday in the sitter’s home.
We’ve weighed up the costs and benefits of all of these services so you can find out which is right for you and your dog.
What do dog sitters do?
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Dog sitters do more than just look in on your dogs while you’re out. They can also feed your dog and interact with them. Some will administer medication, and even take them out on walks.
Importantly, your dog sitter can be there if your dog has a bump or scrape, or if there's an emergency and they need to see a vet.
You could hire a dog sitter to simply stop by your house to be with your dog, feed them, and take them for a walk while you’re out at work. Your dog sitter’s services might extend to boarding, with them taking your dog to stay with them at their home. This is a great alternative to putting your dog in a kennel, especially if it gets anxious in unfamiliar environments.
Beyond looking after your dog, sitters will often perform other services when they visit, such as dropping off keys, picking up mail, turning lights on and off, and even watering household plants. Talk to your sitter to see what they include in the service.
How much does a dog sitter cost?
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There’s a huge variety in the price you can expect to pay, but a lot depends on:
Your location – Dog sitters in cities and expensive areas tend to charge more to cover higher living costs.
Your dog’s needs – Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and some need more attention from sitters than others. Expect to pay more if you want a sitter to visit your dog several times a day or to make longer visits. Some also charge more for things like giving medication.
Sitting experience – Experienced sitters, or sitters with pet care qualifications (like pet first aid), often charge more.
Household tasks – If you need your sitter to do extra household tasks, like light cleaning, or watering plants, you should expect to pay a little more on top of their dog care services.
Dog sitting fees
We looked at prices from 26 dog sitters, dog boarders and doggy daycares all around the country in January 2025 and these were the average costs:
| Prices | |
|---|---|
| Dog walking | £18.03 per hour |
| Weekday drop-in visits - 30 mins to 1hr | £13.32 (some charge extra on weekends and and time-and-a-half or double for bank holidays) |
| Doggy day care - full day | £26.68 |
| Home dog boarding - full day | £33.55 |
| Other services - trips to vet, cleaning, key collection, plant watering, grooming, overnight stays | As little as £3-5 for watering plants or key collection, up to £50+ for vet taxi and grooming services. |
Although these are the average costs in the UK, there’s a lot of variety. For example, although the average cost of a drop-in visit from a dog sitter was £13.32, the most expensive was £25 in London and the cheapest was £8 for a sitter in Swansea.
It’s a similar story with walks. All the prices checked were for walking your dog by itself, rather than a group walk. But while the average cost of a dog walker for one hour was £18.05, the cheapest was £12 in Swansea or Leicester and the most expensive was £28 in Manchester.
The benefits of live-in dog sitting
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If you don’t have friends and family to look after your dogs while you’re on holiday, a dog sitter can stay in your own home to care for your dog
It’s usually more costly than home boarding or kennels, but there are some big advantage:
Comfort – Your dog will be happiest in a place they know. Having a dog sitter means they can stay at home, in their own bed, and with their own toys while you’re away.
Care and attention – Dogs love personal attention and your sitter will be able to give your pup all the scratches and belly rubs they need. Even better, your sitter will be able to cater to your dog’s unique needs in a way that a kennel wouldn’t.
Exercise and interaction – Walks, adventure, and play are essential for all dogs. Your sitter will be able to take your dog out for their daily exercise, and give them all the social interaction they need.
Feeding – Your sitter will make sure they get their food, water, and treats every day, as well as medication if they need it.
Updates – If you're lying on a beach somewhere, or on a business trip, your sitter can send picture updates of your dog.
Emergencies – Hopefully it’s never needed, but if your dog is injured or falls ill, your sitter will get them to a vet for an appointment.
Little extras – For an extra charge, you’ll probably be able to arrange for your sitter to pick up other little tasks around the house, like watering the plants or a bit of vacuuming.
Choosing your dog sitter
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Whether you need visits while you’re out for the day or live-in care for a holiday, you’ll want to make sure you pick the right dog sitter.
Follow these tips to find the perfect pal for your dog:
Reviews – You’ll probably be able to find reviews of prospective dog sitters on websites and social media.
Recommendations – If you have friends and family that have dogs (or other pets) canvas their opinions on sitters that they’ve used in the past.
Meet and greet – Before you hire your sitter, it’s really important that you meet, or at least talk to them. You’ll be able to understand how they work, and whether they’ll fit with you and your dog.
Insurance – Look for dog sitters that have insurance. They should hold liability cover for any damage or accidents while they’re looking after your dog.
Qualifications – Certain qualifications, like pet first aid or training, demonstrate a sitter’s skills and capabilities.
How do I find a dog sitter near me?
Wondering where to start on your search for a UK dog sitter? If you don’t have recommendations from family or friends, check out these useful resources:
Tailster – A dog-focused service with options for walking, sitting, and boarding.
Borrow My Doggy – A site for connecting local dog sitters with local owners looking for sitting, walking, and boarding services.
Pawshake – A website with thousands of trusted, vetted UK pet sitters, offering a range of services, including dog sitting.
Trusted Housesitters – A resource that puts pet owners who are going on trips in touch with prospective sitters who are willing to sit in return for accommodation.
Does pet insurance cover my dog sitter?
If your dog sitter does need to take your dog to a vet (as an emergency or any other reason), pet insurance gives you peace of mind that you’ll be able to afford unexpected bills.
Pet insurance can cover any illness or mishaps that come up while your dog is being cared for by a dog sitter or walker, or while they’re at home boarding. Your dog sitter will ask you to leave details of your usual vet and your insurance with them, just in case.
For pet insurance that lets you relax on your next trip away without your dog, take a look at ManyPets’ award-winning dog insurance policies – or contact us for a quote.
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