Watching out for signs of illness is just one of the many ways that a good pet sitter takes care of their charges. While your clients don’t expect you to be a vet, they do expect you to know the general signs that an animal may need to see one.

You probably became a pet sitter so you could enjoy a flexible career working with animals, but as you probably know, there's a lot more that comes with the job. Part of being a responsible sitter is taking good care of your client's keys and entry codes, too.

The first thing to keep in mind when creating your profile is that the people who will be reading it are busy. Keep your information short, sweet, and to the point. They may only spend 30 seconds looking at it, so lead with a headline that makes them want to keep reading.

Showing up with a fully stocked “go-bag” is a great way to set yourself apart as a professional pet sitter, but if you’re not sure what all goes in one, don’t worry! We talked to our expert pet sitters, and here’s what they pack to ensure happy clients and happy pets. 

Writing a pet-sitting resume and not sure where to begin? You’re not alone. Resume-writing can feel overwhelming, and it’s hard to know what kind of experience is applicable to a niche industry like pet-sitting.

Regular walks are an important part of a dog’s health, and as a pet sitter, you’ll need to go on two to three of them every day. Talk to the dog’s owners before your first sit or drop-in to get a thorough understanding of how and when the dog is usually walked…

Vetting new pet-sitting clients is an important step that can either set you up for success or struggle as a pet sitter. If you’re feeling overwhelmed as you try to think of everything you’ll need to ask your clients ahead of care, you’ve come to the right place. 

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.  

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. 

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. 

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.