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Professional pet sitting is more than a career—it’s a lifestyle. PSI launched its #petsitterlife initiative to highlight the unique joys and challenges of the pet-sitter lifestyle, and the #petsitterlife feature series has that same goal. Each month, we’ll feature a different PSI member in a Q&A blog post, a Facebook Live interview and an Instagram “takeover.”

This blog post will help you learn more about this business owner’s #petsitterlife and provide you with some tips and advice for your own pet-sitting business.

PSI members, if you are interested in being considered for a #petsitterlife feature, please fill out this online form.

Meet Lyndsay Shackelford, owner of Dogs of Charm City in Baltimore, Maryland.

Name: Lyndsay Shackelford

Business name: Dogs of Charm City

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Year you started your pet-sitting business: 2017

What was your previous job/profession? Food scientist

Why did you decide to become a pet sitter? Finding a dog walker for my dog Wilson was a true struggle. Don’t get me wrong, he got walked and was well-taken care of, but I expected more. I longed for someone as passionate about Wilson as me. Someone that felt like family and just "got it." Someone who crafted delightful narratives tracing the journey from arrival to drop-off (videos too). Someone who took genuine interest in Wilson’s wellbeing, social life and happiness outside of a 30-minute walk. Someone who catered to my dog mom quirks.

I decided I wanted to create a new standard for pet care where dogs are so much more than a pet. Just because people and puppies are different, do parenthood and pet ownership have to be? Not in our book. Our clients are friends and family to us. I saw an opportunity and ran with it.

Number of current clients: 103

What does your typical day look like? I usually wake up around 6 a.m. and walk to a local coffee shop with my own dog (he needs to be walked too!). I take the morning to plan out my day, update invoices, do some yoga/meditation, and plan out social media posts. My first walk is usually around 10 a.m. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. is prime time for walking. Most days, I will take a group of dogs on a "pack adventure" where we head to a local dog park, go swimming, or go hiking. From 4-6 p.m., I may transport a few dogs home from daycare or make time to meet new clients. I personally see about 15 dogs during the day.

Is your service area urban, suburban or rural? Urban. We have over 100 clients within a 2 mile radius!

Do you offer any services besides basic in the client’s home pet sitting and dog walking (pet taxi, grooming, etc.)? Yes! Pack Walks, Pack Adventures, Dog Swimming, Dog Hiking, Dog Park Visits, Dog Boarding, Dog Sitting and Pet Taxi services.

Do you use staff sitters, and if so, how many? I have two sitters, one full-time walker and three part-time walkers.

Can you offer any tips for recruiting and managing staff? Growing beyond solopreneurship is a big step. Recruiting staff that share your vision is vital! When I first set out to hire staff, I prioritized experience with dogs. I’ve found that ability to effectively communicate with clients is equally as important when looking for new hires.

What PSI resources have you found most helpful? PSI offers resources and information that allow pet sitters to go from pet sitter to professional pet sitter. Insurance and bonding is a no-brainer. PSI made it very easy for me to get started with a very reputable insurance partner of theirs. Member-exclusive E-books and downloads have been crucial to the growth of my business.

What advertising methods have worked best for your business? Word of mouth is by FAR our best form of advertising; however our second best is absolutely our website and social media.

What educational opportunities have you taken advantage of since becoming a pet sitter? I am constantly gleaning knowledge from books and my peers. “Crushing It!” by Gary Vaynerchuk and “Six-Figure Pet Sitting” by Kristin Morrison are two recent reads that I have really enjoyed. I religiously follow Barketing Solutions’ blog posts: https://barketing.co/blog/.

Are there any must-have business tools your business could not do without? PetPocketbook management software streamlines scheduling, automates invoicing, and stores client information. I highly recommend it to all dog walkers and pet sitters! Quickbooks is a must for handling financial information for any small business. PSI Member-exclusive E-books and downloads have also been crucial to the growth of my business.

What steps do you take to practice self-care and prevent burnout? I try my best to turn off after 6 p.m. I used to accept anything that came my way, regardless of time of day. I've found that saying no to requests outside of set work hours and driving distance has brought me more of the "right" clients. Yoga, meditation and great podcasts during the day keep me mentally focused.

Do you set goals for your business each year? Absolutely! Goal setting is one of the most important activities you can do in your business. 

Do you have any tips for setting and achieving business goals? I am a big advocate of goal setting at the beginning of each month.  For example, I will connect with X local business owners. I will take on X new clients this month. I will raise X through fundraising events. Be sure that your goals tie back to your vision to ensure that each goal is oriented on where your business is headed in the long-term. And don’t forget to take time to celebrate achievements!

Do you network with other pet sitters/pet professionals in your area? Absolutely! We meet up regularly and discuss to share what is working and what isn’t working for our businesses. We often refer clients to one another based on the clients’ specific needs and the different services we offer. It’s a win-win!

Share tips for connecting with other pet professionals (e.g. pet sitters, veterinarians, dog trainers, etc.). Reach out on Instagram to introduce yourself and offer to meet up for a cup of coffee.

What advice would you give to other pet sitters who would like to grow their businesses? Make sure you are using at least one social media platform to promote your pet-sitting services. Always carry your business cards. Engage in conversation at the dog park and work in the fact that you are a professional pet sitter. Think about what sets you apart as a pet sitter and focus on that. Most importantly, have patience with yourself and remember that comparison is the thief of joy.