8 tips for finding the right sitter for your first boarding stay

Leaving your dog with someone new is the hardest part. Here is what to ask, what to look for, and what a good sitter will offer before you even bring it up.

7 August 2026 · 1 min read

A dog walker holding four dogs on their leads

Start with a meet and greet

The single best predictor of a good stay is a calm first meeting. Watch how the sitter greets your dog — do they crouch and let the dog approach, or reach over the head straight away?

Ask about their own pets

A resident dog changes everything about a boarding stay. Ask about size, age, and temperament, and ask for a photo of where your pet will sleep.

Read the recent reviews, not the average

A 4.7 built from 200 reviews over three years tells you less than the last five reviews do.

Keep reading

A golden retriever sitting outside a house

travel and boarding

Pet sitting vs pet boarding — which suits your dog or cat better?

One takes your pet to a new home; the other brings a sitter into yours. The right answer depends less on the pet and more on how they handle change.

14 August 2026 · 1 min read