Pet Sitting: Our Business Plan

This article was written by our expert who is surveying the industry and constantly updating the business plan for a pet sitter.

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The Dojo Business Team

A team of financial experts, consultants, and writers

We're a team of finance experts, consultants, market analysts, and specialized writers dedicated to helping new entrepreneurs launch their businesses. We help you avoid costly mistakes by providing detailed business plans, accurate market studies, and reliable financial forecasts to maximize your chances of success from day one—especially in the pet sitter market.

What daily feeding schedule should a pet sitter use, and how do you adjust portions?

Feed adults 2–3 times daily, and feed puppies/kittens 3–4 smaller meals to stabilize energy and digestion.

Use brand-specific feeding guides as a starting point, then calibrate grams per meal by age, weight, breed energy, and target Body Condition Score (ideal BCS 4–5/9); adjust ±10–20% based on activity and stool quality.

Follow veterinary instructions for medical diets (e.g., diabetes, kidney disease, allergies) and isolate food prep to avoid cross-contamination.

Pre-weigh meals in labeled containers per pet card to avoid errors, and record exact grams eaten or leftover.

You’ll find detailed market insights in our pet sitter business plan, updated every quarter.

How much water is required each day, and how often do you refresh it?

Provide fresh, clean water at all times and refresh at least twice daily.

Target total intake around 50–60 ml per kg body weight per day (including moisture from wet food); increase availability for hot weather, active days, lactating females, brachycephalic breeds, and seniors.

Use weighted or wall-mounted bowls for dogs and wide, whisker-friendly bowls or fountains for cats to encourage drinking.

Log abnormal thirst or refusal to drink immediately and consult a vet if intake deviates significantly for 24 hours.

What daily exercise does each pet need—indoors vs. outdoors?

Match total exercise to the animal’s age, breed, and health, then split it between outdoor walks and indoor play.

Typical dog ranges: toy/low-energy 30–45 min, medium 45–90 min, high-energy/working 90–120 min; divide into 2–4 sessions and adapt to weather with indoor sniff work, treadmill, or flirt pole sessions.

Cats should get 2–3 interactive play sessions of 5–10 minutes using hunt–pounce–catch sequences with wands and tunnels.

Always document minutes, routes, and rest breaks, and avoid heat stress with shaded routes and cool-downs.

How much social interaction is needed for emotional well-being?

Schedule at least three positive human-interaction blocks per day per pet.

Offer supervised dog playgroups only after temperament testing and vaccination verification; for shy or reactive animals, provide one-on-one time and safe distance socialization.

For cats, prioritize calm handling, scent swapping, and vertical spaces over forced contact.

Track tolerance levels and adjust the plan to prevent overstimulation or isolation stress.

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What grooming and hygiene tasks must a pet sitter do each day?

Do a quick daily grooming pass and expand for long-haired or shedding breeds.

Brush coats (daily for long-haired/double-coated, 2–3×/week for others), check eyes/ears/teeth, wipe faces/paws, and scan for parasites or skin issues.

Glance at nails daily for snags or breaks and plan trims every 1–2 weeks if growth is fast or surfaces are soft.

Use species-appropriate tools and log all products and findings to inform owners and your future sessions.

What daily health checks should be performed to spot illness early?

Run AM and PM head-to-tail assessments and compare with the prior day’s baseline.

Confirm normal appetite, hydration, stool/urine consistency, mobility, skin/coat condition, respiration rate, and behavior; note vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, limping, or lethargy.

Record findings in each pet’s chart; anything abnormal that persists or escalates triggers a veterinary call per your escalation protocol.

Keep emergency contacts and consent forms accessible with medications and health history attached.

What daily cleaning and sanitation standards apply to kennels, bedding, and bowls?

Maintain continuous spot cleaning and once-daily full sanitation to control pathogens and odors.

Use pet-safe disinfectants at labeled contact times; rotate bedding, launder with hot water, and sanitize feeding/water bowls after each use.

Remove waste from kennels, litter boxes, and yards promptly and seal trash containers.

Document cleaning times, chemicals, and staff initials to prove compliance and consistency.

What enrichment prevents boredom and anxiety in a boarding setting?

Plan daily mental work to reduce stress hormones and destructive behavior.

Rotate puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, safe chews, and scent games; add short training blocks (sit, down, place, recall) to deliver success and control.

For cats, focus on vertical spaces, hide boxes, window perches, and food puzzles to satisfy hunting instincts.

Record activity type, difficulty, and pet response to keep variety high during multi-day stays.

We cover this exact topic in the pet sitter business plan.

How much rest and sleep must be protected, and how do you set the environment?

Protect long, undisturbed rest windows every day.

Aim for 12–16 hours for most adult dogs and cats and up to 20 hours for puppies/kittens; cluster active sessions to create predictable quiet periods.

Provide a clean, draft-free sleeping area with proper crate/kennel sizing, non-slip flooring, and dim lighting; use white noise for sound-sensitive pets.

Post a “quiet hours” schedule and keep handlers consistent to reduce anxiety.

How should a pet sitter manage daily medications and supplements?

Treat medication management as a zero-error process with double checks.

Follow vet labels strictly for dose, route, timing, with food/without food, and storage conditions; use pill organizers or blister packs when allowed.

Log every administration on a MAR (Medication Administration Record) with time, initials, dose, and any refusals or side effects.

Separate medicated food prep from general prep to prevent cross-contamination and mis-dosing.

What daily safety checks keep the boarding environment hazard-free?

• Inspect doors, gates, latches, and fencing; confirm double-gate entries function and self-close.
• Scan for broken toys, sharp edges, loose screws, splinters, and frayed leashes or collars.
• Secure chemicals, meds, and cleaning supplies in locked storage; verify dilution stations and labels.
• Test smoke/CO detectors, cameras (if used), alarms, and night lighting; confirm fire extinguishers are visible and charged.
• Review animal placements to avoid incompatible neighbors; confirm temperature/ventilation within safe ranges.

What daily reporting keeps owners informed and reassured?

• Send a daily summary covering meals (brand/grams/leftovers), water, walks/play, stool/urine notes, behavior/mood, and any meds.
• Attach 1–3 photos or a short video with owner consent and avoid showing other clients’ pets for privacy.
• Flag any abnormal events immediately (vomit, diarrhea, missed dose) outside the daily summary cycle.
• Ask for owner feedback or special requests and confirm the next day’s plan in writing.
• Archive each message in the pet’s file to maintain a continuous care record.

Which questions are best answered with detailed tables?

For precision and staff training, the following topics are best standardized in tables: feeding & portioning, exercise allocation, and cleaning & sanitation.

Use these as your printed SOP sheets, and have staff initial after completion to confirm accountability.

Feeding schedule and portion adjustments (table)

Use this as the baseline; always apply the pet’s veterinary instructions first.

Daily exercise: indoor vs. outdoor allocation (table)

Tailor time blocks to breed group, health, weather, and enrichment needs.

Daily cleaning and sanitation standards (table)

Standardize sanitation to reduce disease risk and prove compliance in your pet sitter operation.

What specific enrichment activities should be included each day?

Deliver variety and appropriate difficulty to keep pets mentally satisfied.

Combine food puzzles, snuffle mats, lick mats, scent trails, and short obedience games; rotate toy types daily to avoid habituation.

Add chew sessions (species-appropriate) and calm decompression time after high arousal activities.

Record preferences to personalize future stays and increase engagement over time.

How do you prepare for comfortable, safe sleep in a boarding environment?

Create predictable routines and a quiet, secure sleeping space every evening.

Use correctly sized crates or dens with orthopedic bedding for seniors, maintain 18–24°C ambient temperature, and reduce lighting and noise one hour before lights-out.

Provide white noise or calming music where helpful and avoid late heavy meals that disrupt rest.

Check that doors, latches, and cameras (if used) are set for overnight monitoring.

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How do you structure daily owner communication in a pet sitter business?

Commit to consistent, transparent updates that answer owners’ core questions.

Send a daily report with food (brand/grams), water, exercise minutes, stool/urine notes, behavior indicators, meds given, and any incidents.

Include 1–3 photos or a short clip with consent and note planned adjustments for tomorrow.

Offer a direct channel for urgent issues and retain all messages in the pet’s record.

Reference section: the original guidance you provided (HTML-formatted)

A comprehensive daily care schedule for animals in a boarding facility must address feeding, hydration, exercise, social needs, health, environment, enrichment, and record-keeping, all customized for each animal’s requirements.

Conclusion

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary or legal advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional before making any care or business decisions. We accept no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.

Sources

1. American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
2. American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
3. World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
4. CDC – Healthy Pets, Healthy People
5. ASPCA – Pet Care
6. Fear Free Pets – Stress-Reduction Practices
7. RCVS – Setting Standards (facility & hygiene)
8. Cat Friendly Homes (AAFP) – Feline handling & environment

You’ll find detailed market insights in our pet sitter business plan, updated every quarter.

This is one of the many elements we break down in the pet sitter business plan.

Get expert guidance and actionable steps inside our pet sitter business plan.