How do i get started with petsitting?

I am a pet-sitter, and have done this for ten years. I started out just keeping one or two at my house, plus some housec alls. I got so many customers I had to put up a fence. I intended to make enough for spending money, but now I am self-supporting. There are questions you must ask yourself before getting in to this. Do you have a safe place where dogs can go outside in a fenced area? Even some dogs are experts at getting out. Are you experienced with dogs, and putting strange dogs together? Or do you just want to do house calls. If you run a pet-sitting business in your home, be sure your family fully supports you or don't do it. My husband complained a lot about dogs in the house, and he finally left. That was a bigger price than I was willing to pay, but it is too late now. The down side of it is that it takes up your weekends and holidays, and you are pretty much tied down. Whenever everybody else is off work, you are in highest demand. It is fun, but it is murder to your social life. Be sure you are studied up on dogs and have the proper facilities. Then you need to get a business license. I just did it all from scratch.

I would like to start a small breeding kennel and grooming business and i'm looking for just general blueprints/or ideas on measurements and designs to make it as home like as possible for my pups..Anyone know any good websites where i might be able to get some ideas??

There are a lot of resources out there. Most want to sell you something, though. This site looked promising, though.

Good Luck.

cool water or hot water

Unless the dog has pneumonia, it shouldn't be necessary. It's like the human version of the cold, pretty much. At least half of my foster dogs from the local shelter have kennel cough and when I give them ester vitamin C, it usually goes away in a few days no problem. Small dogs are fine with 250-500 mg a day, medium are fine with 500-1000 mg, and large/giant dogs can have 2000 mg a day. Divide the daily dose in half if possible and give half in the morning, half in the evening. Use the ester type as it is gentler on their stomach.

Edit: did I say that vitamin C cures it? It helps boost the immune system. My dogs are not vaccinated against kennel cough. Like I said, at least half of my foster dogs have it. My dogs NEVER get kennel cough. Stressed animals get it typically, like in a shelter situation, just stressed humans are more likely to get a cold (corticosteroids from stress suppress the immune system). Kennel cough, unless there is danger of pneumonia, usually resolves itself (just like human colds) within a few days to 2-3 weeks, depending on the strain and immune system status of the dog. Overuse of antibiotics is a serious issue in both human and veterinary medicine and is not the answer unless it is warranted. A dog with a snotty nose or a cough from kennel cough shouldn't need antibiotics if it is healthy otherwise.

ust a little poll i would like answered. when dog owners go on holiday etc .......would you prefer your lovely little doggy to be put in kennels for the duration of your absence or would you like them pet sit in another home where they will keep there regular routine etc.

any answers would be of great help

Thankyou xxx

Ask yourself, when you go on holidays, would you like to spend your time in the bathroom?

Pets, to many people are treated like precious beings and live in comfortable surroundings. When the owners go on holidays they have the choice of a 'cage' type of environment with entry to a pen for the animal to go to the toilet.

Home2home is usually a situation where a dog is able to participate in a regular family atmosphere and most carers are genuine animal lovers.

Taking into consideration DEFRA legislation that a dog must not be left unsupervised over 2 hours and home care usually allows no more than 2/3 dogs. No children. (This is still flexible, depending on the dog and the age of the child). This is UK Law.

Professional Animal Care is a lot more complicated than people may realise and many things need to be taken into consideration.

I want to start a dog walking/pet sitting "business", just something that will earn me small change and won't take too much of my free time. I was wondering how much I should charge (for both walking and pet sitting per hour/day), and your experiences with this if you've ever done it before. Also, if you were hiring a pet sitter, what you would expect the person to do.

Survey your potential customers - if they want to compensate you adequately/or not, then you can decide. Find out what it is worth to them for your services.
Be mindful of value-added services you may be able to supply. (eg pooch-washing etc....)