Long-Term Pet Sitter vs. Pet Boarding
While the choice is up to you, there are several things to take into consideration when choosing whether to select an in-house pet sitter or a boarding facility for your dog.
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Long-Term Pet SitterDogs and cats like a routine and that can get really messed up when you go away, leaving them feeling abandoned and stressed out. All pets can greatly benefit from in-home sitting, but it is especially good for pets that are shy, nervous, anti-social, ill, elderly, or suffer from separation anxiety.
The sitter will usually take time to meet your pet before your scheduled appointment begins to help let your dog or cat get to know them and befriend them. Why Do Long-Term Pet Sitters Cost More? Having your pet at home means they will be able to keep their normal routine: eat what they love in a familiar place, sleep where they like to, play with their own toys, and not have to engage with other animals, their smells, or hear lots of scary sounds while cooped up in a boarding facility. These points are especially important for animals who have separation anxiety or otherwise get thrown off when their daily routine is changed. If your pet has an illness or a weakened immune system, keeping it at home helps ensure that it won't be exposed to anything that will further jeopardize their health. While choosing an in-home long-term pet sitter may be more pricey than boarding, but your dog or cat is guaranteed to get more attentive, personalized, and loving care. |
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Pet BoardingTypically cheaper and sometimes more popular than in-home sitting, boarding is a common options for having your pets watched while you're away.
If your pets are the kind that like to meet new animal friends or if they don't mind the commotion of lots of things going on around them (and the noise that comes with that), then boarding may be fine. Why Do Pet Boarders Cost Less? There are a couple of important reasons why a boarding facility may cost less. First and foremost, they work in volume - kind of like the Sam's Club of pet sitting. More dogs and cats in one location means they can charge less - at least per the initial base fee. Some pet boarding facilities are nothing more than rows of cages or small rooms for your animal to stay in while others promote themselves as resorts for your animals. These typically have individual rooms for your dog or cat to stay in, but you need to watch out. Many of these resort boarding facilities charge extra for services or extras like in-room television, "special" play dates, pool time, spa treatments, extra walks, and more. These extras can really drive the cost up plus you'll eat up a lot of your own time just doing the comparisons from one boarder to the next. |