Need Input
 

I am thinking of starting a pet sitting business in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area. I hate boarding mine and my vet will no longer put 2 of my girls together. They get so depressed.:(

Do you think there is a need?
What would be fair price wise to both me and the pet owner?

Any other info?

Thanks in advance.:)

There's always a need for a good sitter, especially this time of the year. I'd say go for it.

i think you should call some places about how much it costs to board and what that service includes.
ie: walks, vet visits, food, cleaning up a mess in the home (edgar gets anxiety attacks and lets it go. i always feel sorry for the caretaker)

then figure out your gas costs and radius. you can do per day, per visit, or per number of pets or all.

i called someone here in houston and i think she said $40 a day. i was like, "h* no!!" so i have a girl down the street at $7 a day, but i normally tip her more.

Thanks for the ideas/input!:)

Layla goes to a babysitter and i know that soon she is going back to work and i wish there were more around us! she babysits in her house and i pay 15 dollars a day for Layla to be there. Shortly she will be spending the night the week we are away. She doesn't have "activities" Layla just hangs out at her house like she would at ours and plays with her other dogs. it is perfect!!! she has a fenced in backyard and a patio door that stays open so they can come and go as they please. I can't say enough great things about her and what she does :)

Pet Sitting
 

We have a busy boarding business that actually came into being by pure accident. I am a Yorkie breeder and often offered to sit puppies for new owners, well this one told that one and so on.... so we have other people's yorkies and other small breeds most of the year. That is with zero advertising, etc... just a little blurb on our website about it and in with our regular kennel ad online. I'm really pleased and what I have now, coupled with my own dogs is really as much as I can handle... bear in mind you are in a much bigger area, we are in a very small community....and still stay pretty busy. The biggest reason is we offer all day exercise time, so dog are only confined at night. Thus, people feel like their pets are being treated better than say locked in a crate in the vets office for 23 hours a day. Look into how most sitters in your area do it and go from there. We are often chose over less expensive places becasue of the time we personally handle the pets...We normally charge 16.00 per night, owner supplies all food and meds, no drop offs or pickups after 6:00pm, we offer discounts for multiple pet or long term care. You must have a contract to protect your kennel, but bear in mind that in TEXAS you cannot waive liability even if your contract says so....anyway, much more long winded that I wanted...

i take suki to petsmart day camp twice a week and pay $18. she loves it! she has a boyfriend there too:)
if you are near me, i would love to bring suki! pm me and let me know where you are!

petsmart camp
 

We just east of Beaumont.... Since I spend most of my time working with my dogs + others, we don't get over to petsmart much... I didn't even realize they had a "day camp". Shows how much we get out.... Plus, If I took one of my girls and the others found out.... whooooo that would be a bad deal.... They are worse than my kids....

Thanks "Set"

Great info. It is something I am considering. I am disabled and can't make very much money but I love all animals and I know I hate boarding mine to be confined in a crate. I have a great backyard. :)

Any other info you feel like providing is most appreciated.

Thanks again.:aimeeyork