Many professional dogwalkers provide more than one service and fall under more than one categorized definition. This is generally what is offered under the title given. Ask your dogwalker about the services they can provide. All prices for services will vary accordingly for each pet care company.

Professional Dog Walker - A handler of a dog or dogs in a manner of control in a suitable environment for the purpose of exercising and socializing the dog as a daily service. Professional Dog Walking is the core of all pet care. Daily dog walking provides a dog with a positive and healthy outlook towards its surroundings. Daily exercise helps to maintain or develop a dog's good temperament. Simple basic obedience training should be reinforced while on the walk to maintain the control, respect and bond between human and animal. Ask your dog walker if he/she is knowledgeable in dog training methods and uses positive reinforcement. An information and question sheet should be provided for the client to fill out.

Pet Sitter - One who provides multiple visits to the pet owner's house for the purpose of checking up on pet and the owners' dwelling. It is not necessary for the Pet Sitter to stay overnight with your pet. Pet Sitters provide a service for pet owner's who would like to have their pet remain in their own home while they are away The Pet Sitter will visit the home and care for the pet by way of exercising and feeding and general personal attention. A "house check" is usually involved as well. The time, day, and number of visits are to be determined between the client and the sitter. Forms and information sheets should be provided for the client to fill out upon booking. If you are looking for someone to stay overnight with your pet, you should specify during your inquiry.

House Sitter - One who visits during the day and stays at the client's house and cares for the pet(s) and house overnight. House Sitters provide the client with the peace of mind that their house is "lived in" while the client is away. This is especially good if you do not have neighbours or friends that can watch over your house for you. If you have a pet, the house sitter will be there for him/her overnight. This service is a very personal choice which provides your pet with care in their own environment. Information sheets and forms should also be required.

Home Boarding - A place where the client's dog or cat lives temporarily in the home of the pet care provider during the client's absence. Other pets may or may not be present. Home Boarding is an alternative to a kennel style of care for your pet while you are away. It is also a very personal type of care usually provides at least two daily walks and always supervision overnight. Since the client's pet lives in the home of the pet care provider, the pet is cared for as if it were back at home. The pet always receives hands on attention and is rarely left alone. Certain requirements apply when a pet is brought to stay in a home. The boarding facility/home should require you to fill out a question and information form on your pet. There is a strict consensus that every dog is well socialized, friendly with other dogs, healthy and trained with a recall and other commands. Many other requirements shall apply to the personal boarding home. There are different home environments to choose from as some may be more suitably designed for pets than others. Some homes may be able to accommodate multiple dogs and others just one or two. There should be a limit to the number of dogs a home can include. City by-laws need to be taken into account as well as the size, space and location of the home. Always check where the pet will be exercised and sleep. Visit the home/facility with your pet to see the arrangement for yourself. Home boarding may also be referred to as "kennel free boarding", "homestyle boarding", "home environment", and "home-away-from home care", etc.

Kennel - A place where the client's dog lives temporarily in it's own separate section of an enclosed area with independent access to outdoors. Kennels are good for dogs that may not be socialized well with other dogs. Since the dogs have their own separate quarters, this situation is best suited for dogs that do not experience separation anxiety when the owner departs and do not require a lot of human or other animal interaction.

Daycare - A place that provides supervision for multiple dogs for the day. (how many hours in a day is determined by the daycare) Daycares provide socializing, exercising, training reinforcement, light grooming and sometimes meals, while the dogs are supervised for the day. The length of a day may vary from one daycare facility to the next. A personal visit to the daycare facility is recommended.