HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a puppy sitter in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A puppy visits in Ireland costs €12–€30 per visit, typically around €18. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a puppy sitter in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers puppy sitter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — socialization and Training — puppy visits can also include basic training reinforcement and socialization with other pets, which is essential for your puppy’s development.
- How does duration of the visit change the price?The length of the visit is agreed before the work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does services provided change the price?Two jobs that look alike can differ here by hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of care required change the price?The work cannot be scheduled until this is known. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Bathroom Breaks — regular bathroom breaks are crucial for puppies — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a puppy sitter job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL cover, not just public liability — public liability pays if your dog bites a stranger; care, custody and control is what pays if your dog is injured, lost or killed while in their charge, and plenty of walkers carry only the first; How many dogs are walked at once, and whether yours is walked with strangers' dogs; Whether they are insured to drive your dog in their vehicle, and how it is secured; What happens if your dog is hurt or runs — the plan, and which vet; Keys: who holds one, how it is returned, what happens if it is lost, in writing; Two references from current clients, called not read.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers puppy sitter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — socialization and Training — puppy visits can also include basic training reinforcement and socialization with other pets, which is essential for your puppy’s development.
A good answer: The length of the visit is agreed before the work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Two jobs that look alike can differ here by hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The work cannot be scheduled until this is known. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Bathroom Breaks — regular bathroom breaks are crucial for puppies — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a puppy sitter job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability — playtime and Exercise — puppy visits often include playtime in a safe environment, helping to expend your puppy's energy.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the puppy sitter starts, and an itemised invoice after — feeding and Watering — during puppy visits, caregivers typically provide fresh water and feed your puppy according to your specified schedule.
Booking by the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: duration of the visit — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts
- They will not talk about it: services provided — two jobs that look alike can differ here by hours
- They will not talk about it: complexity of care required — the work cannot be scheduled until this is known
- A price for the puppy sitter before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the puppy sitter has begun
What a puppy sitter costs: €12–€30 per visit
The figures are for the job, per visit, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Feeding and Walking each carry their own band. Puppy Visits price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Puppy sitters near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstDuration of the visit — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts — that is what the puppy sitter is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneServices provided — two jobs that look alike can differ here by hours — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of care required — the work cannot be scheduled until this is known — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherDistance to your home — the distance is worked out before the quote is given — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the puppy sitter is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, puppy's size — a larger property takes longer simply to move around.
- Feeding and Watering
- During puppy visits, caregivers typically provide fresh water and feed your puppy according to your specified schedule.
- Playtime and Exercise
- Puppy visits often include playtime in a safe environment, helping to expend your puppy's energy.
- Bathroom Breaks
- Regular bathroom breaks are crucial for puppies.
- Socialization and Training
- Puppy visits can also include basic training reinforcement and socialization with other pets, which is essential for your puppy’s development.
- Walking
- Walking includes taking your puppy outside for exercise, allowing them to explore and relieve themselves in a safe environment.
- Playtime
- Playtime focuses on engaging your puppy in interactive games and activities to promote physical and mental stimulation.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a puppy sitter: questions people ask
The cost of puppy visits can vary based on factors such as location, duration of the visit, and the services provided. Additional services like training or extended playtime may also increase the price.
Puppy visits usually last between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your puppy's needs and your preferences. Longer visits can be arranged for additional costs.
Generally, puppy visits can be conducted by pet sitters or dog walkers without specific qualifications. However, if your puppy has special needs or requires medical attention, a qualified pet professional may be necessary.
Many pet service providers offer same-day or emergency puppy visits, but availability can vary. It's advisable to check with your chosen service provider for their policies and any additional fees.
Yes, you can often book multiple services such as puppy visits, dog walking, or pet sitting. Many providers offer package deals that can save you money.
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
MORE GUIDES