Hiring Your First Dog Walker or Pet Sitter

When you have a consistent waitlist of 5+ clients you cannot serve, it is time to bring on your first staff member. Post on Indeed, Nextdoor, and local college job boards—look for candidates with veterinary tech backgrounds, animal science degrees, or professional pet care experience. Conduct background checks ($15–30 through services like Checkr) and reference checks for every candidate before hiring—clients are trusting their pets and home access to your staff. Require new hires to shadow you for 5–10 visits before going solo, and hold weekly check-ins for the first 90 days to ensure quality