I have been a full time in-home pet care provider for five years, and in that time, I have seen things that someone working the average 9 to 5 can only imagine. Starting in 2019, I will be releasing weekly blog posts and YouTube videos telling my story and showing the behind the scenes of pet sitting

Most people are shocked when I tell them I am a full time pet sitter. If I had a dime for every time I heard, “You can pay all your bills doing THAT?!” I wouldn’t ever have to walk a dog in the pouring rain again. Every year, Americans view and treat their pets more like family. There have been several huge articles come out this year describing how millennials are spending more on their pets and that they are getting dogs instead of having children. There have been professional pet sitters for decades, but the industry is now growing faster than ever and is under more pressure than ever. The truth is, being a pet sitter is an absolutely amazing career choice, but it is difficult.

I never planned on running an award winning pet sitting business, or even being a full time pet sitter at all. I decided to take on a random pet sitting gig in early 2013 just to make a few extra bucks and was immediately hooked. Get paid to hang out with dogs? Sign me up! As more gigs came, I didn’t just love getting to spend time with the animals, I also loved dealing with the clients and learning how I could help them, I loved getting to tailor my services to meet my personality, and I loved learning about different walks of life through my clients. Five years later, I have personally cared for over 1,000 pets around Jacksonville, Florida. I also have a team of three pet sitters in the Jacksonville area, and four pet sitters in Lakeland and Plant City. My team and I care for all animals, and were voted Best Pet Sitting Service in Northeast Florida in 2016 and 2017.

Because of my experience in the field, I have been asked to consult for several other pet related business, and I have traveled as far as Bend, Oregon to care for a 200 acre farm. Through my blog and videos, I aim to show everyone what all really goes into caring for these beautiful animals, and what it is like to grow a small business in your twenties. Posts will be weekly and will start January 2019!

– Doug the Dog Guy