SitterNation Editorial Team
The SitterNation Editorial Team is the group of people who run SitterNation and write its guides, comparisons and breed articles. We draw on what we see across real bookings on the platform and on the questions owners and sitters ask us.
Every guide is reviewed before it is published, carries the dates it was published and last updated, and is revised when the rates, fees or policies it describes change. Breed articles are written from recognized breed registries and veterinary references, with the sources kept on file for each section. We do not accept paid placements, sponsored content or affiliate links.
If you spot something out of date or inaccurate, tell us through the contact page and we will fix it. Our full editorial standards are on the About page.
Pet care guides
- Boarding a Dog for the First Time: How to Prepare
How to get a dog ready for its first boarding stay: the meet-and-greet, a trial night, vaccinations, a step-by-step checklist and exactly what to pack.
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- Dog Sitting Rates in the Chicago Suburbs (2026)
Live dog sitting rates for the Chicago suburbs by service: drop-ins, walks, daycare, house sitting and boarding, with per-day and per-week math and fees.
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- Dog Walker vs Doggy Daycare: Cost and Which Is Better
Dog walker vs doggy daycare, decided by your dog's age, energy, sociability and anxiety, with weekly cost for each and where in-home daycare fits in.
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- How Much Do Pet Sitters Make? Per Day, Week and Month
How much pet sitters make by service, per day, week and month, with side-gig and full-time income models and what a 0% commission adds to your take-home.
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- How Much Does a Cat Sitter Cost? Chicago Suburbs 2026
Live 2026 cat sitter rates for the Chicago suburbs: per visit and per day, drop-ins vs house sitting vs boarding for cats, and what changes the price.
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- How Much Does a Dog Walker Cost? Chicago Suburbs 2026
Live 2026 dog walker rates for the Chicago suburbs by walk length, what a month of weekday walks adds up to, what changes the price, and how the fees work.
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- How Much Does Dog Boarding Cost? Chicago Suburbs 2026
Live 2026 dog boarding rates for the Chicago suburbs: per night in a sitter's home vs a kennel, what a 10-day stay costs, and what pushes the price up.
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- How Often Should a Cat Sitter Visit? Once or Twice a Day
How often a cat sitter should visit: once or twice a day by cat, how long a cat can be left alone, and when house sitting beats drop-in visits.
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- Pet Sitting vs Boarding: Which Is Better for Your Dog?
House sitting, drop-in visits, a sitter's home or a kennel: how each works, what each costs in the Chicago suburbs, and a decision table for your dog.
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- Questions to Ask a Dog Sitter Before You Book
The questions to ask a dog sitter before you book, grouped by experience, home, routine, emergencies and communication, plus green flags and red flags.
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- Rover Fees for Sitters Explained, With Worked Examples
Rover fees for sitters as of October 2026: the 20% sitter fee, the 30/15/10% tiers in the Chicago pilot, the 11% owner fee, worked examples and 0%.
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- What Shots Do Dogs Need for Boarding?
The shots dogs need for boarding: rabies, DHPP, Bordetella and the optional ones, how long after vaccines a dog can board, and what home sitters require.
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- 10 Essential Items to Leave for Your Pet Sitter
Ensure your pet sitter has everything they need for successful pet care. Here's a comprehensive list of essential items to prepare before you leave.
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- Building Trust with Pets and Their Owners: Strategies That Work
Effective strategies to build and keep trust with both pets and their owners, creating lasting professional relationships in your pet sitting business.
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- Emergency Preparedness: What Every Pet Sitter Should Know
Being prepared for emergencies is crucial for pet sitters. Learn essential tips and strategies to handle unexpected situations and ensure pet safety.
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- How to Create a Pet Sitter Profile That Attracts Clients
Learn how to create a compelling pet sitter profile that showcases your experience, builds trust, and helps you attract more clients.
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- How to Effectively Communicate with Pet Owners Before and After Visits
Learn how to maintain clear, professional communication with pet owners to build trust and ensure the best care for their pets.
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- How to Handle Difficult Situations as a Pet Sitter
Learn how to professionally handle challenging situations that may arise during pet sitting assignments, from behavioral issues to emergencies.
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- How to Handle Emergencies While Your Pet Is with a Sitter
Being prepared for emergencies while away from your pet is crucial.
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- How to Handle Nervous or Anxious Pets: A Sitter's Guide
Learn effective strategies for managing nervous or anxious pets during your pet sitting assignments. Help pets feel calm and secure with these expert tips.
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- How to Prepare Your Pet for a Sitter
Leaving your pet in the care of a sitter can be a smooth and stress-free experience if you’re well-prepared.
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- How to Spot Health Issues in Pets While Sitting
Learn how to recognize common signs of health issues in pets and know when to seek veterinary care while pet sitting.
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- Keeping Pets Safe: Essential Tools Every Sitter Should Carry
Learn about the essential tools and equipment that every professional pet sitter should have to ensure safe and effective pet care.
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- Pet Sitting Etiquette: Do's and Don'ts for Professionalism
Learn the essential etiquette rules that every professional pet sitter should follow to maintain high standards and build trust with clients.
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- Pet Sitting Rates 101: How to Set Competitive Prices
Learn how to set fair, competitive pet sitting rates that reflect your experience, services and market while building a sustainable business.
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- Seasonal Care Tips for Pets
Ensure your pet's safety and comfort while you're away by preparing for seasonal changes.
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- The Benefits of Hiring a Professional Pet Sitter Over Relying on Friends
Why a professional pet sitter can give your pets better care than friends, with more safety, comfort and routine while you are away.
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- The Importance of Liability Insurance for Pet Sitters
Understand why liability insurance is crucial for pet sitters and how it protects both you and your clients in various situations.
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- Top 5 Skills Every Pet Sitter Needs to Succeed
Discover the essential skills that set successful pet sitters apart.
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- Top Tips for Maintaining Your Pet's Routine While You're Away
Maintaining your pet's daily routine during your absence is crucial for their well-being.
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- Understanding Different Pet Personalities: Tips for Better Care
Learn how to identify and adapt to different pet personalities to provide personalized, effective care for every animal in your care.
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- Understanding Your Pet's Body Language
Learn to interpret your pet's body language to better understand their emotions and needs. This guide covers common signals for both dogs and cats.
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- What Pet Owners Should Know About Pet Sitting Insurance
Understanding pet sitting insurance is crucial for protecting both you and your pets.
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- Why Your Pet Needs More Than Just Food and Water: The Value of Playtime
Discover why playtime and mental stimulation are just as crucial as basic necessities for your pet's overall well-being and happiness.
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Sitter safety course
- Dog Body Language Course for Pet Sitters
As a professional pet sitter, understanding dog body language is essential for providing safe, empathetic, and high-quality care.
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- Module 1: The Basics of Canine Communication
Module 1 of the dog body language course for pet sitters: why body language matters and the key areas of a dog to observe.
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- Module 2: Understanding Different Dog States
Module 2 of the dog body language course: how to recognize relaxed, stressed, aggressive and playful dog states.
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- Module 3: Safe Interaction Guidelines
Module 3 of the dog body language course: safe interaction guidelines for building trust, avoiding conflict and handling aggression.
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- Module 4: Practical Applications
Module 4 of the dog body language course: practical applications through case studies and practice scenarios for pet sitters.
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Comparisons
- Best Pet Sitting Apps in 2026 for Owners and Sitters
The best pet sitting and dog walking apps in 2026 compared on fees, coverage, booking, vetting and guarantees, with dated sources, for owners and sitters.
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- Rover Alternatives for Pet Owners (2026): Apps Like Rover
Apps like Rover for pet owners, compared as of October 2026: Rover, Wag!, Care.com, TrustedHousesitters, independent sitters and SitterNation, with fees.
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- Rover Alternatives for Sitters (2026): Fees and Coverage
Apps like Rover for pet sitters compared as of October 2026: sitter fees, owner fees, where each operates, vetting and what you keep per booking.
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- SitterNation vs Rover: Fees, Coverage and Booking (2026)
SitterNation vs Rover as of October 2026: 0% vs 20–30% sitter fees, 11% owner fees on both, coverage, vetting, guarantees and who should pick which.
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Breed collections
- Best Apartment Dogs: Quiet, Low-Energy Breeds (Ranked)
Quiet, low-energy dog breeds that do well in apartments: Cavalier, Shih Tzu, Havanese, even the Greyhound. Ranked, with the catches for each breed.
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- Best Cat Breeds for Renters: Quiet Apartment Cats, Ranked
Renting with a cat or kitten? The calm, quiet breeds that settle in an apartment, ranked: Ragdoll, British Shorthair, Russian Blue, Persian and more.
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- Best Dog Breeds for First-Time Owners (Ranked by Data)
Dog breeds rated 4 or 5 for both trainability and adaptability in our editorial ratings, ranked by trainability, then popularity.
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- Best Family Dog Breeds (Ranked by Data)
Dog breeds rated 4 or 5 for both family-friendliness and good with children in our editorial ratings, ranked by the good-with-children score.
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- Calm Dog Breeds (Ranked by Data)
Dog breeds rated 1 or 2 for energy in our editorial ratings, ranked by energy score, then popularity. Calm is not the same as low-maintenance.
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- Dog Breeds That Are Good With Cats (Ranked by Data)
Dog breeds rated 4 or 5 for good with cats and 3 or lower on prey drive in our editorial ratings, ranked by the good-with-cats score, then popularity.
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- Large Dog Breeds (Ranked by Popularity)
Every large and giant breed in the SitterNation encyclopedia, ranked by popularity: Labs, Goldens, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Great Danes and more.
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- Low-Shedding Cat Breeds (Ranked by Data)
Cat breeds rated 1 or 2 for shedding in our editorial ratings, ranked by shedding score, then popularity. Low-shedding, not allergen-free.
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- Low-Shedding Dog Breeds (Ranked by Data)
Dog breeds rated 1 or 2 for shedding in our editorial ratings, ranked by shedding score, then popularity. Low-shedding is not the same as no grooming.
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- Most Affectionate Cat Breeds (Ranked by Data)
Cat breeds rated 4 or 5 for both sociability and family-friendliness in our editorial ratings, ranked by sociability, then popularity.
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- Quiet Cat Breeds (Ranked by Data)
Cat breeds rated 1 or 2 for vocalization in our editorial ratings, ranked by vocalization score, then popularity. The cats least likely to talk back.
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- Small Dog Breeds (Ranked by Popularity)
Every toy and small breed in the SitterNation encyclopedia, ranked by popularity: Frenchies, Dachshunds, Yorkies, Corgis, Shih Tzus and more.
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Breed encyclopedia
The team writes and maintains the breed articles for 115 dog breeds and 44 cat breeds: temperament, exercise, grooming, health and what a pet sitter should know about each.
How our content is written and kept current: editorial standards.