Pet Sitting Vs Pet Boarding: 8 Key Factors To Consider For Choosing The Right Option For Your Pet

As long as you’re around, your pet is assured of a healthy, comfortable and happy lifestyle. However, on occasion, you may have to travel without your pet. What are your options if you don’t have friends and family available to watch them? The most common solutions are to find a pet sitter near you or consider pet boarding facilities. Both options have their advantages. It’s best to prepare for either situation well in advance so that the experience isn’t too confusing or stressful for your pet or for you. 

1. Pet Boarding

Pet boarding spaces are designed for pets to live on their premises temporarily while their parents are out of town. Boarding facilities have a full-time staff that is responsible for feeding, exercising and caring for your pet around the clock. How many pets they board at one time depends on the size of the facility and their team. Some large pet boarding facilities even offer swimming pools and grooming services. 

Home pet boarding facilities are also an option. Some pet parents convert their own homes into pet boarding where they look after a limited number of pets at a time. This depends on how much room they have and their own bandwidth. 

2. Pet Sitting

A pet sitter is hired to come and stay at your home with your pet for a specific duration. It could be for a few hours in the day or for a few days at a time. During this time, they will maintain your pet’s regular routine from mealtimes to walks and playtime. One of the advantages of this option is that your pet can remain in a familiar and comfortable environment. Pets thrive on routines, and pet sitting ensures minimal disruption to their daily schedule. 

With either option – boarding or pet sitting – the most important thing is to prepare your pet for it. Accept that at some point you may need to go out of town. It could be for an emergency or a vacation or just a work trip.  When this does happen, you will have one less thing to worry about because your pet is familiar with the place and people who are going to be looking after them.
If you spring it on your dog or cat at the last minute, they’ll have no clue as to what’s happening. To them, it may feel like you’re leaving for good and may react in desperation. It’s best to avoid this at all costs.

3. Finding Pet Boarding and Pet Sitting Services

You can get a whole lot of recommendations from the internet but we find that following this up with reviews from pet parents is important. There’s nothing as reliable as a review from someone who has opted for the services offered. Find pet people whose opinions you trust and ask them about the places on your shortlist. You could also speak to your vet for recommendations. 

4. Questions to ask yourself when choosing a boarding facility

Ask for a tour of the premises and look at everything from your pet’s perspective. Some super swanky dog boarding spaces offer a lot of amenities that don’t really make sense for dogs like televisions and private balconies. The questions you should be asking are: 

4.1. How clean is it?
Make note of how neatly the space is kept. Is it well-maintained? If it’s run down with rusted gates or broken furniture, that’s a red flag. Cleanliness is key in a space shared by many pets. Ticks, kennel cough and other common health conditions spread easily if the premises aren't maintained well. You can even ask them the cleaning solutions they use to ensure it’s safe for pets.

4.2. How much space does each dog have?
Some boarding spaces keep each dog in a separate kennel and exercise them individually. Other boarding facilities have open kennel concepts where dogs are left together in a large space throughout the day. Depending on their size and dynamics, some dogs are paired together to sleep or spend the night in separate kennels.

In a home-boarding facility, dogs spend their time as they would in your home. Think about what works for your dog and whether the kennel suits those needs. Cats are usually boarded in individually enclosed spaces because they are such a flight-risk. Most cat parents choose pet sitters over cat boarding facilities. 

4.3. If your dog has any special needs, will it accommodate those?
If your pet has any special needs, for instance, a joint issue, a specific diet or has to contend with a different health issue, let the boarding space know. Let them tell you if they have the facilities and training to accommodate your pet’s needs. 

4.4. How secure is the facility?
If your dog is not familiar with being left in a boarding facility or has a nervous temperament, he may find being stuck in a boarding facility very odd. Dogs have been known to scale walls and attempt to get back to their own homes. So understanding how secure your dog is at the boarding facility is crucial. Notice how careful the staff is about keeping gates closed and so on. This can be especially important for felines. 

4.5. Are they equipped to deal with the needs of the season?
Do they have coolers and fans to keep pets comfortable in the summer? Inverters may be required if the locality is subject to frequent power outages. For the monsoon, it’s important to have spaces where walks and exercise can happen indoors if the rains prevent them from going out. Winters in some cities like Delhi are absolutely freezing, does the boarding facility have the means to keep their boarders warm?

4.6. What do they get fed?
Your pet may not get exactly what you’re feeding them at home, unless you’re able to leave behind a bag of dog food. Your dog is adjusting to a new space and that comes with some stress. So food that is served at kennels is generally something that’s light on the tummy and has plenty of moisture.

Check on how many meals they get per day. Some places feed twice a day with two snacks. But if your pet usually eats lunch, you can let the manager know. 
If your pet has specific dietary requirements, needs to be given medication or supplements, let the boarding space know upfront. Access to clean, fresh water is extremely important for pets so do check how this is accommodated. 

4.7. What does their daily exercise entail?
Does the staff take pets out for walks every day? How many times a day and how long are the walks, on average. Do they leave the grounds or are the walks done in the compound itself? Ask for their daily routine and see if there’s anything that needs to be changed for your dog. Does anyone go in and spend some time with the cats in boarding? To play a few games or just hang out. 

5. Choosing a pet sitter

Spend some time beforehand to make notes on what is most important for your pet. Based on this list, frame questions for the interview with potential pet sitters. Besides the basic questions of how long they’ve been in the profession, any certifications they may have and the services they offer, it’s equally important to see how they handle your dog in-person. 

1. Emergency situations: Pet sitters often take CPR and First Aid courses. This would be a definite plus in case of emergencies. In fact, you should discuss what could be done in an emergency situation. 

2. Meeting special needs: If your dog has any special needs or specific requirements, bring those up during the interview. If they aren’t able to meet those requirements, it’s better you know upfront. 

3. References: Follow up the interview with references so you hear from pet parents whose dogs she has looked after. Since this person is going to be living in your home, you need to see how you feel about them as well. 

4. Daily reports: Discuss and agree on the details you need reported to you and how often these reports need to come in. This could range from simple text updates to photos or even calls/video calls. 

6. Preparing your pet for boarding or pet sitting  

Think about finding a boarding/pet sitter long before you need one. This gives you time to introduce your pet to the concept gradually. Your pet’s first time at the boarding should be just about 30-60 minutes. The subsequent visits could extend to a couple of hours or a bit more. When you pick up your pet, they will understand that you’re not leaving them there for good but will always come back to pick them up. Once they’re comfortable at the boarding facility, you can try leaving them overnight. 

Use a similar approach for pet sitters. At the first meeting, just introduce your pet to the sitter and let them hang out until they’re comfortable with one another. Then you can gradually start leaving your pet with them for a few hours at a time and eventually, overnight. 

Finding a good pet boarding facility or pet sitting services is one of the most important things to pin down. Nearly as important as finding a good vet! 

7.  Frequently Asked Questions 

7.1. Is pet boarding safe for pets?

Yes, pet boarding can be a safe option for pets. Reputable boarding facilities have trained staff members who prioritise the well-being and safety of the animals under their care. It's important to choose a facility that follows proper hygiene practices, has secure enclosures, and provides necessary supervision and care.

7.2. When should we introduce our pets before putting them up at a boarding facility?

It's recommended to introduce your pet to the boarding facility well in advance, ideally a few weeks before your planned absence. This allows them to become familiar with the surroundings, staff, and routine. Gradual introductions help reduce anxiety and make the transition smoother for your pet.

7.3. Should we ask for separate lodging or can my dog stay together with other dogs?

The answer to this question depends on your dog's temperament, preferences, and the policies of the boarding facility. Some dogs enjoy socialising and benefit from staying with other compatible dogs in a communal setting. Other dogs may prefer individual lodging to ensure their comfort and reduce stress. Discuss your dog's needs and preferences with the boarding facility to determine the best arrangement.