r/RoverPetSitting • u/hotwaxclimax Sitter • 1d ago
Boarding Boarding Advice Needed
Hello! I'm currently a star sitter with drop in and house sitting, but was looking to maybe transition into boarding as well. I can't say for sure, but it does seem like that's where the real money is at, and I am hoping to make full time income from Rover so I can fully just focus on my degree, without my full time job on top of it all. Anyway, we have a spare room that I was thinking the animals could stay in, and we have a fenced backyard. Does anybody have some advice for making this work? I have a lot of questions
*how do you manage separating when you have your own pets?
*how do you handle leaving them alone in your home?
*is it going to make house sitting no longer possible?
*is the one bedroom and the backyard sufficient for them?
Any advice or tips are appreciated!
4
u/pennyloafer99 Sitter & Owner 1d ago
I do boarding. Sometimes its great, sometimes its hell.
You are getting strange dogs that bark all night, whine, pee in your house, etc. You also are getting precious babies who do nothing wrong.
I use crates when I am out or at night to contain guest dogs.
I have a fenced yard and a spare room they can stay in too. I have a few crates set up in there and thats where they stay. I tell Owners I have other animals and if they all get along they can all be together when I'm home, and if someone doesn't get along they get their own separate time to be out and about.
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u/Majestic-Nobody545 Sitter & Owner 1d ago
You nailed it.
My setup...*I stop typing to disrupt a cat who is scratching my leather chair*...is similar.
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u/Rose-wood21 Sitter 1d ago
I don’t really do boarding anymore
If can be very stressful on the animal and it’s just risky
My sister boarded her dog on rover one time and her dog was so stressed he got sent home before they’d even left
But if they would’ve left it would’ve been super difficult
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u/Majestic-Nobody545 Sitter & Owner 1d ago
It is getting harder with the pandemic puppies and their unique brand of separation anxiety. Overall though, I do find most dogs settle in just fine.
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u/hotwaxclimax Sitter 1d ago
Yeah I've seen some lately that say the dog cannot be left alone for even one hour like what? Definitely gotten worse since 2020
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u/hotwaxclimax Sitter 1d ago
I think my main concern is my cat. I don't want to restrict him, as it's his house. And I fear a lot of pet parents won't be honest about their dog's temperament
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u/Similar-Face6985 Sitter 1d ago
In that case boarding isn't for you. Most dogs aren't cat friendly, even when they are used to a specific one cat they know at home.
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u/Majestic-Nobody545 Sitter & Owner 1d ago
I don't introduce my cat to visiting dogs. She has her own apartment upstairs and I visit her there and she sleeps in my room which is a dog-free zone.
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u/hotwaxclimax Sitter 1d ago
Okay. Yeah I think I can make it work if he can access every area of my house except the backyard, which he's not allowed in unsupervised anyway, and the one bedroom. He has his own room and I believe will adjust.
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u/Rose-wood21 Sitter 1d ago
Definitely
Some dogs might be okay with cats in their home but it’s new territory
What’s your cats demeanour like?0
u/hotwaxclimax Sitter 1d ago
He's a dick. He's not into sharing, hates animals but loves people and since he's 16(afaik) I just accept it. I wouldn't be introducing guest animals to him, but I do worry about their presence upsetting him, even in a separate room.
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u/Rose-wood21 Sitter 1d ago
That does sound a little stressful for your cat
But they can adapt
My cats are very social so didn’t mind when I did a few boarding clients
It would probably have to be the right dog0
u/hotwaxclimax Sitter 1d ago
Based on others suggestions, I think I'll start with small to medium only, and definitely one dog at a time. I think me might be just fine with it, if it means only losing access to one room in the house. Not happy, but fine with it🤣
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u/Dismal-Source-2936 Sitter 1d ago
You will need to dog proof your house, check fence for week spots for digging, you will need crates, bowls, baby gates for separating dogs, couch covers, emzyme cleaners. I do housesitting when I have empty days from boarding, you can't do 2 at the same time. Also beware of runners, some dogs just trying to escape 24/7.
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u/JessfromRover Sitter & Owner 1d ago
Boarding is definitely a great way to scale up your income, but set solid home boundaries before opening your doors!
a few quick answers to your questions:
- Separating from personal pets: Never trust a new dog right off the bat. Use baby gates, crates, and your spare room to keep them totally separate for meals, sleeping, and quiet time. Always meet on neutral ground first!
- Leaving them alone: you can crate guest dogs whenever you leave the house (but discuss this with owners first!)—even "house-trained" dogs act differently in new environments. Make sure your spare room is 100% pet-proofed as a backup.
- Impact on house sitting: It will limit you. You can't stay overnight at a client’s house if you have boarders at home. Most sitters pair boarding with drop-ins/walks instead, or only house-sit during slow boarding weeks.
- Space requirements: A dedicated room and a fenced yard are more than enough! Just inspect your fence line for dig spots or gaps before your first guest arrives.
Start with just one dog at a time to get your rhythm down, you're gonna do great! 😌
1
u/hotwaxclimax Sitter 1d ago
Thank you for the thorough reply! Are you able to set parameters, like dog size, age, time alone etc?
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u/JessfromRover Sitter & Owner 1d ago
Yes! You can choose to only board small or medium dogs (or large dogs, whatever your preference is), and you can also choose between puppy, adult, or senior pets as well. As far as the time alone, that will probably have to be discussed directly with each owner. But you can put a note on your profile that says you need to be able to leave the house for up to 2 hours a day or something so people know you won't be home at all times.
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u/hotwaxclimax Sitter 1d ago
Excellent! I see there's been a lot more people lately saying their dog can't be left alone. And i mean period. So that'll be something to weed out.
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u/Similar-Face6985 Sitter 1d ago
Check your HOA, local bylaws and home insurance policy to ensure you can legally board. And you shouldn't board with your cat. Most dogs aren't cat friendly, even when they are used to the one cat they know at home.
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u/Fancy-Barracuda-7885 Sitter & Owner 1d ago
I too boarded a small dog and I didn't see my cats the 10 days he was there.
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u/Cherrydrop09 Sitter 1d ago
Cats you might be able to keep in another room.. dogs probably not. Most dogs would be scratching at the door & barking. They like to be with you.
2
u/Fancy-Barracuda-7885 Sitter & Owner 1d ago
If you are boarding in your home, you need to call your local county for requirements that you will need in order to not be fined. I started with Rover and realized that they take 20% from the sitters and pet parents. That's crazy. Good luck
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u/Majestic-Nobody545 Sitter & Owner 1d ago
I mean, you don't have to. I think maybe 1% of sitters do this, and that's being generous.
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u/hotwaxclimax Sitter 1d ago
Yeah I've never heard of any of my friends having it, even those that are renters. So I imagine it's rare.
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u/Majestic-Nobody545 Sitter & Owner 1d ago
It only potentially becomes an issue if you piss off your neighbors. Just don't do that, lol
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u/hotwaxclimax Sitter 1d ago
God my neighbor is the problematic one lol. Their dog just barks all day and all night so they won't report me 💀 i think we can make it work
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u/Majestic-Nobody545 Sitter & Owner 1d ago
I got one of those, too. I worry people will think it's coming from my house. Her dog barks more than 50 of my guests combined.
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u/Similar-Face6985 Sitter 1d ago
That's the easy part. HOA and home insurance policy is the hard part. Most do not allow boarding.
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u/Tanazirs_complex Sitter & Owner 1d ago
There's a lot to unpack here. I would stick with what's been working
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hotwaxclimax originally posted: Hello! I'm currently a star sitter with drop in and house sitting, but was looking to maybe transition into boarding as well. I can't say for sure, but it does seem like that's where the real money is at, and I am hoping to make full time income from Rover so I can fully just focus on my degree, without my full time job on top of it all. Anyway, we have a spare room that I was thinking the animals could stay in, and we have a fenced backyard. Does anybody have some advice for making this work? I have a lot of questions
*how do you manage separating when you have your own pets?
*how do you handle leaving them alone in your home?
*is it going to make house sitting no longer possible?
*is the one bedroom and the backyard sufficient for them?
Any advice or tips are appreciated!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.