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What’s in store for the professional pet-sitting industry in the coming years?

For both those already in the industry and those looking to start professional pet-sitting or dog-walking businesses, it is an important question.

PSI recently released its 2017-2018 Pet-Sitting Industry Forecast. This newly-released report shares positive news for professional pet sitters, as pet ownership remains high in the United States and abroad and pet spending increases year over year.  

The most recent data from the American Pet Products Association (APPA) indicates that “pet services, which includes grooming, boarding, walking, training, pet sitting, exercise and yard services for our pampered pets, saw the largest growth again this year and more than tripled the growth percentage of any other category.” In fact, spending on pet services reflected an 11.8 percent growth rate from 2014 to 2015, with pet owners spending $5.41 billion on pet-related services.

The unmatched growth of the pet-services segment in the APPA’s annual spending report is encouraging news for the professional pet-sitting industry—and this increase was also reflected in the growing annual pet-sitter revenues reported in PSI’s 2016 State of the Industry Survey—but this data is only one side of the coin.

PSI’s report also highlights growing competition in the industry, with the influx of newcomers in the pet-care sphere, including new pet-sitter directory websites and apps, and examines how the increased competition will influence industry trends as professional pet sitters seek to remain competitive in the tech-driven, “sharing economy.”  

Based on current data available, its more than 20-year history in the professional pet-sitting industry and feedback from professional pet sitters, PSI projects the following growing trends in the professional pet-sitting industry, as established and new professional pet-sitting business owners balance the growth of the industry with the growth of competition:

Projected 2017-18 trends in the professional pet-sitting industry

Please note: A detailed explanation of each of the projections is included in PSI’s 2017-2018 Pet-Sitting Industry Forecast.

1. Professional pet sitters’ use of technology for their business needs will continue to increase. To simplify their business processes and to meet the demands of clients, professional pet sitters will continue to increase their use of technology. In particular, pet sitters will turn more and more to smart devices that allow them to manage their businesses and keep in touch with clients on the go. This use of technology will be particularly necessary for professional pet sitters in areas with high competition and where consumers are turning to online pet-sitter directories to quickly find pet-care options.

2. Professional pet sitters will continue to embrace social media to reach current and potential clients. In addition to smart devices and business tools such as pet-sitter software, PSI projects that use of social media will continue to increase among professional pet sitters as well. PSI’s 2016 survey highlighted a downward trend in the number of pet sitters reporting that they don’t use social media to promote their businesses, and showed increases in the use of all major social-media platforms (from the 2014 survey). A recent report by research firm Packaged Facts highlighted consumers’ increased use of digital devices and how pet retailers are using social media—and online videos in particular—to engage with pet owners. PSI predicts this trend will extend to the professional pet-sitting industry as business owners look for new ways to connect with local pet owners and “humanize” their pet-care businesses.

3. Professional pet sitters will focus on personalized services and superior customer care to stand out in the growing industry. For those already in the professional pet-sitting industry—or those who are pet owners—it comes as no surprise that pet owners view their pets as part of the family. Recently, Houzz surveyed 10,000 pet owners in 11 countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia. Overwhelmingly, respondents reported the top benefit of pet ownership is that pets make them happy, and the survey also found that U.S. pet owners are most likely to treat dogs and cats as members of the family. This pet-pampering culture provides a unique opportunity for professional pet-sitting businesses to highlight their unique advantages—including personalized care plans and unparalleled pet perks. Professional pet sitters who can offer customized, flexible services and are willing to accommodate quirky requests (that hobbyists may not) will quickly rise to the top in the industry.

4. The professional pet-sitting industry will see an increased focus on credentials and certification. The past year has yielded news stories and industry reports on calls for regulations in the pet grooming and, most recently, the dog training industries. As the industry continues to grow and pet owners read news stories of pet-sitting tragedies caused by hobbyists calling themselves “pet sitters,” PSI predicts that the pet-sitting industry will ultimately come under the same scrutiny. As many pet owners and news outlets continue to use the term “pet sitter” carelessly to refer to anyone—from a family friend to the neighborhood teenager asked to walk the dog—the need for a simple way for pet owners to distinguish between professional pet sitters and hobbyists/non-professional options is growing. Because of this, PSI projects that this year will mark an increased focus on credentials and certifications within the industry that will continue going forward.

In addition to the Certified Professional Pet Sitter™ designation, PSI predicts pet sitters will also take advantage of continuing education opportunities, such as pet first aid, disaster preparedness and in-depth trainings for specializations such as senior pet care or feline nutrition.

For a detailed analysis of the current state of the professional pet-sitting industry, as well as a detailed explanation for each of the trends projected above, download your free copy of PSI’s 2017-2018 Pet-Sitting Industry Forecast.

Photo source: Queenie's Pets