How to create a North Shore and Beaches Dog Sitting Listing in 3 easy steps!
Imagine having a regular waggy-tailed ‘client’ play with your dog for the day in your home – and either get paid for it, or return the dog-minding favour? You can also sit for dogs at their houses, say when the family goes away or to give your dog an outing. Becoming a dog sitter is one of the most rewarding (albeit face licking) experiences and what’s more, you can do it on your own terms.
So how do you become a dog sitter on the North Shore or Northern Beaches of Sydney? It only takes these three steps.
Step 1) Sign in / Create an account
The first step is to create an account on the North Shore and Beaches Dogs directory. Simply click on the Sign In button at the top of this page, choose ‘Listing Owner’ and then enter your name, email, and password.
The beauty of having a listing on a local dog-sitting directory is that you’ll only be contacted by owners nearby. So you are not going to be asked if you can travel an hour to mind a dog on the other side of town, for instance. In fact, you’ll probably run into the owner at your local dog park!
2) Add a listing
Next you go to ‘add listing‘ and fill in basic details, including your location, select the services you’ll offer in the drop down menu. These include doggy daycare in your home, overnight dog sitting in your home (so the dog comes to you) or at the dog’s house (so you stay over there), dog walking, and reciprocal dog sitting.
The ‘listing information’ box is where you get to tell dog owners about you. Think of it as your dog-sitter profile.
You’ll want this to be warm and friendly but also include all the need-to-know info. You’ll need to be clear about when you are available for the services you’re offering (so your dog-minding ‘days’ or availability), how many dogs you’ll take at one time, their size if this matters, some info about your dog (if you have one), some info about your home environment (do you have kids and their ages), where the dogs will hang out, as well as any other pets. This info will help the owner to suss out if their dog will be a good fit for your home.
It’s up to you if you want to include your day and overnight dog-sitting rates (if you are charging). Many sitters prefer to agree on this with the owner when contacted.
For more tips, check out How to write the pawfect dog-sitting listing.
After you’ve created a listing, admin will review it and approve it. Once your listing is live on the North Shore and Beaches Dogs Directory. Dog owners can then see it and send you a direct email through our direct messaging system.
You can then edit your listing via your account whenever you wish.
Step 3) Tell EVERYONE
Spread the word that you’re available for dog sitting/doggy daycare or walking by sharing your North Shore and Beaches Dogs directory listing on social media.
Don’t underestimate the power of doing this! Word of mouth is always the best way to hear about something. Telling friends, family and acquaintances, even of they don’t have a dog, can often lead to them telling THEIR contacts with dogs about you and recommending you.
Meet doggy and human clients (recommended)
If an owner contacts you through your North Shore and Beaches Dogs directory listing, we strongly recommend a meet a greet before agreeing to the dog sitting.
This is just to ensure the arrangement will work for both parties and also, that any dogs or children in your family will get along with the wet-nosed ‘client’. It is the owner’s chance (if you are looking after the dog in your own home) to check out where their dog will be hanging out and assess if this will be OK, too. For instance, their dog may be a digger who could easily escape from your property or a high energy breed that needs a yard to play fetch in. Or their dog may be old and not wanting to rumble with your energetic puppy. Or their dog might be terrified of your young kids. Best case scenario, the doggos will be instant best friends, which often happens but always with a gentle playdate introduction.
Becoming a dog sitter can benefit you in lots of wonderful ways. You can give your dog companionship, earn a little money if you wish or just establish a reciprocal dog-minding arrangement making holidays easy for you both.
Dog sitting is fun and best of all, you can do it on your own terms.
Why not give it a go?
