What Does In Home Dog Boarding Entail?

You are going out of town and you aren’t able to take your dog with you. Maybe you have heard of In Home Dog Boarding, but you aren’t quite sure what that means or what it entails. And what is the overnight pricing? Will it be in your budget? So many things to consider when choosing a pet sitting plan for your dog.

You can’t go on your trip without finding pet care for your pup. Therefore, you need to find pet sitting for your dog, of course. However, you aren’t sure what type of pet sitting would be best for your dog. Exploring pet sitting options for your dog can seem overwhelming. Yet, from a professional pet sitter’s viewpoint, it is pretty straightforward. Lucky for you, I am a professional pet sitter who can help you navigate the In Home Dog Boarding to see if it would be a good option for your dog. And I can even help you find the perfect pet sitter once you are ready!

Should I Choose A Dog Kennel For Boarding?

The short answer is NO! Dog kennels are not a good option for dog boarding. Let’s take a walk down memory lane, shall we? Dog boarding used to be as easy as calling a kennel to care for your dog when you travelled. A kennel was basically a boarding facility that consisted of crated dogs with minimal staff who would take your dog out to pee and poop, possibly go on a short walk, and feed your dog. The majority of your dog’s time would be spent caged up in a dog crate. Many dogs would bark incessantly – so much so they would lose their “voices” and would have a hoarse bark! Sounds pretty awful, doesn’t it? The stress of barking whether they are doing the barking or listening to barking can give dogs anxiety which translates to diarrhea.

Boarding your dog in a kennel is not something I would advise. And in today’s environment, there are many other options that your dog will love. Many pet sitting options include keeping your dog at home or in a pet sitter’s home. You could have a pet sitter stay overnight at your home with your dog. Another option is to hire a pet sitter to do pet sitting visits for your dog throughout the day to care for your dog. And finally, you could hire a pet sitter to watch your dog in the pet sitter’s home. With so many home options, kennels have become outdated and I do not recommend them for overnight pet sitting. All of these pet sitting options are not only better for your dog, but the overnight pricing is comparable to what kennels actually charge.

In Home Dog Boarding

In Home Dog Boarding has become popular in the last 20 years or so. As previously mentioned, boarding dogs in a kennel was the old school way of pet sitting. However, as pet sitters and pet sitting emerged since the 1990s, in home dog boarding has become a coveted pet sitting service. After all, our dogs are our babies. They have full reign of our homes, including our furniture which usually includes our beds…how could we expect these spoiled creatures to stay in a cold, crate for hours at a time with little to no human interaction and stimulation? It’s just not an option any more for most pet owners.

Therefore, the only way we can go away is to have a responsible care giver pet sit for our babies. And what better way of caring for your pet than in the comfort of their pet sitter’s home? The pet sitter brings your dog into their home and treats them like family. The dogs get on the same schedule as their new master and before your car is out of the driveway, your dog will be following around their pet sitter as if they were you. But don’t fret, they won’t forget you. It’s just that when it comes to dogs – out of sight, out of mind. And it’s actually better like that. Do you really want your dog crying that you left them? No! Alternatively, you want them to enjoy being in their home away from home being spoiled like the dog you know and love.

What Is The Overnight Price For Dog Boarding?

When customers are looking for overnight pet sitting, they always ask for rates. It makes sense that they need to know the price before booking services with a pet sitter. And while I do appreciate people doing their research prior to making reservations, it is important to know what the value of a service is. While overnight pricing is important, knowing what is included in the price determines the value. Further, one should understand how In Home Boarding compares to other pet sitting options. After all, you want to compare apples to apples versus comparing an all inclusive resort to an a-la-carte boarding facility.

Things to consider when looking for overnight pricing:

What is included in overnight dog boarding?

It might sound silly to ask for details like what is included in overnight dog boarding. One would assume dog boarding would mean that the pet sitter cares for your dog in their home overnight. Additionally, you might assume this type of boarding includes walks, play time, feedings, and snuggles. And while all of that might be true with many in home boarding services, it probably isn’t true for all pet sitters who offer this service. Buyer beware! Ask ahead of time what type of exercise your dog will be getting during the day. For example, if the pet sitter tells you they will walk your dog, ask them how many times they will walk your dog and how far they will walk each time. Understanding what is included in the overnight pricing is crucial for deciding where to have your dog stay.

What is a typical day like for in home dog boarding?

A great question to ask your pet sitter about in home dog boarding is what a typical day is like. If your pet sitter is like me (a professional dog walker), it is likely that they will have dog walking appointments during the day. In that case, it makes sense to ask, “Will my dog go on walks with you during the day with the other dogs?” If the answer is no, follow up with, “What will my dog be doing when you are walking dogs during the day?” And, “When will my dog get exercised? And, will it be enough daily exercise?”

Besides food, what should I pack for my dog for an overnight?

Once customers sign up for in home dog boarding with Muddy Paws, the next question becomes, what do I need to pack for my dog? This is a great question! To make your dog comfortable at someone else’s home, it is a good idea to pack their bed or blanket – something they can snuggle with and have the scent of home next to them when they relax.

Toys and bones are a possibility. Packing your dog’s favorite toys might sound like a great idea, however, if other dogs will be present, they might lose or destroy your dog’s favorite toy. Further, if your dog has a bone and is around other dogs, it could cause problems. If your dog is able to be crated at a pet sitter’s home, packing a few bones for bedtime (in a crate) would be great. If your dog doesn’t get crated and will be around other dogs, skip the bones.

Where Do The Dogs Sleep When Boarding?

Another question that is worth asking is where will my dog sleep when they are boarding with their pet sitter. You want to make sure that your dog will be comfortable in a new environment, especially through the night. Dogs are stimulated easily and during the day, they are distracted by many things. It’s when they lie down to go to sleep that can be tricky – especially for a somewhat anxious dog who is staying somewhere new.

A good pet sitter will make sure that your dog feels at ease in their home, most especially at bedtime. After all, an anxious dog can keep everyone in the household awake. And a distressed dog can develop stomach issues which is not fun for anyone! The best way for a dog to relax is through exercise. If your pet sitter exercises your dog throughout the day, your dog is much more likely to relax at night and sleep well through the night. And if you pack your dog’s bed/blanket, that will make things even easier for them to snuggle in.

Will My Dog Be Comfortable Sleeping Overnight At A Pet Sitter’s Home?

If your dog is used to sleeping in your bed with you on a nightly basis, it might make things tricky for boarding your dog in someone else’s home. After all, your pet sitter might not be keen on the idea of sharing their bed with every dog that sleeps over. However, that does not mean that your dog will lie awake crying every night. Not at all.

Dogs are resilient creatures and adjust much better than humans. When they are in a new environment, they don’t think I’m used to a king size bed with a feather-top mattress topper, there’s no way I can sleep on a thin sheet on the floor! They don’t think like this so don’t make up scenarios like this in your head. You will feel guilty and it will be for no reason. Rather, your dog will just go along with the new routine. Remember, they will be nice and tired from a busy day of walking and playing. And they are likely going to get a nice treat before bed time. They won’t even notice they are sleeping alone.

Additional Pet Sitting At Home Resources

If you are looking for more resources about in home dog boarding, check out the links below. They will help you determine what services are offered by pet sitters. And once you know your options, you can decide the best pet sitting choice for your dog. And remember, when factoring in overnight pricing, you need to understand the value of the services you are deciding between.

Muddy Paws Pet Sitting Services

In Home Dog Boarding With Muddy Paws

Overnight Pet Sitting In Your Home

Benefits Of Pet Sitting In Your Home

In Home Dog Boarding With Muddy Paws

Muddy Paws offers in home dog boarding. And we love having doggie sleepovers! The dogs we watch must be dog-friendly and good with people, in general. Because we have dogs of our own and/or other dogs coming and going, we need to make sure that the dogs we watch will have a good time around each other.

When your dog stays with Muddy Paws, they become part of our families. We take them for walks with other dogs, they get play time with other dogs, and they get one on one attention from the human family members. So when you are going on vacation, give your dog a vacation of their own. Hire Muddy Paws to board your dog in our home. We will take great care of them and will provide you with pictures and updates letting you know all about their vacation.

Ready to sign up with Muddy Paws? It’s easy to create an account with us here. And the overnight pricing will surprise you for the all-inclusive doggie vacation!