How to Find a Dog Sitter You Can Trust in Brooklyn: A Checklist

Lately a lot of Williamsburg and Greenpoint owners have been sharing bad sitter stories online: dogs left without water, sitters who barely showed up, updates that never came. The good news is that most of these problems are visible before you book, if you know what to look for.

Does a dog sitter need a license in New York City?

Not for walking or for sitting in your home. NYC does not issue a dog walker or pet sitter license. It is different for boarding: anyone who keeps other people’s pets at their own place as a business needs a permit from the city health department and has to pass an inspection.

So “licensed” is not the useful question. These are:

• Insured? Look for general liability plus care, custody and control coverage, which pays if your dog is hurt or gets sick while in their care.
• Bonded? A bond reimburses you if something goes missing from your home.
• Trained? Pet first aid and CPR courses are a good sign. They are not required, which is why they say something.

The 15-point dog sitter checklist

Before you book

1. Ask for proof of insurance. A real business sends the certificate without fuss.
2. Read reviews from your own neighborhood. A sitter who knows McCarren at 7 a.m. is not the same as one who knows a quiet suburb.
3. Ask how many dogs they handle at once. For walks, four or fewer is a reasonable ceiling in Brooklyn traffic.
4. Ask who actually shows up. With agencies, the person you meet is not always the person who comes.
5. Ask about their emergency plan. Which vet would they go to, and how would they get there?

The meet-and-greet

6. Watch your dog, not the sitter. How your dog reacts tells you more than any review.
7. Book a paid trial. One walk or one short visit before the real booking.
8. Practice the handoff. Keys, door codes, the building’s quirks, where the leash lives.

In writing

9. Rates, cancellation and holiday pricing.
10. Feeding and water schedule. Write it down, including “refill the water bowl every visit.” It sounds obvious. It is also the most common complaint.
11. Update frequency. A photo or short message per visit is normal. Agree on it upfront.
12. Emergency authorization. A signed note allowing your vet to treat your dog if you cannot be reached, with a spending limit.

What to leave behind

13. Your vet’s details and the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic.
14. Microchip number and the registry it is listed with. Make sure your phone number on file is current.
15. A clear, recent photo of your dog. If your dog ever slips a collar on a walk, a sharp, well-lit photo where their face, markings and size are easy to read is the single most useful thing for a lost-dog post. Keep one on your phone and one printed in the folder with your sitter instructions.

Red flags

• No insurance, or “I’ll send it later.”
• No interest in meeting your dog before the first booking.
• Vague answers about who else might cover visits.
• Pressure to pay everything upfront, in cash, outside an app or invoice.
• Updates stop on day two.

Is an app or an independent sitter better?

Both work. Apps give you payment protection and reviews but can rotate people. Independent sitters often build a real relationship with your dog but you check them yourself. Whichever you pick, the checklist above stays the same.

Where a photographer fits in

I am not a dog sitter, and I would not trust anyone who promised to be everything at once. What I do is the part on the list most people skip: number 15. A good portrait of your dog is useful on the wall and, on a bad day, useful on a flyer.

If you want one, my sessions in Williamsburg and across Brooklyn start at $450 including the session and edited digital files. See what a session looks like, check pricing, or read the FAQ first.