I'm a Dogsitter. AMA.

[K92021]

I sit in my own home and also other people's.

What qualifications do you have?

What insurance do you have?

Did you find it hard to get the license needed to board dogs in your home?

Is your house smelly?

It's not a full time job. I'm the go-to for looking after dogs for friends and family only which keeps me busy as nearly everyone I know owns a dog! I have no qualifications (friends and family know this) and no insurance. I only look after one dog at a time (unless they're from the same family) to create a "home from home" where I can solely concentrate on those dogs. Because I don't have dogs here 365 days a year my home doesn't smell once dogs have left but I can definitely smell a difference when they're here. Once they leave I wash everything and clean my leather couch!

Do you get paid?

Because if so, you need a council license for what you do.

@K92021

It's not a full time job. I'm the go-to for looking after dogs for friends and family only which keeps me busy as nearly everyone I know owns a dog! I have no qualifications (friends and family know this) and no insurance. I only look after one dog at a time (unless they're from the same family) to create a "home from home" where I can solely concentrate on those dogs. Because I don't have dogs here 365 days a year my home doesn't smell once dogs have left but I can definitely smell a difference when they're here. Once they leave I wash everything and clean my leather couch!

So you're not a dog sitter, you're just happy to help out friends and family.

So you're not a dog sitter, you're just happy to help out friends and family.

Exactly. I thought this thread was going to be by someone who was a professional sitter/dog carer with all the relevant insurance, qualifications, licenses etc.

@sunflowersandbuttercups

Do you get paid?

Because if so, you need a council license for what you do.

No, I don't get paid. I love the company of dogs but don't want to commit to owning one myself. I started out by helping out a family member and it snowballed. I'm happy to be available to make my family and friend's holidays more affordable.

^^
You legally need insurance too

Recomend you do this as a mimum qualification

dog boarder qualification

Also first aid certification google one in your local area or IMDT offer them.

Insurance I suggest you try Cliverton

I don't think insurance would pay out if she's not licensed would it @PollyRoulson?

I know my insurance technically covers daycare and home-boarding but the small-print says I'm only actually covered if I'm licensed as necessary by my local council.

Agree Sunflowersandbuttercups but she wont get a licence unless she is insured. So needs both.

@PollyRoulson

Agree Sunflowersandbuttercups but she wont get a licence unless she is insured. So needs both.

I think technically she doesn't need a license if she's not being paid, though? I'm not sure.

I know someone local to me got in trouble for offering daycare without a license, but they were receiving money for it.

Sounds like OP is just doing favours for friends and family.

Yes again I agree although she really does need insurance whether she is being paid or not, for her and the dogs protection.

The dog industry is so unregulated and most professionals are pushing hard to make sure there is some kind of protection for owners, and dogs.

These sort of "favours" if done regularly as it sounds it is, should have some legislation for the OP protection, the dogs, owners and the public.

I absolutely agree with you.

But she won't get a license without insurance, and any insurance she gets won't pay out unless she has a license in place.

So she needs both. And licenses aren't especially easy to get or cheap - there's a lot of checks to make and lots of paperwork to fill in. I don't think anyone who looks after dogs as a favour is going to bother - it definitely put me off

I'm still considering it for the future but we're about to renovate so there's no point until that's all finished!

I'll definitely look into this. They are indeed "favours" (despite the insinuation of your inserted commas (unless tacky souvenirs from Malta or rock from Blackpool count as payment!)

Add this started out as helping one family member and went from there I am definitely going to do a first aid course at the bare minimum. I've spent hours reading up on dog behaviours as well as I'm just so interested in this field.

#inverted
#as

Thread should be titled
“I look after dogs for friends and family AMA”
You are not a “dog sitter” OP, that’s an actual job/business any more than having my friends DCs or DCs friends to stay makes me a Childminder or Nanny

I'll definitely look into this.

You won't get a license without a council inspection, and without you having filled out a considerable amount of paperwork. A license will set you back around £300-500, and you'll need to pay every time it needs to be renewed.

Licensing will make sure you:

• have a secure garden and secure entry-ways into your house, eg. double doors or baby gates in place.
• enough secure rooms so that each dog has it's own space away from the others.
• assessments in place so you could say what you'd do in case of fire, emergency, a dog needing emergency vet care etc.
• a separate fridge space for dog medications
• a system for disposing of poo safely etc.

Plus a lot more. They will also ensure you only leave the dogs for a set amount of time, that you only have a certain number of dogs etc etc.

It's a long-drawn out process and can take months. Would you really do all that and then continue to not charge people?

Doggy daycare and boarding is a business that's (after years of fighting) highly regulated - it's not looking after dogs as a favour for a friend.

So you’re not a dog sitter then...

Or I mean I can call myself a nanny because I’ve babysat for friends and family?

AMA is hilarious when it goes wrong

I’m a film critic. AMA.

Well I go to the cinema sometimes. And tell friends if I liked the movie.

What dog breeds do you look after? Which dog breeds are your favourites?

Do you snoop around peoples houses or eat their food while sitting?

What does AMA stand for?

@Beforeiwasrichandfamous ask me anything