Why I Always Choose Rover When I Need Pet Care

September 18, 2019 by Angie Long

If you were to ask me if I like kids, I’d likely answer, only my own. But if you were to ask me if I like dogs, I’d say, yes. All of them. I can’t help it: I’m a dog lover, and I have always treated mine as part of the family. When I was faced with the fact that I would have to leave my 6-month old puppy for the first time so I could go on a family vacation, I was so nervous about it that I didn’t want to go. 

But Rover came to the rescue, and I’ve been using it for the past three years. Here is why I love using Rover when I need someone to watch after my dog.

Taking Care of Dogs with Rover

Dog (and cat) owners are so lucky they have an option like Rover these days. When I was growing up, my parents had to either ask a reluctant relative to watch our dogs or put them in a kennel, which was nothing like the posh doggy daycares we have today.

The folks at Rover had the brilliant idea to tap into a network of pet lovers around the country, and let them make a little money while enjoying some four-legged companionship. In essence, Rover acts like a matchmaker, connecting pet owners in search of pet care to dog lovers (and cat lovers) who are more than willing to help.

What Services Does Rover Offer?

Rover offers the following services:

• Overnight pet sitting - This can either be at the sitters home or at your home. Some people like to choose their own home if their pet feels more comfortable there.

• Dog walking - This is great if you’re going to be away from home all day and your dog needs to get out for a walk so he doesn’t get bored and chew your furniture.

• Doggy daycare - Some dogs need extra care or just crave the social interaction with other humans or dogs. Drop your dog off on the way to work and pick him on the way home. He’ll be exhausted and happy. 

• Drop-in visits - For when your dog may not necessarily need or want a walk, but just needs to be let outside and have a little companionship for a while, use Rover!

• House sitting - Maybe you don't even have a dog or cat and just need someone to pick up the mail, feed the fish or water the plants. Rover has services for that too. 

Try these Rover coupon codes to save on your service:

How Does Rover Work?

I have used Rover both for watching other people's dogs and finding people to watch my dog, so I have both a sitter profile and an owner profile. I’m rather picky about the dogs I watch since I have to make sure my dog gets along with the other dogs, and that the dogs are friendly with my kids. Rover lets me put all those preferences into my profile and even lets me set my own price. 

So when someone is looking for someone like me in their neighborhood, they can see what I offer (fenced in yard, etc.), how many dogs I allow at once, what my rate is, and more. If they think I might be a good fit, they contact me and we arrange a meet and greet before booking anything, although that’s totally optional. 

Personally, when I’m looking for a dog sitter or walker, I try to use ones I’ve used in the past and who my dog is familiar with. I can go straight to that sitter or walker’s profile and check their calendar to see if they’re available. If they are, I contact them and they approve the booking. I then pay in advance with my credit or debit card to confirm the booking. The sitter does not get paid, however, until after the booking. Rover simply holds the funds.  

It is, of course, best to arrange for a sitter or dog walker as soon as you know you’ll need one, as they tend to be busy during holidays. But I’ve never had a problem finding someone at the last minute. 

Some FAQs to Help You Trust Someone Else With Your Fur Baby

No matter what, you're likely to feel nervous the first time you ask someone to watch your pet, but a quick meet and greet can help you feel more comfortable with a pet sitter from Rover. Here are some FAQs to help you place your trust in Rover:

• All new sitters need to pass a background check before being approved by Rover's team of sitter specialists.

• Rover gives each dog sitter a dog tag to place on the collar of the dog they’re watching. That tag has a phone number on it, so if the dog runs away (I’ve never had that happen) or gets lost, the finder can call the number on the tag, and the Rover specialist who answers can ensure the dog gets to its rightful sitter or owner. 

• All services booked on Rover are backed by the Rover Guarantee, which states that if a pet sitter or dog walker cancels a booking within seven days of the start date, you get a refund, and Rover will help find a new sitter. Rover will also reimburse pet owners and sitters for certain damages or injuries that may occur during a booked service. 

• If you want photo updates, your sitter can send them to you without even needing your personal phone number. You can either use the Rover app or SMS. 

When I initially chose the sitters I tend to use on Rover, I relied heavily on past reviews from other dog owners. I recommend that anyone using Rover does the same, as reviews can really put your mind at ease when trusting someone with such a special member of your family. That’s not to say you shouldn’t give new sitters a chance. Someone trusted me for the first time and now I have lots of great reviews. Check them out and be sure to see if they’re offering any discounts or freebies, such as a complimentary dog walk.