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Have you ever dreamed of welcoming adorable dogs into your home while enjoying a flexible, home-based role? As a PetStay dog carer, you get to spend quality time with lovable dogs while their owners are away on holiday, enjoy the companionship they bring, and receive a daily allowance – all without the full-time commitment of owning a pet!
As a PetStay carer, you’ll have the joy of looking after dogs while their owners enjoy their holidays, knowing their dog is in safe hands. We carefully match dogs to you, ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable experience. Whether you want regular four-legged guests or just occasional visitors, you have complete control.
So, if you love dogs and want to enjoy their company in a way that fits your lifestyle, why not join the PetStay family? It’s the paw-fect role for any dog lover!
You must be a genuine dog lover, have experience of looking after dogs and you need to be home during the day so you have plenty of time to give to the dogs you are caring for. You must have a secure garden and agree to abide by PetStay guidelines. You are allowed to have a dog of your own as long as your dog gets on with other dogs.
If you meet all the requirements listed above, we will come and visit you at your home. We will check the security of the garden, explain PetStay procedures and show you the guidelines each carer needs to follow. If you are happy with everything and we feel you would make a suitable PetStay carer, we would follow up a reference and arrange public liability insurance for you.
Our service is on a one-to-one basis, so only dogs from the same household will stay with you. You are allowed to take up to three dogs from the same household, BUT you choose what you are happy with. We will ask you how many dogs you would like to look after and what sized dog/s you would be happy to care for.
No, the owner will bring any food or treats for the duration of the stay. Any toys, bedding, medication and leads will also be brought.
Yes each dog MUST have up to date vaccinations, have been wormed and treated for fleas. Proof of the vaccinations will be brought to the meeting and shown to you.
I joined PetStay after my much loved Labrador passed away in March 2024. I didn’t want the responsibility of having another dog full time after having dogs all my married life.
I was in my hairdressers and was speaking with one of the owners who I have known for a long time and she uses PetStay Glasgow for her dog. She said why don’t I look into taking in dogs while the owners were on holiday and she gave me Jane’s number. It was the best thing I have ever done and so glad she mentioned it. Jane was very helpful all the way through the process to the very end when I officially became a Carer for PetStay Glasgow and now she is always at the other end of the phone if needed.
The variety of different dogs I look after is amazing as I have only ever owned Labradors. I love every one of them and treat them like my own when they are living in my home.
It’s sad seeing them go back to their owners but I then know I will be getting another wee friend soon after saying bye to the last one. I enjoy going out for walks again and meeting people and their dogs. It’s just not the same going out for a walk by yourself. Having a dog is very sociable. Its nice to be greeted at the door when I come back from the shops or walk from one room to another My home might be in an upheaval when I have a dog, but who cares, it’s the best feeling when they come up and cuddle into you on the couch.
I love doing the Meet & Greets and speaking with the dogs owners, and getting to know them too. It puts them at ease as well knowing their beloved pet is going to be looked after so well while they are away. They are always in safe hands.
Margaret R – Glasgow
Hello I’m Sheila, I became a PetStay carer in 2017 with my daughter to help me. We enjoyed such a variety of dog’s I remember our first guests were three French Bulldogs and one of them was a puppy. I thought it would be really hard going but they were lovely and we managed to cope. I re homed a PetStay dog and we both look forward to our guests coming to stay. It has been a lot of fun over the years getting to know the dog’s and settling them in. I thoroughly enjoy our walks through the woods and to the beach
Sheila (Edinburgh)
I work from home and found I wasn’t really leaving the house and I was starting to talk to myself. Since losing my Great Dane, I had become lonely and a little depressed, so when I saw the advert for PetStay, I thought it would be a perfect way to have furry friends around me without the full responsibility of having a permanent furry friend of my own. My life has changed for the better, meeting and greeting owners and the joys of giving them peace of mind knowing their fur babies will be well cared for, loved, and spoiled. The discovery of finding new walks to go on, visiting dog-friendly beaches, and viewing the most beautiful scenery is second to none. I now have repeat visits from my furry friends, and it gives me so much pleasure to see them return and build that trust with them and their owners. Alice, my area coordinator, makes the whole process so easy and smooth. She arranges the meets with lots of communication between both parties, ensuring everyone is comfortable and happy, and provides regular training for doggy healthcare and safety. The support she provides is above and beyond.
To be part of this team please jump in with both feet because you wont regret a second of it.
Charlie (Cambridge, Huntingdon & Royston)
My two grown up children wanted me to get another dog after my last one “Toots” died at the age of 15.Being the wrong side of 60, I was not prepared to commit the next 15 years to caring for another dog full time. PetStay provided me with the best of both worlds. I compare it to being a grand parent. I can give massive amounts of love, care, and consideration to the dogs in my care, and then hand them back to their owners. I get to meet a huge variety of breeds and characters, and they all make me laugh out loud.
Adrian (Norfolk)
I have only recently joined Ruth and the Petstay family. I decided the time was right to become a career after a gap of 2 years without a dog. My 2 previous Cocker Spaniels had unfortunately gone over the Rainbow bridge, and it had taken time to recover from the loss. Having many years ago acted as a doggie host, I contacted Ruth for an initial meeting. Once paperwork and council licence sorted, I had my first doggie visitors in Feb. Oh, what a difference having a dog in the house, the company, the fun, and the lovely walks I had with my canine friends. All the things I had missed. Becoming a carer, I have met some lovely people who only want the best for their fur babies, and of course, the different dogs that I have had the pleasure of hosting has been so rewarding. I love the fact that owners, dogs, and carer have the opportunity to meet each other and ensure that all is well before any planned break. Being a carer is so rewarding and has put a smile back into my life.
Gill Campbell (Edinburgh, East Lothians & Scottish Borders)
We have always had dogs and treat them like one of the family. When our dog Rodney passed away a few years ago we were understandably devastated. The house wasn’t the same. So we decided to get Missy & Milo, two lovely Shitzu Bichon cross dogs which we raised from puppies. Unfortunately late last year Milo passed away after a short illness. Missy has looked so unhappy since he has gone. Clive was due to retire and had been thinking of something he could do to fill his time. We knew we both loved dogs and walking, and it would be company for Missy to have another pooch to play with, so we made the decision to become PetStay carers. We have used PetStay ourselves, on a number of occasions, and were really happy with the service they provided. Missy and Milo were puppies when we first used PetStay, as the thought of putting them in kennels wasn’t on the agenda.So far we have had Betty stay with us, who was an absolute joy to look after. And we hope to have more pooches to care for in a nice calm environment.
Clive and Allison (Norfolk)
We became PetStay carers after we lost our greyhound to old age. We really missed having a dog but felt we were getting a bit old to take on a dog full time.
During the last few years we have welcomed quite a few dogs into our home, all shapes and sizes. It really is the best of both worlds we get the company of lovely dogs and a bit of exercise going for lovely walks without having a dog full time.
Ruth is a fabulous person who supports us all the way. Would highly recommend joining PetStay.
Catherine and James (Edinburgh, East Lothian and Scottish Borders)
My PetStay adventure started in January 2025 after losing my Beagle Rudi who was nearly 13 years old, as I did not want to replace him yet I felt cuddling other peoples dogs and helping them out when they needed a well earnt Holiday was ideal.
I have always had dogs from being a child and very rarely had anytime not owning a dog.
I have looked after dogs every month and have busy times ahead, and I love it!
Susan (Hull)
I am newly retired from my career as an Area Trainer to schools. Since losing my husband in February 2021 and now living alone, I found myself needing company and someone to care for. I decided to join PetStay to give my life purpose and to devote my love and attention to dogs. I had looked after my sons two dogs for many years and found that the love, companionship and snuggles are returned to me in abundance.
TracyAnn (Norfolk)
I was previously a customer of PetStay and loved how friendly both Jane the branch owner and our carer Betty who looked after our dog Ollie were. After our dog passed away we missed having a dog but now we enjoy the pleasure of looking after other people’s dogs. What I enjoy most is meeting lots of different dogs and their owners who are now like Friends. Also getting to know other breeds of dogs is very rewarding, I would highly recommend joining PetStay as a Dog Carer.
Margaret (Glasgow)
We are Wendy and Melvin carers at PetStay Leeds & Ilkley Branch. Our journey with PetStay began when I read a book in which the lead character was going abroad to take care of someone’s dog. It got me thinking, is that something we could do and were there agencies that put you in touch with people to arrange these stays. So, I took to Google and sure enough, yes, these agencies do exist. So, we discussed and concluded that with Melvin’s health, dog sitting abroad would not be viable for us. We did however like the idea of caring for dogs in our own home, which would give Melvin company whist I was at work and I could walk before and after work. Google was throwing up adverts on my feed and I read quite a few but kept going back to the PetStay one. So I sent an email asking for more information, Cheryl got back to me so we could meet to see if we and our home were suitable and to talk us through how it worked. Cheryl told us that she would let us decide and arrange another meeting to go through all the paperwork. We already knew we wanted to go ahead, so asked her to bring the paperwork to the meeting, and if we and our home were okay, we wanted to get signed up as soon as possible. After our initial meeting, Cheryl then arranged the licence application and started arranging meetings with prospective dogs and their parents. We love doing this because it enables us to meet lots of different dogs of all shapes, sizes and characters. It gets me out walking (sometimes running) and Melvin sometimes, comes along on his mobility scooter. It means we can have dogs in our life again without the full time commitment.
Wendy & Melvin (Leeds)
I became a carer for PetStay after almost 30 years behind a desk. My best friends parents had been carers for years and after a chat with them, decided to contact PetStay to see if I had what it needed to become a carer too. I did and almost 4 years have now passed and I’ve no regrets. I’ve met so many new people and love looking after their fur babies. Dog walks and dog cuddles, can’t beat it
Sally (Leicestershire)
Lynne and Ray are both retired nurses. In January 2016 they lost their beloved white GSD Zeus to illness, and soon found they missed looking after, exercising and caring for a dog. Lynne had read about PetStay Staffordshire and realised this was a perfect way to assist others to enjoy a holiday, in the knowledge that their dog(s) would be having a great time as well. They both love the time with their guests and are grateful for the trust their owners place in them to provide a home from home for their dog(s).
Lynne and Ray say “We get the best of both worlds – providing a loving, caring environment for our holiday guests and getting lots of love and kisses back from them. Also, the exercise helps!”
Lynne & Ray (Staffordshire)
You must be a genuine dog lover, have experience of looking after dogs and you need to be home during the day so you have plenty of time to give to the dogs you are caring for. You must have a secure garden and agree to abide by PetStay guidelines. You are allowed to have a dog of your own as long as your dog gets on with other dogs.
If you meet all the requirements listed above, we will come and visit you at your home. We will check the security of the garden, explain PetStay procedures and show you the guidelines each carer needs to follow. If you are happy with everything and we feel you would make a suitable PetStay carer, we would follow up a reference and arrange public liability insurance for you.
Our service is on a one-to-one basis, so only dogs from the same household will stay with you. You are allowed to take up to three dogs from the same household, BUT you choose what you are happy with. We will ask you how many dogs you would like to look after and what sized dog/s you would be happy to care for.
Yes each dog MUST have up to date vaccinations (some areas may require kennel cough so please check with your local branch) have been wormed and treated for fleas. Proof of the vaccinations will be brought to the meeting and shown to you.
All dogs should be taken out each day for walks. When you have your meeting with the owners all routines, including the number and length of walks, will be discussed. The dog is only ever walked on a lead.
We would love to hear from you to let you know more about becoming a PetStay Dog Carer. Please click the link below where you can find your local branch in your area, they would be very happy to have an informal chat with you.
Vets, dog groomers, dog trainers and those in the profession of dog care recommend PetStay knowing that we have every safeguard in place.
9 Bridge View Office Park, Upper Office, Suite 6,
Hull HU4 7DW.
info@petstay.net
07983 418068
Copyright © 2025 PetStay Ltd | Registered Office: 9 Bridge View Office Park, Upper Office Suite 6, Hull, HU4 7DW.