Dog Sitting at Home: How In-Home Care Works in the UK

Dog sitting at home means someone looks after your dog in your own house while you are out or away, so your dog keeps its bed, its smells and its routine. In the UK, a good arrangement starts with meeting the sitter first, checking their insurance and DBS status, and handing over a clear written routine. This guide covers all of it, including costs, puppies and what to prepare.

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Care That Keeps Their Routine

Roper and Paws offers dog sitting and daily care in Bromley and Lewisham, with activity updates through its app.

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TL;DR

A home dog sitter cares for your dog in your house. A home boarder takes your dog into theirs. Kennels are a third option.
Meet the sitter beforehand and watch them with your dog. Check insurance, DBS status, references and training.
The Guardian reports £25 to £70 per night for overnight dog care in the UK, depending on experience, location, length of stay and care needed.
Puppies need shorter gaps and more frequent visits than adult dogs.
Write down the routine, vet details, medication and emergency contacts before you leave.

What dog sitting at home actually means
What a home dog sitter does in a day
How much does a dog sitter cost in the UK?
How to choose a sitter you can trust
Puppy sitting at home
How to prepare before the sitter arrives
Keeping in touch while you are away
Our view on dog sitting at home
Dog sitting and walking in Bromley and Lewisham
A few practical details that make a visit easier
FAQ
Sources

What dog sitting at home actually means

The phrase covers a few different arrangements, and it helps to be clear which one you want.

Blue Cross describes a pet sitter as someone who lives in your home while you are away and cares for your dog there. Keeping the dog in familiar surroundings is one of the main advantages over boarding. A home boarder does the opposite: your dog goes to their house.

Where the sitter and dog stay in each arrangement

In everyday use, people also mean shorter arrangements. A sitter might visit once or several times a day for feeding, a walk and company, without staying overnight. All of these keep your dog in its own territory, which many dogs find far less stressful than a new place full of unfamiliar animals.

Home sitting, home boarding and kennels compared

	Sitter in your home	Home boarding	Boarding kennels
Where your dog stays	Your house	The boarder's house	A kennel facility
Routine	Stays the same	Boarder fits it in	Set by the kennel
Other animals	None, unless you have them	Possibly the boarder's pets	Many dogs nearby
Home security	Someone is present or visiting	Your home is empty	Your home is empty
Needs a licence	Not for sitting in your home	Yes, in England, for home boarding	Yes, in England

In England, the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 set rules for dogs boarded at home. They must be accommodated within the home with direct access to a private, secure, hazard-free outdoor area. A dog must not be crated for longer than three hours in any 24 hours. That is a useful yardstick whichever option you choose.

What a home dog sitter does in a day

A good sitter does more than turn up and open a tin. VCA Animal Hospitals lists the typical duties:

Feeding and fresh water
Walking and play
Watching eating and toilet habits
Giving medication
Basic home tasks

Some sitters will also take a pet to the vet or groomer.

In practice, a day often looks like this:

Morning toilet break, breakfast and a walk.
A midday visit or a quiet period, with a toilet break and some enrichment.
An afternoon walk or play session.
Evening meal, a last toilet trip and settling down.
A short update to you, ideally with a photo or note.

The point of home sitting is that these steps happen at the times your dog already expects. That is what we mean by routine, and it is the main reason owners choose it.

The overnight question

Owners often ask where an overnight sitter sleeps. There is no single rule. It is something you agree in advance: which room, which bedding, and which parts of the house are open to the sitter and the dog. Put it in writing with the rest of the handover, along with where the dog sleeps and where food and cleaning supplies are kept.

How much does a dog sitter cost in the UK?

The Guardian reports overnight dog-care prices of £25 to £70 per night, with costs varying by experience, location, length of stay and the amount of care needed. Puppy School adds that the number of dogs, the level of care and the time needed all move the price.

A few things usually push a quote up:

More than one dog in the house
Medication or special diets
Several visits a day rather than one
Bank holidays and school holiday peaks
A puppy that needs frequent toilet trips and supervision

We don't publish fixed prices for our dog walking, pet sitting or everyday care. Prices depend on what your dog needs, so get in touch via our Bromley and Lewisham pet care page for a conversation about your situation.

How to choose a sitter you can trust

The Guardian notes that UK pet sitting is largely unregulated. Nobody is legally required to hold a qualification, so the checking is down to you. Start with recommendations from friends, neighbours or your vet.

Meet them first

Blue Cross advises meeting potential sitters and watching how they interact with your dog. The RSPCA also recommends meeting the carer beforehand and making sure they understand your dog's normal routine and special requirements. Watch for these things at the meeting:

Does your dog approach them calmly, or hang back?
Do they ask about routine, triggers, and what to do if your dog is unwell?
Do they listen to the answers and write things down?

Check the paperwork

Blue Cross suggests checking insurance, DBS status, training certificates, reviews and references. This matters most when the sitter will hold a key. Pet-care expert Julie Maxted, quoted by The Guardian, recommends checking public liability insurance and a DBS certificate when the sitter will have access to your home.

Members of the National Association of Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers must hold a criminal record check and Public Liability Pet Business insurance if they have keys to a client's property. They also must not leave dogs or property unattended except for very short periods agreed with owners, or in emergencies. That is a good standard to ask any sitter to match.

For a closer look at cover, read our guide to what insurance to ask an insured pet sitter for.

Make sure the legal duty is understood

Under Section 3 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, a person is responsible for an animal on a permanent or temporary basis, and being in charge of it counts. A sitter caring for your dog therefore has a legal duty of care. A conscientious sitter knows this, and it is reassuring to hear them say so.

Puppy sitting at home

Puppies are a different job from adult dogs. They need frequent toilet trips, constant safe supervision and gentle handling of their first experiences.

Sitter supervising a puppy in a home garden

PDSA says four hours is the longest dogs should routinely be left alone, and that this is generally too long for a very active young puppy. It advises leaving a puppy in a safe area where it cannot be injured, at the right temperature, with a comfortable bed. Regular toilet breaks or a dog flap are part of the plan.

For a puppy, the RSPCA advises that you meet the sitter, ask to see their DBS certificate, check references and insurance, and arrange introductory sessions. Give clear instructions covering:

Routine and feeding
Vet and emergency contacts
Health and medication
Behaviour and exercise needs
Supplies

PDSA also recommends building up alone time gradually. Use short departures, reward calm behaviour, give interactive toys such as treat dispensers, and keep comings and goings low-key. A sitter who follows the same approach helps your puppy learn that you leaving is normal. If you want to stock up, our puppy essentials collection and dog toys and enrichment range are good places to start.

If you want a puppy fed a complete food made for their age, our Royal Canin Mini Puppy dry food is one option in the shop. Keep your puppy on the diet your vet recommends, and ask them before changing it.

How to prepare before the sitter arrives

The Guardian lists the points owners should agree: arrival and departure times, how long the sitter may be away, walks, feeding, toilet breaks, medication, household access, updates, payment and emergency decisions. Putting these in a written handover prevents most problems. The same article suggests including food, medication, supplies, behaviour information, vet and emergency contacts, keys or access instructions, and insurance details.

Here is a practical checklist:

Health first. The RSPCA recommends keeping vaccinations and flea and worming treatments up to date before your dog is left with a carer.
Write the routine. Meal times and amounts, walk length and route, where your dog sleeps, and any commands your dog knows.
List the quirks. Fear of fireworks, pulling on the lead, dislike of certain dogs, escape habits, anything that could catch a stranger out.
Leave contacts. Your phone number, a second contact nearby, your vet's number and the nearest emergency vet.
Agree emergency decisions. What the sitter may authorise, and up to what cost.
Do a trial. Arrange a short visit or an introductory session before the real booking.
Set up the home. Safe space, clear water, secure garden gates, hazards out of reach.

What to leave out for your dog

A small amount of planning goes a long way. Leave enough of the usual food, a clean bowl and a couple of familiar toys. Our dog bowls and collapsible bowl are handy for the walk as well as the kitchen. Also lay out a lead, harness and poo bags together so the sitter does not have to hunt for them. The dog walking essentials collection covers those.

If your dog gets unsettled when you leave, talk to your vet about what could help. Some owners also use a calming supplement as part of their routine, such as our Calm & Clear herbal calming supplement. Check with your vet first, especially if your dog has a health condition or takes medication.

Keeping in touch while you are away

Updates are the difference between hoping and knowing. Agree how often you want them, and in what form: a text after each visit, a photo, or a note about eating and toilet habits. The Guardian lists updates among the points to agree in advance, so decide this before the first visit rather than during it.

With our service, you can follow your dog's activity and care through the Roper and Paws app, which is designed to keep communication clear and give you a view of what has happened.

Our view on dog sitting at home

We think the best home care starts with a relationship, not a booking form. A dog that knows and trusts the person at the door is calmer, eats better and copes with a change in routine far more easily.

That is why we focus on personal relationships between caregivers and pets. A familiar face in a familiar home is the heart of what we offer in Bromley and Lewisham, and we believe it makes owners feel more at ease too.

Transparency matters just as much. Our app lets you follow your dog's care and activity, so you are not left guessing what happened while you were out. Whatever you choose, meet your sitter, ask your questions and write everything down.

Steen

Dog sitting and walking in Bromley and Lewisham

If you live in Bromley or Lewisham, we offer dog walking, pet sitting and everyday care. Our approach is built around a regular caregiver who gets to know your dog, plus the Roper and Paws app so you can track how your dog's day went.

Start with a conversation about your dog's routine, then we can talk through what suits you. Visit our dog walking, pet sitting and everyday care page to get in touch.

We also run an online shop, so you can pick up food, treats, beds and walking gear in the same place. Browse dog food, treats and chews and dog beds and blankets to make the house comfortable for your dog.

A few practical details that make a visit easier

Small things help a sitter do a good job.

Treats. Leave a labelled portion of training treats so the sitter rewards what you reward. Our rabbit training treats are a single-ingredient option.
Water on walks. A dog hydration bowl is useful on longer outings.
Meals. If your dog eats wet food, pre-portion meals and say where they are kept. Our Royal Canin Mini Adult wet food comes in 85g servings.
Crates. If your dog uses a crate, tell the sitter exactly when and for how long. The 2018 regulations cap crating at three hours in 24 for home boarding, a sensible limit to keep in mind.

FAQ

How much do dog sitters charge per day in the UK?

The Guardian reports overnight dog care at £25 to £70 per night. The price depends on the sitter's experience, your location, how long they stay and the care your dog needs. Extra dogs, medication and puppies tend to raise the quote, so ask for a full price before you agree.

Is a dog sitter at home better than kennels?

For many dogs, yes, because they stay in familiar surroundings with their usual routine. Blue Cross lists this as a main advantage of a home sitter over boarding. The right choice depends on your dog's temperament, health and how long you will be away.

What checks should I make on an in-home dog sitter?

Meet them first and watch how they interact with your dog. Then check insurance, DBS status, references and any training certificates. Insurance and a DBS certificate matter most if the sitter will hold a key to your home.

Can a puppy be left with a sitter at home?

Yes, with care. Puppies need more frequent visits and toilet breaks than adult dogs, and PDSA says four hours is generally too long for a very active young puppy. Introduce the sitter beforehand and give written instructions. Speak to your vet about vaccinations before your puppy meets anyone new.