Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Pet Sitter

🎯 Role Definition

A Pet Sitter provides reliable, compassionate, and professional in-home or on-site care for companion animals — including dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and exotic pets. The role centers on maintaining animal welfare, following owner instructions and veterinary guidance, ensuring safety, and communicating clearly with pet owners. Pet Sitters may offer scheduled visits, dog walking, overnight stays, house-sitting, medication administration, and emergency response. Candidates must demonstrate animal handling experience, basic medical knowledge (medication administration and pet first aid), strong communication and customer service skills, punctuality, and trustworthiness.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Dog Walker or Dog Daycare Assistant
Veterinary Assistant or Kennel Attendant
Volunteer Animal Shelter Worker

Advancement To:

Senior Pet Sitter / Lead Pet Care Specialist
Manager of Pet Care Services / Pet Sitting Company Owner
Professional Dog Trainer or Veterinary Technician (with additional certification)

Lateral Moves:

Pet Groomer
Pet Transportation Specialist
Animal Behavior Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct thorough, owner-approved pet care visits including feeding, portion control, replenishing water, cleaning food dishes, and sanitizing bowls to prevent contamination and maintain consistent dietary schedules.
Walk dogs on scheduled routes with proper leash and harness use, ensuring safe handling around traffic, other animals, and pedestrians while providing exercise and socialization appropriate to each dog’s age, breed, and energy level.
Administer medications (oral, topical, injected) per veterinary or owner instructions, maintain detailed medication logs indicating time, dosage, and pet response, and immediately report missed doses or adverse reactions to the owner and veterinarian as required.
Provide overnight care and in-home stays to maintain a pet’s routine, reduce anxiety, and ensure continuous supervision for pets requiring close monitoring, including nighttime check-ins and emergency responsiveness.
Monitor and document pet health and behavior during each visit — recording appetite, elimination, activity level, unusual behaviors, wounds, vomiting, lethargy, or other signs of illness, and promptly notifying the owner and/or veterinary staff of concerns.
Perform basic grooming tasks such as brushing, nail monitoring (and light trimming where permitted), ear cleaning, and assisting with bathing as requested by the owner while using species-appropriate products and techniques to minimize stress.
Clean litter boxes, cages, bedding, and enclosures; remove waste from yards and public spaces; sanitize pet areas using pet-safe cleaning products to reduce odor and disease transmission.
Provide enrichment, play, and mental stimulation tailored to the animal’s needs — using toys, puzzles, training games, and supervised interaction to prevent boredom and destructive behavior.
Transport pets safely to and from veterinary appointments, grooming sessions, or daycare using appropriate crates, seat belts, carriers, and sanitation procedures — ensuring all required paperwork and escorts are handled professionally.
Follow detailed pet care plans and emergency procedures supplied by pet owners and establishments; obtain consent for prescribed deviations and document any changes or exceptions thoroughly.
Maintain secure home-sitting duties when combined with pet care, including light household tasks (bringing in mail, rotating lights, watering plants), ensuring the owner’s property is secure, and keeping an eye on household systems while pets are under care.
Create and maintain accurate visit logs and digital updates (photos, videos, notes) for owners after each visit; provide at least daily communication for overnight stays and more frequent updates when requested or when a pet’s condition warrants it.
Implement and respect household rules, leash rules, and off-leash boundaries; enforce zoning and crate rules consistently to maintain training progress during the owner’s absence.
Conduct initial meet-and-greets to assess pet temperament, household environment, potential hazards, and vaccination/documentation status, and provide owners with a clear care plan and pricing estimate before first booking.
Manage bookings, schedule coordination, cancellations, and route optimization using scheduling apps and GPS tools to maximize efficiency, arrive on time, and minimize stress for animals and owners.
Handle multiple pets and multi-pet households with individualized care plans that prevent resource guarding, reduce conflict, and ensure equal attention for each animal’s needs.
Provide basic training reinforcement — such as recall practice, sit/stay commands, crate training routines, and leash manners — following the owner-approved training methods and avoiding punitive techniques.
Respond to on-site emergencies (injuries, ingestion, seizures, allergic reactions) with immediate first aid, stabilization measures, and fast coordination with the pet’s veterinarian or emergency animal hospital; document all actions taken.
Ensure compliance with licenses, vaccination requirements, and local regulations for dog walking, short-term boarding, and pet transport; request proof of vaccination and inform owners of any non-compliance.
Maintain and restock supplies during visits as agreed (food, litter, medication, waste bags) and notify owners when resupply is needed to prevent interruptions in care.
Build positive client relationships through professionalism, discretion, reliability, and clear communication; solicit feedback, adapt services to client preferences, and follow up on any unresolved issues.
Safely manage animals with special needs (senior pets, post-operative care, mobility-impaired animals, pregnant animals) by following specific care instructions, assisting with mobility, using ramps or slings, and coordinating with owners and veterinarians.
Execute pick-up and drop-off procedures for pet sitting or daycare transitions, ensuring pets are transferred safely, paperwork is completed, and any behavior or health concerns are relayed orally and in writing at drop-off/pick-up.

Secondary Functions

Support client onboarding by collecting emergency contact information, veterinarian details, pet medical history, feeding schedules, behavior notes, and access instructions to ensure smooth handoffs and care continuity.
Contribute to business operations by maintaining invoicing records, accepting payments, managing tips, and using booking platforms to update availability and accept new clients.
Participate in ongoing professional development: attend animal first aid/CPR certification courses, behavior workshops, and local pet care conferences to stay current on best practices.
Assist with marketing efforts by writing client testimonials, requesting online reviews, providing social media content (photos and short updates), and referring clients to complementary services (groomers, trainers, vets) when appropriate.
Perform light household maintenance related to pet care such as washing bedding, refilling water dispensers, and maintaining cleanliness of pet gear to extend product life and ensure sanitary conditions.
Coordinate with other pet care professionals (veterinarians, trainers, groomers, boarding facilities) to share relevant care notes and to follow through on treatment or training programs as authorized by the owner.
Maintain accurate records of incidents, complaints, or unusual occurrences and escalate unresolved or serious matters to supervisors or appropriate authorities, following company reporting protocols.
Implement seasonal care adjustments — heat safety protocols, winter paw care, tick/flea prevention reminders — and advise owners of climate-related best practices during care periods.
Help cultivate new client relationships by conducting safe and informative meet-and-greet sessions, presenting service packages, and providing clear pricing and cancellation policies.
Participate in route reviews and scheduling optimization meetings to improve on-time performance, coverage during peak seasons, and overall client satisfaction.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Pet First Aid & CPR certification (able to stabilize and provide emergency care until veterinary assistance is available).
Medication administration: accurate dosing and delivery of oral, topical, and injectable medications following vet/owner instructions.
Animal handling & restraint techniques for multiple species (dogs — including large breeds, cats, small mammals, birds, and reptiles) using humane, low-stress methods.
Leash handling and control skills including training-grade leash corrections, use of harnesses, head collars, and slip leads for safety in public spaces.
GPS and route-planning app proficiency (Google Maps, Waze, pet-sitting apps) for efficient multi-stop scheduling and accurate client updates.
Record keeping and reporting: experience using digital pet care platforms, scheduling software, and photo/video documentation to maintain transparent logs.
Basic grooming skills: brushing, bathing, nail care awareness, ear cleaning, and recognizing when to refer to a professional groomer.
Pet transport safety: knowledge of appropriate carriers, vehicle safety protocols, and sanitation for transporting animals.
Understanding of common health conditions, vaccinations, flea/tick prevention, and zoonotic risk mitigation to follow owner and veterinary guidance appropriately.
Basic training techniques and positive reinforcement methods to reinforce owner-directed behaviors without using aversive methods.

Soft Skills

Exceptional communication and customer service — clear, friendly updates and professional handling of questions, scheduling, and conflicts.
Reliability and punctuality — consistent arrival within scheduled windows and dependable care even under changing conditions.
Observation and attention to detail — ability to notice subtle changes in behavior, appetite, or health and escalate appropriately.
Time management and organization — prioritize multiple visits and tasks while maintaining thorough documentation.
Empathy and calm demeanor — ability to soothe anxious animals and reassure stressed owners, especially during emergencies.
Problem-solving and adaptability — quickly adjust care plans when unexpected issues arise (weather, pet illness, access problems).
Integrity, discretion, and trustworthiness — handling keys, alarm codes, and client property with respect and confidentiality.
Teamwork and collaboration — coordinate with colleagues, substitute sitters, and external service providers while maintaining consistent care standards.
Sales and client retention mindset — upsell appropriate services tactfully and maintain long-term client relationships.
Cultural sensitivity and professionalism — respectful communication with diverse clients and ability to represent a brand or small business positively.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (or proven pet care experience).

Preferred Education:

Certification or coursework in animal care, veterinary assisting, animal behavior, or pet first aid/CPR.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Animal Science
Veterinary Technology
Companion Animal Behavior
Small Animal Care and Welfare

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of direct pet sitting, dog walking, veterinary assisting, kennel work, or animal shelter experience.

Preferred:

2+ years of professional pet sitting or dog walking experience with documented client references.
Experience managing multiple clients and scheduling with pet care software.
Certifications in Pet First Aid/CPR and relevant municipal licenses for dog walking/boarding where applicable.