Pet Sitters International

10/21/2026

Pet-care pros: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

👉 Here's the scenario:

You arrive to a new client's home for your first visit of a 7-day (3 visits/day) assignment to discover a cat you were not aware of. 🐈

The client never mentioned having a cat (two dogs and fish tank only)—and there were no signs of a cat or litter box at your initial consultation two weeks earlier.

👣 What's your next step?

Let us know in the comments.⤵️

10/20/2026

🎃Keep your pets happy and healthy this Halloween.🎃
Consumers are expected to spend $920 million on pet Halloween costumes in 2026, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF)—and that's in the U.S. alone.

Considering dressing your pet up for Halloween? Read this first. ⤵️

👉 While dressing a pet up may provide a good photo opportunity, many pets do not like costumes, so don’t force it.
👉 If you will be putting your pet in a costume, gradually introduce the pet to the costume ahead of the holiday or Halloween event to get the pet familiar with wearing it.
👉 Consider both safety and comfort when choosing your pet’s costume. If the costume constricts movement, blocks vision or has multiple parts that could easily be chewed off, then it is not a good choice.
👉 Supervise your pet at all times while they are wearing a costume.

Need some costume inspiration?💡
The NRF reports that the most popular pet costume options are a:
🎃 Pumpkin
🌭 Hot dog
🐝Bumblebee
👻Ghost
🦸‍♂️ Superhero

10/16/2026

71% of PSI members reported they use business cards to promote their pet-care business in PSI's 2026 State of the Industry Survey.

Do you have business cards, and have they been effective?⤵️

p.s.—Feel free to share a pic of your business card in the comments. We'd love to see it!

10/15/2026

✨

➡️ What's one business decision that changed your company for the better?

PSI member Cynthia Johnson, owner of Cat & Dog Care Pet Sitting in Ohio, shares this:

“Since COVID, I've transitioned into more of a curated, boutique-like business model. The focus on quality vs. quantity and staying true to who I am now after 18+ years in the industry has invigorated me! Scaling down instead of scaling up has created new passion & excitement about what I offer pets and their people.”

➕How has PSI membership helped Cynthia?

“I think my membership (since 2009!) has made me a better pet care provider by offering endless opportunities for community. As a PSI member, you're not on an island alone & fending for yourself. The available tools, support, education & networking are truly immeasurable.”

10/14/2026

Pet-care pros: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

👉 Here's the scenario:

A vacationing client was scheduled to return home yesterday. You noticed some unusual behavior while they were away—they hadn't responded to your daily texts (photo/video updates) the last three days of their trip.

Now, they did not text to confirm they were back home, and have not responded to you today (you sent a text and left a voicemail).

👣 What's your next step?

Let us know in the comments.⤵️

10/13/2026

10/09/2026

In PSI's 2026 State of the Industry Survey, PSI member businesses reported that 30 MINUTES was the top-requested service length:

✔️ 63% indicated it was their most-requested pet-sitting visit
✔️ 70% indicated it was their most requested dog walk

Is this true in your business also—or do your clients prefer shorter or longer visit lengths? ⤵️

10/09/2026

📣 Help us spread the word! We're looking for exceptional speakers for 2027!

Pet Sitters International (PSI) is casting a wide net to find knowledgeable, engaging speakers who can help professional pet sitters and dog walkers grow their businesses, elevate their services and stay ahead in an evolving industry.

And we'd love YOUR help connecting with the right experts!

We're seeking speakers with expertise in a variety of fields, including:

🐾 Pet-Care Industry: Experienced pet-sitting and dog-walking business owners, veterinary professionals, and pet health, safety and behavior specialists.

💼 Business Management: Experts in legal matters, HR, accounting, financial management, marketing, client relations and conflict resolution.

💻 Technology & Innovation: Specialists in AI, automation, emerging technologies and tools that can help small-business owners work smarter.

💡 And more! We're open to fresh perspectives and innovative topics that can help pet-care professionals succeed.

You don't have to work in the pet-care industry to make a valuable contribution to it!

PSI is accepting proposals for both in-person and virtual educational sessions in 2027. Presentations must be educational, not sales pitches.

📅 October 22, 2026: Deadline for priority consideration

📅 January 21, 2027: Final proposal deadline

🔗 Submit a proposal: www.petsit.com/speakers

🙌 Will you help us spread the word? Please SHARE this post with your network, TAG an expert you'd love to hear from, or SEND it directly to someone who would make an outstanding speaker.

Your share could help us discover the next great speaker who will make a meaningful difference for pet-care professionals!

10/08/2026

💡 What's one business decision that changed your company for the better?

PSI member April Stevenson, owner of Woofs Dog Walking and Pet Sitting in Virginia, shares this:

“One business decision that changed our company for the better was choosing to prioritize the client experience and build our business around trust, communication, and consistency. By investing in reliable systems and treating every pet and client as an individual, we strengthened our reputation, earned repeat business and referrals, and created a more sustainable foundation for growth.”

➕ How has PSI membership helped April?

“PSI membership has helped me become a better pet-care provider by giving me access to valuable education, professional resources, and industry best practices. It has also helped me operate my business with greater confidence and professionalism while strengthening the trust I build with my clients.”

👉To learn more about April and her business, visit https://hoofsandwoofs.com/.

10/07/2026

Pet-care pros: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

👉 Here's the scenario:

A staff sitter has recently taken over daily dog walks for long-time clients (couple with two dogs; they occasionally work from home).

Your team member calls you—clearly upset—and shares that one of the clients had made them feel very uncomfortable when they arrived for the visit today. They said the client had been home one day the previous week, and they felt like the client had been staring at them but didn't take it too seriously. Then, today, the client made inappropriate comments about their physical appearance when the walker brought the dog back inside.

👣 What's your next step?

Let us know in the comments.⤵️