Pet sitting in NoVA generally means one of three things: someone stays in your home, your dog stays in theirs, or your dog goes to a boarding facility. For most dogs, staying in their own home with their own routine wins, but the sitter matters more than the setup.
What to look for
- Insured, bonded, background-checked. The full trio. Ask for proof, not promises.
- A thorough meet & greet. They should ask about feeding, meds, quirks, vet info, and emergency contacts, and take notes. A 10-minute chat isn't a meet & greet.
- Daily updates with photos. Standard practice now. Agree on frequency upfront.
- A vet emergency plan. They should know your vet, the nearest emergency vet, and have your authorization to act if they can't reach you.
- Medication experience if your dog needs it, pills, injections, timing.
- Reasonable client load. Ask how many other pets they'll be responsible for during your dates.
Questions to ask
- Where will my dog sleep, and what's a typical day look like?
- How many other animals will be in your care at the same time?
- What do you do if my dog gets sick or injured and I'm unreachable?
- How much time will my dog actually spend alone?
- Can I reach you during the day, and how quickly do you respond?
- Do you have a contract, and what's your cancellation policy?
Red flags
- Skips the meet & greet or rushes it.
- Too many animals under one roof.
- No vet plan and no interest in your emergency contacts.
- Cash-only, no contract, no references.
- Can't tell you what a normal day looks like.
What it costs in NoVA
Roughly $55–$90 per night for in-home sitting, more for holidays and multi-dog households. Boarding facilities run $60–$100+ per night. The cheapest option on Rover isn't always the bargain it looks like, read the reviews like you're hiring a nanny, because you are.
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