It’s 8am in Querétaro, Central Mexico, and I’m following a miniature schnauzer as she charts a course through the city with her nose. We’ve chased pigeons in the plaza, disrupted the line of nuns filing into the Convento de la Santa Cruz and trekked as far as the mirador with its view of the aqueduct spanning the city. Frita has become so much more than my alarm clock in the past few months. She’s my balm for homesickness, my compass, my guide – revealing a side of the city I might otherwise have missed if I hadn’t been charged with her care.
Although a recent dog-sitting convert – essentially, staying in someone’s house to look after their pet(s) and home without any money changing hands – I’m far from alone in discovering this window to new destinations and connections. While many people arrange sits with personal acquaintances via word of mouth, the growing presence of agencies and online platforms suggests others are following their lead, if you’ll excuse the pun, and doing it for themselves.
Angela Laws, head of PR and charity partnerships at TrustedHousesitters, has witnessed the trend firsthand. After 14 years and 200-plus sits, she’s still an avid participant. ‘Since the Covid-19 pandemic, travel has [been] transformed, with people seeking more meaningful experiences,’ she says. ‘For the pet-loving traveller, pet- and house-sitting offer an incredible lifestyle, blending slow, affordable and purposeful travel with unique opportunities to connect.’
TrustedHousesitters’ most recent data shows a 24 per cent increase in UK memberships in 2023 (totalling 51,000), and a 36.12 per cent rise in the US (84,000). By year-end 2023, the platform had 210,142 members globally, an annual increase of nearly 40 per cent.
Other factors are also fuelling the trend. ‘During the pandemic, pet ownership soared,’ says Angela. ‘These animals, especially rescue [pets], thrive better with at-home care than in boarding facilities.’ By arranging sitters, pet owners can be sure their cherished companions are being looked after in a familiar environment, while also avoiding the expense of kennels. On the other side of the coin, the sitters get to explore new places without the need to stump up for accommodation costs, which can be significant for long-stay trips.
Mutual benefits
Siobhan Daniels began dog-sitting more than 10 years ago, balancing stays around the UK while working as a journalist for the BBC. She’s cautiously observed its growing popularity: ‘I saw it as a way of seeing new parts of the country by looking after pets for family and friends. Back then, not many others were doing it, but now, the financial crisis in the UK means that people are looking for cheaper options for their holidays.’
To focus solely on the financial aspects of pet-sitting, however, is to overlook the myriad emotional, physical and psychological benefits for all concerned. Comfort is a major factor, whether it’s peace of mind for owners or the joy of companionship for dog lovers without the need to make a long-term commitment. When Julie Fitzpatrick, a therapist and personal coach based in the UK, first tried dog-sitting, it was an attempt to fill the large Great Dane-shaped void left in her life by the death of her beloved pet, Luther. Initially, Julie and her husband began sitting for dogs in their local circle, before taking the plunge with TrustedHousesitters. ‘Our first sit was magical – exploring gorgeous countryside, coffee shops and pubs – all with two happy pups in tow!’
Siobhan’s fondness for pet-sitting, meanwhile, came to the fore in her mid-50s, when she found herself searching for a new happy place. ‘I got rid of my home, my possessions, bought my motorhome and hit the road,’ she says. She’s been living a nomadic lifestyle ever since, writing and podcasting along the way to spread a positive ageing message, encouraging women to embrace adventure throughout their lives. In those early days, returning to places and pets she knew provided some welcome familiarity at a time of transition.
Friends in waiting
Daily walks are, of course, a standard requirement for anyone considering dog-sitting. But they’re also a handy way of hitting the weekly target of 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week recommended to maintain health and wellbeing. More than that, walking with a canine companion offers a powerful avenue for connection – to an animal, a new place, other people and even the self, through grounding moments spent outdoors. ‘Dog walking increases physical activity and social interaction, which, in turn, positively affect wellbeing and mental health,’ says GP-turned-life coach Dr Alison Smith, founder of Earth and Bloom, a coaching service that provides nature-led guidance and training for healthcare professionals. ‘The “dog” in dog walking is central to making us happy,’ she adds. ‘Much of my work involves being outdoors, often with my Border terrier, Betty, and clients are encouraged to bring their dog to the session, creating an even greater sense of ease and rapport when feelings and thoughts may be difficult to express or emotions are running high.’
It’s a symbiotic experience, where both parties can find reward and fulfilment. Of course, it might not feel this way on early, rainy mornings when the last thing you want to do is leave your bed – even a holiday one – but the psychological benefits are significant. Alison explains: ‘Ensuring that our dogs’ needs are met provides purpose, meaning and value to our lives. The unconditional love that a dog provides is a stable anchor, as is the routine of walking them. Oxytocin [one of the feel-good hormones] secretion increases when an owner strokes or gazes at their dog and studies have also shown that dog walking activates GABAergic nerves in the brain, calming the nervous system and helping to process sensory input. This helps to control anxiety, stress and fear, and also suppresses noradrenergic nerves, effectively reducing our stress response.’
Stop and sniff
Beyond the physical and psychological benefits, however, doggy-led jaunts offer a fresh perspective on a location. They allow you to acclimatise to a new environment with an intuitive creature who knows the area. And, by following their pace as they sniff and explore, you, too, are encouraged to slow down and take a moment to observe your natural surroundings, be that a busy urban street or a quiet country lane. They afford you the luxury of stopping for a moment to take in the scene, increasing a sense of local knowledge, as well as offering more opportunities to engage with your environment.
‘Experiencing a walk through the eyes of a dog focuses our gaze on the often-missed details – dandelion clocks by the roadside or the sparkling dawn chorus as we venture out at sunrise,’ says Alison. ‘This all contributes to a feeling of connection and closeness to the natural world.’
Being cheaper than hotel- or bed-and-breakfast-based holidays, pet-sitting also opens the potential to stay longer in new places, which brings greater opportunity to scratch beneath the surface and get to know somewhere better. It’s something that’s appealed to Julie and her husband, for example, who have been using their dog-sitting trips as a scouting mission to find a suitable place to semi-retire.
Canine connections
Anyone who’s taken a dog out for a walk will also know that they’re natural ice-breakers when it comes to meeting new people, which can be handy when exploring unfamiliar places. ‘Walking with a Dane in particular is always a great conversation starter with locals,’ says Julie. It also changes other people’s perception of the dog’s companion – people are more likely to ask you for directions than they are to assume you’re a lost tourist. ‘Findings suggest dogs have a ripple effect, extending beyond their guardians to non-pet owners and the broader community, too,’ says Alison, which feels significant in an ever-digitised world and, arguably, helps to combat feelings of isolation and loneliness. Siobhan, for instance, who’s built her own community through pet-sitting, now receives more requests via social media than she can accommodate.
Emotional ties
But it’s not all wet noses and wagging tails. Forming powerful but temporary connections can be physically, psychologically and emotionally challenging, especially with older or ailing animals, and some pets will need a lot of care and attention. Just as if you were at home with your own pet, this is a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously and will affect where you can go and what you can do in your temporary abode (see below for more on this). ‘Remember, it’s not just a vacation,’ says Angela. ‘It’s a lifestyle choice that enriches lives and fosters meaningful connections at home and around the world.’ For those ready and able to embrace the responsibility, exploring a new place from a four-legged perspective offers a journey of connection and joy, but for now, a nuzzling nose reminds me that it’s breakfast time.
Sit a while
Before you reach for the PC to book your first pet-sitting-led holiday, take a breath. Consider whether you really want to spend your short or long stay looking after someone’s dearly loved pooch or moggie, or if you’d rather have, well, free rein, to come and go as you please. Would-be sitters should also note that the role comes with many responsibilities – it’s not a golden ticket for a purse-friendly getaway. You could try dog-sitting for a friend or family member’s pooch first, to better understand its responsibilities.
If you do decide to go ahead, you might prefer the security of using a reputable company in your area or country, or a recognised international operator. This will mean you’ll benefit from others’ reviews and receive guidance on how to successfully enjoy your first sit. Here are a few other factors to bear in mind, too:
Know yourself
Ensure you’re comfortable with dogs and clarify any preferences if you’re hesitant about certain breeds.
Get clear instructions
Request detailed guidance on routines, feeding, walks and emergency contacts for a seamless stay. Make sure all the practicalities, such as finances, plus house and veterinary insurance, are up-to-date and easy to locate.
Leave no trace
Always leave the pet owner’s home as you found it.
Commit your time
Align with owner expectations. Prioritise the pet, even if it means limiting your own exploration time.
Check out reviews
If using a pet-sitting agency, choose sits with positive reviews, which are likely to provide a smoother experience.
To find out more about pet-sitting, visit trustedhousesitters.com
Phoebe is a freelance travel writer. Follow her scribblings on Instagram at @harperphoebe or on Substack inplacenewsletter.substack.com
Follow Siobhan on Instagram @shuvonshuvoff and Julie @juliemillieside. For more about Alison, visit earthandbloom.uk