How to Find the BEST Pet Sitters in Jacksonville, FL

We have been pet sitting in Jacksonville, FL and the surrounding areas since 2014, and we have cared for thousands of pets for over 1,000 families over the last 10.5+ years. We know that finding the best pet sitter or dog walker for your family can be challenging, but we’ve learned a thing or two over the last decade, and we’ve compiled the following tips to make sure you can find a pet sitter and dog walker who truly meets your families needs!

• Contracts
  

  Having a comprehensive Contract or Terms of Service is one of the signs of a true professional. A pet sitting contract is there to protect you as the client, and to protect us as the business. Have you ever wondered who would be responsible if your pet were to run away or get sick under a pet sitter’s care? Or have you wondered when and how to pay your sitter? The contract puts all of these things and more into writing to ensure everyone is on the same page about the expectations and there is no confusion for you or your pet sitter.
  
  Our contract is broken into several sections, the first of which outlines exactly what we will and will not do in our pet sitting, dog walking, and pet transportation services. For example, we will not utilize any aversive techniques, such as e-collars / shock collars as we believe in positive reinforcement and Fear Free methods to protect your pets mental and emotional wellbeing, and we also will not use retractable leashes as the safety of your pets is always our top priority.

  The next section of our contract is all about Payments and Cancellations, dictating that no services are considered confirmed until full payment has been received. The following section of our contract covers everything Medical, stating that we only work with pets who are up to date on any and all necessary vaccinations according to local regulations, and this section gives us the right to make decisions at the veterinarian should you not be able to be contacted in case of an emergency. The next section covers your Property – and the document goes on to cover everything to ensure you, your pets, and our team understand each other and are all fully protected. You can see more of the policies included in our Terms of Service on our FAQ page!
  
  

• Software

  You may not immediately think of software as being important to pet sitting, but we assure you it is! You deserve to know exactly when your pet sitter is arriving and leaving, and you deserve to know exactly where your dog is being walked. You also deserve to be able to quickly make scheduling requests, submit payments, and keep your notes and instructions organized and up to date. In 2025, this is all possible with software like Time to Pet.
  
  When you sign up for our services, we will set you up with an account on Time to Pet. After you download the app to your phone, you will digitally agree to our Terms of Service, and then you can make detailed profiles for each of your pets to ensure we have all of the information we need to keep your pets happy, healthy, and safe. Then, you’ll be able to easily submit scheduling requests at any time, view and pay your invoices, and you’ll be able to instant message with our team all on the mobile app!
  
  The most important feature of any pet sitting software for your as the client is a report card complete with a timer and GPS tracker. No one should have to wonder how long their pet sitter was there or if they walked the dog, so we guarantee a report card via Time to Pet with every service. These report cards include the time we arrived, the time we left, a GPS tracker of everywhere we went with your pets, a checklist showing the tasks that were completed, and we guarantee a written update and multiple photos with every report card!
  
  

• Reviews

  Reviews are important for any purchase. Whether you’re choosing a new laundry detergent, a mechanic, someone to care for your pets while you’re away – you should be able to see proof of previous happy clients. Reviews are proof that a service can be trusted, and that it will meet your standards. We urge you to not just look at the star rating, but to actually read the reviews and look for the things that are most important to you.
  
  We are proud to have earned over 180 five star reviews on Google, and another 50+ five star reviews on our two Facebook pages. If you read our reviews, you’ll see lots of families mentioning how happy their pets were, the peace of mind they had knowing we were caring for their pets, and you’ll see lots of mentions of our high quality photos, our thorough communication, and our attention to detail.
  
  

• Insurance & Bonding
  

  Anything can happen at any time when you’re working with animals, so having comprehensive liability insurance is vital for any pet professional. We have seen it all in our 10+ years of business, and we consider having proper insurance the 2nd most important factor to choosing a pet sitter, dog walker, or any other professional for that matter.
  
  Have you ever wondered who would be liable for the medical bills if your dog bit someone while out on a walk with your dog walker? Or what if your dog got away and was hit by a car? Or who would pay for a new window if your pet sitter accidentally broke it while playing fetch with your dog? If your pet sitter isn’t properly insured – YOU would be responsible for all of these unfathomable and heartbreaking scenarios. However, if you choose a pet sitter who is insured, your life can move on without having to worry about any of these bills.
  
  We have been Insurance and Bonded by the Business Insurers of the Carolinas since 2014. Our insurance covers anything and everything under our Care, Custody, and Control, no matter who is at fault, to ensure you have safety and peace of mind you deserve.

  Side Note About Insurance: Rover sitters are NOT insured. Rover markets their “Rover Guarantee” as if it is insurance, but if you read the fine print of this “guarantee,” you will see that it is NOT insurance and Rover will NOT protect you or the pet sitter should something go sideways. This is one of the many reasons it is so important to use a reputable local business, not a big box platform.
  
  

• Experience & Training
  

  The most important factor when choosing a pet sitter, dog walker, trainer, groomer, or any other pet professional, is their level of experience and training. While insurance, contracts, software, and everything else we have talked about in this article are very important, there is no better way of determining if your pets will be happy, safe, and get high quality care than the amount of experience and training the service providers have.
  
  We often see high school and college kids promoting themselves as pet sitters on Facebook, but before you go with one of them, we beg you to ask yourself: Has this person ever handled a true emergency before? Would they be able to remain calm and know what to do if your pet was to get injured, or if one of your pipes started leaking, or if your dog refused to take their medicine? Thanks to our extensive experience as pet professionals, we are ready, willing, and able to handle anything that comes our way.
  
  We have completed over 125,000 pet sits and dog walks in our 10+ years of serving the pets and families of Jacksonville. With over 125,000 services under our belt, we have handled everything from sick pets to home disasters and everything in-between, and we use this experience to train our newer team members to be able to confidently and calmly manage any situation that arises. The numbers prove that we are pet sitters and dog walkers with the experience your family deserves!

  Our team members go through multiple interviews, reference checks, and a full federal background check before starting training. All of our team members are full W2 employees, not Independent Contractors, which allows us to fully train them and control the quality of their work. Our team is trained on everything from animal body language and bite prevention, to pet first aid, pet photography, leash walking skills, and everything in between!

  Speaking of training, I myself am Fear Free Certified, and I teach our team Fear Free protocols. Following Fear Free and Positive Reinforcement methodology helps ensure we can protect your pets mental and emotional wellbeing. We also employ several certified dog trainers and veterinary technicians for pets with special medical or behavioral needs!

• BONUS Tip – Services!

  One thing we didn’t cover, but we believe is too important to not include on this list, is to pay close attention to the actual services the pet sitter provides. This may sound like common sense, but every pet sitting business offers slightly different services in slightly different ways. For example, some pet sitters stay overnight, while others do not. We offer a myriad of different services ranging from 30 minute drop-in visits to full overnight care. We even offer nationwide pet transportation! You can see all of our services on our website, and every service we offer is fully customizable to meet your families unique needs. Don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, or aren’t sure which service to choose? Text us or give us a call and we’d be happy to create a customized care plan for your pets!

   

The Best Pet Sitters in Jacksonville, FL

These are just a few of the important things you should think about when choosing a pet sitter or dog walker. We urge you to also ask about their emergency plan, their community involvement, their mission as a business, and many other things! With over 125,000 services completed, and multiple awards earned, our team at Bad to the Bone Pet Care are proud to call ourselves the best AND the most experienced dog walkers and pet sitters in Jacksonville, FL. You can sign up for our award winning pet sitting and dog walking services here!