A friendly introduction and a beautiful Instagram page are a start. They do not tell you who will supervise your dog, how an overnight stay works or what happens when the usual caregiver is sick.

Choosing dog care means matching a real service to your individual dog. The best arrangement for a sociable adult may be unsuitable for a young puppy, a dog who prefers space or a senior who needs a quieter routine.

This Canadian guide explains how to compare dog walkers, daycare, boarding and pet sitters, what to ask before booking, and how to prepare for a first visit or stay.

Choose the type of care before choosing the provider

Service names are not detailed care plans. “Overnight sitting” does not necessarily mean the person remains in your home throughout the following day. “Daycare” does not establish how much time is spent in group activity or resting separately.

Write a short profile of your dog

Before requesting quotes, describe the care you actually need. Give each provider the same information so that you can compare their answers fairly.

• Age, size and relevant health or mobility needs.

• Normal feeding, toilet, exercise and sleeping routines.

• Comfort with unfamiliar people, dogs, handling and transport.

• Any history of escape attempts, guarding, biting or difficulty being left alone.

• Medication instructions and any practical restrictions.

• Dates, hours and the amount of care required.

Be specific. “Needs space from unfamiliar dogs” helps someone assess fit. “A little quirky” leaves too much open to interpretation.

Do not withhold a concern to improve the chance of acceptance. A provider who declines because the setup cannot meet your dog’s needs is giving you useful information.

For help with the next step, work out the gaps your home-alone care plan needs to cover.

Questions for a dog walker

Ask about the complete service from pickup to return. A booking described as an hour can mean different things if collection, driving and drop-offs are included.

Dogs Trust’s walker-selection guidance highlights references and suitable transport, including secure restraint, ventilation and temperature control. Ask to see the setup your dog would actually use.

Agree on equipment and handling beforehand. If your dog needs an individual walk or particular management around distractions, put that in writing. A group outing should be a considered choice, not an undisclosed substitution.

Questions for a daycare

Look beyond the photographs of dogs playing. Ask what a normal day includes, especially the quiet periods and the moments when a dog needs a break.

The BC SPCA’s daycare guidance emphasizes supervision, sanitation, staff knowledge and emergency preparation. It also makes an important point: some dogs do not enjoy a daycare environment.

A dog does not need to become a social butterfly to have a satisfying life. Ask whether a quieter arrangement is available, and compare it with individual walks or in-home care.

Do not use exhaustion at pickup as your only measure of quality. Ask what happened during the day and observe your dog’s comfort with the arrangement over time.

Questions for overnight boarding

For a facility, arrange a visit and ask to see the spaces relevant to your dog’s stay. For home boarding, discuss the household, resident animals, visiting dogs and access to sleeping and outdoor areas.

The Ontario SPCA recommends researching a boarding provider, checking applicable inspection or licensing requirements and visiting before deciding. Its boarding-selection guide also encourages checking cleanliness, ventilation, temperature and staff knowledge.

Ask local authorities which requirements apply to the particular business and location. A membership, training certificate and business licence are different things; ask what each document demonstrates.

If your dog requires a level of medical care the provider cannot supply, ask your veterinarian about appropriate alternatives.

Questions for an in-home sitter

Home sitting can preserve familiar surroundings, but the arrangement still needs clear hours and responsibilities.

The Ontario SPCA’s sitter-selection guidance recommends a written agreement, references, backup arrangements and a meeting with your animal. It also suggests a short trial before a longer trip.

Talk through realistic delays. If your flight arrives late, who remains responsible, and what additional fee applies? Resolve that question before leaving.

Ask about handling, qualifications and insurance

Ask each provider how they respond to pulling, barking, avoidance, guarding or conflict. You need an explanation of what they actually do, not only a statement that they love dogs.

Agree on the equipment and handling your dog will experience. Do not assume that booking care authorizes unrelated training or a change in equipment without discussion.

Ask what qualifications staff hold, who issued them and how they apply to the service. For first-aid training, ask when it was completed and how the business maintains its emergency procedures.

Request current evidence of relevant business insurance and ask what it covers for animals in the provider’s care, transport and work inside your home. Clarify exclusions with the provider or insurer rather than treating “insured” as a guarantee of payment for every incident.

If a company advertises an accreditation, verify the current status with the issuing organization. The BC SPCA provides resources for evaluating pet services; use external standards to inform your questions alongside the individual needs of your dog.

Make the emergency plan specific

Ask the provider to describe what would happen if your dog needed urgent care while you were unreachable.

The written plan should identify your usual clinic, the after-hours option, your contact details, a backup decision-maker and the agreed arrangements for treatment authorization and payment. Confirm any required authorization directly with your veterinary clinic.

Also ask about a missed pickup, vehicle breakdown, power outage or evacuation. Who takes responsibility, where can the dogs go and how will you receive an update?

A useful answer names people and actions. “We have never had a problem” does not explain the plan for a first incident.

Compare the complete price

Get a written quote for your actual dates, dog and care requirements. Clarify whether taxes, transport, medication administration, individual activities and holiday surcharges are included.

For overnight stays, ask how time is billed. A nightly rate, calendar-day rate and 24-hour rate can produce different totals. Record the pickup deadline and any charge for late collection.

For example, consider a hypothetical two-night booking at $70 a night. The base is $140. If the written terms add $25 for late pickup and $15 for each of two medication days, the subtotal becomes $195 before any applicable tax. These are illustrative figures, not Canadian market rates.

Compare the final quote alongside the care schedule. The cheapest headline price may describe fewer hours or a different level of service.

Check cancellation terms, deposits, minimum bookings and refunds if a trial shows the setting is unsuitable.

Use a trial to learn, not to force a fit

Meet the actual caregiver when possible. Describe your dog honestly and let the introduction proceed without pressure.

The Ontario SPCA’s preparation guidance recommends a gradual introduction, sharing routines and relevant behaviours, and providing veterinary and emergency contacts.

Choose a manageable first booking rather than making a long holiday the first test. Ask afterward what your dog did, how they rested, whether they ate or toileted normally, and what the provider would change.

If concerns appear, investigate them. The next step may be a modified arrangement, a different provider or professional guidance. A trial is useful even when the result is “this setting does not suit my dog.”

Your final handover

Keep instructions concise, current and easy to find.

• Label food with portions and feeding instructions. Confirm storage and handling arrangements for fresh or raw meals before booking.

• Supply medications in their labelled packaging with veterinarian-directed instructions.

• Check walking equipment, identification and contact details.

• Provide routines, relevant behaviours, health records requested by the provider and emergency information.

• Agree on updates, including what requires an immediate call.

• Confirm pickup, access and the backup plan.

Tell the provider about any change since the trial. New medication, a recent illness or a change in behaviour may affect the arrangement.

Reasons to pause before booking

Look for concrete problems: unclear supervision, unexplained substitutions, unsafe transport, pressure to conceal health or behaviour history, no written terms, or a refusal to explain incident handling.

A provider may reasonably restrict visitors to avoid disrupting dogs or breaching client privacy. Ask for an appropriate tour, meeting or explanation of the relevant spaces. The concern is a lack of meaningful transparency, not the absence of unlimited visitor access.

Strong providers should also ask you questions. Their willingness to discuss limitations is part of assessing fit.

Find care that supports your dog’s everyday life

Start your local search in the Paw Rewards directory, then speak directly with providers and verify the details. A directory listing is a starting point, not a substitute for your assessment.

For the wider responsibilities of care, explore The Complete Guide to Dog Ownership in Canada. Share your adventures together through the free Paw Rewards app on Apple or Google Play.

For the wider picture, explore Life With Your Dog, from puppyhood to the senior years.