The Fear Free Method is an innovative and gentle way of working with pets that prioritizes the needs of the pet and encourages positive reinforcement of wanted behaviors. While it’s more often talked about in terms of veterinary care or dog training, these methodologies are also useful to pet sitters. 

Let’s dig into the main benefits of this system, not only for your pets but also for you. 

If you’ve been dog sitting for a while and are considering becoming a professional pet sitter full-time, welcome! Pet sitting professionally can be a rewarding and flexible career that not only lets you meet interesting people — but more importantly — their wonderful and unique pets.  

However, as you’re probably realizing, there’s a lot more than dog walking to do when it comes to creating a small business and a reliable client base. If you’re uncertain of how to start marketing yourself as a pet sitter, keep reading. We’ll walk you through it in four easy steps. 

Leaving your dog behind can make preparing for a vacation or work trip stressful, especially if you’ll be using a new pet sitter. You probably have a million questions, but let’s tackle the top three that you should be asking yourself when vetting a new pet sitter:

Whether you’re leaving your dog for a few days or a few weeks, there’s a lot that you need to let your pet sitter know. At Grand and Graham Pets, before creating an online portal with client accounts, we used to provide this checklist for our clients to ensure that everyone is set up for success. We’ll walk you through each section in detail and provide a PDF checklist that you can use when you’re building your own instructions.

If you’ve never used an in-home pet sitter before, you likely have plenty of questions about how the process will work. At Grand & Graham Pets, we have years of experience working with new clients and dogs of all shapes and sizes, and we’re happy to answer any questions that might put your mind at ease. 

Let’s dig into a few of the ones that we hear most often:

If you’re nervous about using a pet sitter for the first time, we’re here to help. Let’s take a quick look at everything you need to consider before you leave, and by the time we’re done, you’ll be feeling prepared and ready to tackle the next vacation task.

If you’re considering taking your dog on vacation, you probably already know that there are a lot of locations that either don’t allow dogs or just aren’t ideal for them. However, there are still tons of beautiful vacation spots that both you and your dog will love. Here’s our top 5 ideas to get you started:

Absolutely! Asking a family member or friend to look after your pets while you’re away might be your first thought, but it’s not the best solution for everyone. Whether you don’t have anyone nearby or have a dog that requires a lot of care, there are lots of reasons to use professional in-home pet sitting. For most people, it’s the best way to care for the dogs when they’re away on vacation or other extended stays. 

When you tell people that you’re a professional pet sitter, they may think that your job hardly sounds like work at all! However the reality of being a pet sitter is full of scheduling negotiations, filing background checks, advertising campaigns, and other disadvantages before you even get to the literal dog crap. 

If you’re preparing to go on a vacation, you probably have a hundred questions racing through your mind. If you’re also a dog owner, you probably have a thousand. 

Whatever you’re wondering about, you can guarantee that our professional in-home sitters have heard it before. Let’s dig into the top five questions that we hear from clients: 

At Grand and Graham Pet Sitters, we know the pet sitting business backwards and forwards. If you’re just starting as a pet sitter in San Francisco, we can offer a few tips to help you stand out as a professional to your clients. 

Preparing for vacation can be as stressful as it is exciting, especially if you have dogs in the mix. But don’t worry! We’ll help you get your pets ready to stay behind during extended trips, and fill you in on the secrets of the trade.

If you have a vacation or work trip coming up, you may be asking yourself if taking your dog with you is an option. This can work well for some dogs and cause extra stress for others, so let’s take a look at some of the concerns with air and car travel when bringing your pup along. 

While you don’t need a license to specifically be a pet sitter, you do need a license to do business in San Francisco, CA. Keep reading to learn more about how these laws may apply to you.

Enrichment toys and activities are more than just the latest fad in pet care, these practices got their start with zookeepers and veterinarians as a way to improve the quality of life for their zoo animals. For household pets, enrichment can help prevent many problem behaviors like: excessive barking, escape attempts, anxious chewing, and general hyperactivity.

Making holiday dog care easy: Tips for managing your dog’s anxiety during the festivities and finding the best pet care in San Francisco.

Discover how to manage separation anxiety in dogs with tips, causes, and treatment options. Learn to recognize signs and find the best care solutions for your dog.

Discover expert senior dog care tips on diet, exercise, and more to keep your aging dog healthy and happy. Trusted advice from professional pet sitters.

Identify and manage allergies in dogs with practical tips and local insights, perfect for pet owners dealing with seasonal allergies in Northern California.

Discover how reading your dog through body language cues can improve communication—and what actions to take when you notice important signals.