Dog Tips

8 Reasons to Use Rover as a Pet Parent

Founded in 2011 on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the unconditional love of a dog, Rover improves and simplifies life for pet parents and the dogs they love. On Rover, it’s easy to search, book, and pay for individualized, loving care for your best friend.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Here’s why booking sitters and dog walkers through Rover will make your pet’s dream (and your vacation dreams) come true.

It’s easy to book dog walking, pet sitting (in your home or your sitter’s), daycare, and drop-in visits. Whether you need a cat sitter to drop in or dog daycare from 9–5, we’ve got you covered. Over 80 million pet care services have been booked by our community of loving pet people.

Your dog’s other best friend could be just around the corner. When you search for a service at Rover.com, we’ll show you sitters and dog walkers who are likely to be a great match for you, your dog, and your budget.

Personalized Pet Care In Your Neighborhood

Search profiles through your preferred filters, read reviews and set up a Meet & Greet. Meeting in person before you book to confirm will help boost confidence that the sitter is a good fit for your pet.

Quick tips for matching with the right sitter:

Meet in a safe place: Always ask to meet in a public place and consider bringing a friend with you.

Trust your gut: If you hit it off, that’s great! Suggest booking to make it official. If something feels off, you’re under no obligation to book.

It’s okay to say no: Finding the right fit can take time—and that’s okay. It’s best to be honest about your needs.

Report inappropriate behavior: It isn’t common, but if someone makes you uncomfortable don’t be afraid to report them to Rover and block their profile. Learn how.

Reviewed and Approved Sitters and Walkers

Before they can list their services at Rover, every dog walker’s profile is reviewed and approved by our in-house team of Sitter Success experts. We also offer general sitter background checks for extra peace of mind. Safety is our top priority—always. If you see a profile badge on a sitter or dog walker's profile, that means they completed a background check. Through Sterling, a third-party service, sitters and dog walkers can take two different kinds of background checks: a basic or enhanced check.

Sitters on Rover in the United States have received over 7.76 Million reviews, with 97.8% of them being five stars.

A Safe and Secure Platform to Pay

Found your cat or dog’s perfect match? Booking through Rover is safe, secure, and hassle-free. Your Rover inbox acts as a record of services for you and your sitter to refer to so no communication goes missing.

All credit card information sent to Rover is encrypted using standard measures and never shared. That means no cash, tips, or last-minute trips to the ATM. Pet parents are charged before the booking begins and sitters are paid 48 hours after it ends. This keeps payments fair and timely for both parties.

Cute Photo and Video Updates

When your dog’s on their 100th round of fetch with their favorite sitter, you’ll get to see it too. Who doesn’t love proof that their pet is having a blast?

Never wonder how it’s going—use Rover messages to get adorable photo updates and stay in touch with your sitter. Request a Rover Card to get timestamps of when they arrive and leave and a GPS map of any walks.

Sitters and dogs on Rover have walked over 3.69 million miles together—that’s about 148 times around the globe!

We’ve Got Your Back with Our Booking Guarantee

While it’s rare, if the sitter or dog walker you booked has to cancel at the last minute, we’ll work with you to find your dog a new sitter—guaranteed. You’ll receive a full refund if your booking is canceled by your sitter or dog walker within seven days of the service start date (or within 14 days of the service start date for recognized holidays).

What is the Rover Guarantee?

The Rover Guarantee[1] includes 24/7 support and up to $25,000 in vet care reimbursements (for eligible claims). It also covers property damage to the pet owner’s home caused by a sitter, or dog walker and can help with certain out-of-pocket medical costs for 3rd party injuries (e.g. someone other than the pet owner, sitter, or dog walker).

Please note, that the Rover Guarantee is not a substitute for pet insurance. If you’re interested in coverage for accidents and injuries, Rover has a helpful guide to picking out the right pet insurance for you.

World-Class Support

We’re real dog fanatics headquartered in Seattle, and we’re here day and night (probably with a dog curled at our feet). Get in touch anytime.

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