Pet sitting during the vacations: swap your home!

Wondering what to do with your pet when you go on vacation? This is a tricky question that most pet owners ask themselves. With HomeExchange, home swapping is the solution!

Having your dog or cat looked after at home while you're on vacation is an option you can consider when searching for your next home exchange. Simply select the “Pets welcome” filter, which will allow you to connect with:

• Members who are interested in staying at your home, and will agree to look after your pet while you are away.
• Members whose home you are interested in staying in, and who will agree to let you bring your four-legged friend with you for the exchange.

Home swapping with pet sitting: Why is HomeExchange the best solution?

Pet sitting at the owner's home

A home exchange with pet sitting is a great way to feel even more at home when you go on vacation. You may miss your dog, but having the opportunity to take care of another dog will delight the whole family! Some members have made lifelong memories by pet sitting for their hosts' cats or dogs.

Having your pet cared for during your vacation

Having your pet looked after in your own home avoids the stress of traveling for them, as well as the hassle of dropping them off at an expensive kennel or cattery to be looked after by professionals during your vacation. On the contrary, home swapping in exchange for pet sitting allows your dog or cat (for example) to stay busy and continue to have fun while staying at home, at no cost!

A few tips for when your pet stays at home during an exchange

Write a detailed information sheet

To make things easier for your guests, we recommend leaving a detailed information sheet with the members who will be looking after your pet during the exchange, including:

• The address and phone number of your veterinarian.
• The contact details of a close friend who knows your pet well.
• Your pet's eating habits and any allergies, with clear instructions on what to do if your pet eats something it shouldn't.
• Does your cat or dog hate having their belly rubbed, or do they love it? This kind of detail can also be useful!

Organize your home so that your furry friend has everything it needs while you're away

We also recommend labeling and clearly marking your pet's food and providing a measuring cup to make it easier to measure out the right amount. To make pet sitting easier, leave toys, leashes, and treats in one place.

A few things to consider before agreeing to a home exchange where you’ll be pet sitting

Will you have enough time to take care of a pet?

• Do you plan to stay home every evening or use the exchange home as a base for visiting the surrounding area? Keep in mind that most dogs need a lot of company.
• Will you have time to walk the dog several times a day? If not, can your exchange partner hire a dog walker?

Is your family used to pets?

Are your children comfortable around animals? If you are staying in a home with a dog or a cat but don't have pets yourself, this is a good way to find out if your family likes animals. In any case, make sure your children are not afraid of animals they don't know.

Our members who fell in love with pet sitting during a home swap!

Efi's pet sitting experience: the ideal solution for families

HomeExchange is not only a great way to meet new people and travel the world, but also a way to have a great vacation with animals! Our family has a dog, Dicky, and a cat, Monty. Of course, they feel much better at home than in a boarding kennel while we're on vacation abroad. When we swapped our house with a Dutch family, their love of animals was a crucial factor. They took care of our dog and cat. In fact, as the father of the family jokingly said, Dicky followed them on their long bike rides and helped them understand how to cross the road in Greece!

Efi - Greece

Liz's pet sitting experience: an immersive travel opportunity

I traded my apartment in Venice Beach, California, for an apartment in a palazzo on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. There I met Leopoldo, an adorable and very energetic Jack Russell/Spaniel who needed to be walked twice a day. So when we went for a walk every morning, everyone stopped to talk to beautiful Leo and ended up talking to me too. Thanks to him, I met people in Venice that I probably never would have met otherwise. The Venetians thought I was Italian and welcomed Leo and me with open arms.

Liz - California

Fanny's pet sitting experience: unforgettable memories

Our little son Leon was 9-months old when we did our first exchange, and he loved Sonia's house so much that he stood up for the first time to pet the cat. I'll always remember that moment!

Fanny, France