How much does a dog sitter cost?
A dog sitter in Los Angeles costs about $26 for a drop-in visit and about $74 a night to stay over, based on Rover’s September 2025 data. A full day of two drop-ins runs about $53. My own rates in Woodland Hills are $22 a visit and $63 a night for one dog.
I’ve looked after dogs in Woodland Hills since 2018, with 29 five-star ratings on Rover, and this is part of my guide to how much pet sitting costs. This one’s all about dogs, and the math nobody else does.
Dog sitting prices online run from “a friend who’ll do it for pizza” all the way to “roughly a weekend in Palm Springs.” Here’s where the real numbers land.
How much is a dog sitter per day?
A dog sitter in Los Angeles costs about $26 to $79 a day, depending on whether you book one, two or three drop-in visits, based on Rover’s $26.49 average visit. Most visits are about 30 minutes.
Here’s the bit that surprises people: three drop-ins a day, about $79, costs more than having someone stay the night, about $74. That’s usually the moment people stare at the ceiling and do the math twice.
Three dogs, one lawn, one couch, and zero complaints about the rates.
How much is an overnight dog sitter?
An overnight dog sitter in Los Angeles costs about $73.94 a night, with most charging between $50 and $94, according to Rover. Pet Sitters International members average $96.66 an overnight, since those are mostly established companies.
An overnight sitter is the only person who’ll witness your dog’s 3am zoomies and still send you a nice message about it in the morning. Rougher guides put professional overnights anywhere from $75 to $150, so treat any single number you see online with a raised eyebrow.
My overnight rate is $63 a night for one dog. Here’s what an overnight with me includes.
What about hourly dog sitter rates?
Care.com lists Los Angeles dog sitters starting at about $20.76 an hour, as of October 2026. That’s the rate sitters ask when they sign up, not what a visit or a night costs once it’s booked.
Hourly rates look cheap until you remember nobody books a dog sitter for 47 minutes. Most sitters, me included, price by the visit or by the night, so compare those instead.
“Helen was incredible! Very trustworthy and kind to our fur babies. We will definitely book again!” Amanda R., July 2026
How much is a dog sitter for a week?
A week of overnight dog sitting in Los Angeles costs about $518 at Rover’s $73.94 nightly average. Two drop-in visits a day for a week comes to about $371 instead.
A week away adds up, which feels unfair, because your dog will still greet you like you’ve been gone for a decade. Longer stays often have their own rate. On Rover, mine has a separate price for stays of 7 nights or more, so ask me for the total before you book.
What makes a dog sitter cost more?
Puppies, extra dogs, holidays and medication are what push dog sitter prices up. Here’s what each adds in Los Angeles, from Rover’s LA data:
Puppies cost more for the same reason toddlers do. Nobody sleeps, and absolutely everything is a chew toy.
Drop-ins or an overnight: which should you book?
Book drop-ins if your dog is fine alone for a few hours. Book an overnight if they’re a puppy, a senior, anxious at night, or would need three or more visits a day. The American Kennel Club says adult dogs shouldn’t go much past six to eight hours without a bathroom break.
If your dog treats a two-hour gap like a personal betrayal, book the overnight. The money’s nearly the same, and your neighbors will thank you. More on timing in how long a dog can be left alone.
What I charge for dog sitting
These are my Rover rates for dogs up to 40 lbs, with Rover’s fees included:
I keep your dog’s routine, give oral medication if they need it, and send messages and photos while you’re away. I’m also the only person who does my bookings, so the person you meet is the person who comes. Here’s how dog sitting with me works.
