Dog Vacay Offers Affordable In-Home Dog Sitting

By Dana Shultz for Diets In Review

If you’re a dog owner, you know the hoops you have to jump through to find a reliable and affordable sitter that you also feel comfortable with. Well consider this a problem of the past, because one dog-loving married couple created a service with the perfect solution in mind.

Aaron and Karine started Dog Vacay, an online community where eligible and willing dog sitters can sign up as hosts, list their nightly rate, and even post pictures of their space, so pet owners have the comfort of knowing where their dog will be and exactly how much it will cost. Not to mention their beloved pet will be in a loving environment free of cages, confinement, and hundreds of other dogs.

To get a better idea of what exactly this dog-loving service is all about, we reached out to Karine and Aaron to hear from the creators themselves.

DIR: Where did the concept for Dog Vacay come from?

Karine: At the beginning of the recession we began to offer crate-free dog boarding in our own home as a way to make extra income. We took in over 100 dogs over the nine months leading up to our wedding. Our clients were so passionate about the quality of care their dogs received that business was booming. I was able to leave my day job and write from home, while planning our wedding and caring for some lovable pups.

Aaron worked from home as well, so he was able to help with the dogs in the morning and evenings. After the wedding we knew we had to make this solution available on a larger scale, and we are thrilled to have found thousands of amazing pet care providers who do the same thing. Now, Dog Vacay can connect dog lovers who want to find or provide home dog boarding and other pet care services.

What exactly does the process look like?

Karine: Home boarding is the new solution to an old problem: Figuring out what to do with your dog when you go on vacation. Instead of expensive kennels that often crate your dog all day, or burdening friends who may cancel at the last minute, dog owners can now find an affordable and professional dog-loving home to care for their loved one. You can also book other pet care services like pet sitting in your own home, dog walking, training, and daycare with a qualified pet care provider.

If you are looking for a place for your dog to stay while you’re away, simply browse through the profiles of approved hosts, look at photos, read reviews, and book and pay online. You can always schedule a meet and greet to check out the home in advance, and rest easy knowing that once you book through Dog Vacay you are also covered by a money back guarantee, insurance and dedicated customer support.

Furthermore, we’ve partnered with the largest vet group in the country, VCA Antech, for emergency medical care, meaning dog owners can relax on their travels while their dogs get a vacation of their own. Plus, our hosts are reminded to send you photos and updates of your dog’s vacay.

Our company motto is “Why should humans have all the fun?” because we stand behind creating positive experiences for dogs, and peace of mind for their parents.

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Read more: Adoptable pets, Do Good, Dogs, Pet Health, Pets, Travel, dog vacay, home boarding

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jennifer B.

11:16AM PDT on Aug 13, 2012

This is a great solution! I only put my dog in a boarding kennel once and I visited several that were terrible by picking one I could live with for a short trip. I paid for extra walks and play time, in addition to the highest kennel rate in the area. After that either I had a friend or family member care for him, as I could not bear to see him locked op again. Putting a dog that is used to having free roaming rights in a home, napping on the couch, human company and being the center of attention in a kennel with a concrete floor in a room with15 other dogs is the equivalent to putting your kid in juvenile detention.

August 13
send a green star

Carrie-Anne B.

12:59PM PDT on Aug 12, 2012

great article thanks for sharing :)

August 12
send a green star

Darla G.

11:47AM PDT on Aug 12, 2012

This sounds like a wonderful idea. I don't ever want to kennel my old dog; he's just too old to handle it. Right now, my husband and I take separate vacations (not just b/c of the dogs) so that works for us but if I didn't have him, I probably wouldn't ever leave town.

I hope there's a very thorough background check on the approved hosts and that they would immediately take a do to a vet if there was ANY suspicion of a problem while the dog was in their care.

My dogs ARE my kids and I will accept nothing but the BEST for them.