Claire ThompsonEver planned a trip but almost didn’t go because of your pet? Yeah, my dog sat on my luggage with those guilt-inducing puppy dog eyes—truly heartbreaking! But I had important clients to meet for a couple of days, and none of my relatives were available.
This made me call a pet sitter, but I had to deal with plenty of last-minute cancellations and poor communication. But I knew I wasn’t leaving my pup to just anyone, so I made it my mission to find the most reliable dog sitters in Columbus before I left.
Luckily, I found several promising ones! So whether you’re a busy professional, frequent traveler, or someone with multiple pets, I’ve got you covered with a handy review of my top picks below.
How much do dog sitters charge in Columbus?
Dog sitters in Columbus charge a starting hourly rate of $12.40 to $12.57, depending on the location, service type, number of pets, duration, frequency, special needs, and add-ons.
1. Hands N Paws
Phone: +1 614 636 6644, [email protected]
Business hours:
- Mon-Sun: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Hands N Paws has cat and dog sitters in Columbus for mostly short-term pet care. I appreciate that they can pop by for an in-home visit that lasts 20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes. You can also have a dog walker take your pup for a nice stroll!
This lets your fur baby get enough time to socialize, take potty breaks, play, be fed, get medication, and more. Moreover, I like that the sitters can do household duties, such as collecting mail, watering plants, and rotating blinds (for free!).
But if you need sitters for a longer period, you can schedule a meet and greet to talk about your pet’s routine’s preferences, and other special care requirements.
And after each visit, I find its app quite handy for receiving detailed updates. You’ll see how your pet’s day went, which I feel adds a personal touch to the service.
This company also uses a team-based approach (rather than assigning only 1 person to your pet). The way I see it, this lets multiple sitters form a bond with your dog, and this can give them more flexibility whenever you call.
Nevertheless, I believe some clients might prefer a single, consistent sitter for their more sensitive dogs. If that’s the case, I suggest considering other options as well.
Happy Dog, Well Documented
“Each session was well documented with notes and pictures. Zeus looked happy in the pics and when we returned home he was happy and the home was in the same order we left it in. We will be using this service again!!!”
-Mr. Mike Sara Jones, Google Review
So Great
“I have used hands n paws and they have been great. My dog loves to see new friends. They walk the dog, refill her water bowl, feed her and they many other things they can accommodate. I would recommend.”
-Mr. David Ray, Google Review
2. Bart & Gabriel Pet Sitting LLC
Phone: +1 614 371 3942, [email protected] & [email protected] (recommended to include both e-mail addresses to be sure)
Business hours:
- Open 24 hours
Bart & Gabriel Pet Sitting in Columbus offers in-home pet care, as well as dog walking services on weekdays.
Besides feeding, walking, and cleaning up after your dog, the sitters are also certified in first aid, which I think adds to their credibility.
And if you want to know more about the carers, I appreciate that each offers a background on the company website. You can read stories about their pets, rescues, and volunteer experiences, which I feel can put you more at ease.
I’m also all for the fact that its pet-sitting services aren’t limited to dogs. If you have other household pets like cats, fish, turtles, rabbits, birds, or small mammals, the sitters can accommodate them too.
But what I’m iffy about is that there isn’t much info about it offering 24-hour care. If you need this, it’s best to ask during your consultation from the get-go.
So Dependable
“My dogs loves their daily visits from Bart and Gabriel! One of my dogs needed daily medicine and they were there to help when I returned to work after the being home 8 weeks. I never had to worry about their dependability and I received a text message after each visit. I will definitely use them again.”
-Ms. Karen Esposito, Google Review
Wonderful
“I’ve used Bart & Gabriel Pet Sitting for dog walking services for nearly 2 years and they are wonderful. You get one on one service so the pet sitter is only walking your dogs and we have the same pet sitter every day that she is available so my dogs are used to being walked by someone they are familiar with seeing regularly. They love our dog walker, Jacklyn. She takes very good care of my Pomeranians and lets me know if there are any issues when she comes to visit. I trust her in my home and have a great rapport with her and Bart & Gabriel. In 2 years, they have never cancelled a service day and left me without a pet sitter which i truly appreciate! I would highly recommend their service!”
-Ms. Heather Morris, Google Review
3. Capital City Pet Sitters
Address: 3232 Brookview Way
Phone: +1 740 746 3256, [email protected]
Business hours:
- Mon-Sun: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Capital City Pet Sitters is one of my top picks for a pet sitter in Columbus if you have a dog and a cat—both are already included in the fees!
I also find it charming that this is an owner-operated business, with mainly a husband-and-wife duo doing all the work. I think this is good if you don’t want a different sitter for your pet every time.
It’s also convenient for me that they’re upfront with the costs on their website. And depending on your needs, you can opt for standard or quick-stop visits.
The starting prices usually cover up to 3 pets too, which I believe is what most average homes have. This way, you can save more money.
But since this company doesn’t have other employees, this service only has a few open slots at a time. If interested, I highly advise reaching out as soon as possible because it easily gets fully booked.
Responsive and Professional
“Rob took care of our dog for several days while we were out of town. Absolutely outstanding service. We felt very comfortable with Rob caring for our dog and coming and going at our house. He was very responsive and professional – we highly recommend his services.”
-Mr. Chris Zimmer, Google Review
Very Flexible
“I am so pleased with Capital City Pet Sitters. Rob has been very flexible with scheduling. He had made my life with a new dog and working much less stressful. He seems genuinely concerned about Lola’s well being.”
-Ms. Valerie Romer, Google Review
4. Fur Star Pet Care LLC
Address: 618 Neil Ave
Phone: +1 614 439 1621, [email protected]
Business hours:
- Mon-Sun: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Fur Star Pet Care provides 3 handy services, including dog walking, house sitting, and pet sitting. I believe it’s among the most accessible options in the city too, since it caters to clients within a 25-mile radius of Columbus in numerous areas.
Also, I love that its sitters can do overnight house and pet sitting. They’ll typically arrive anywhere from 5 pm to 7 pm and leave anywhere from 7 am to 9 am the next day.
And what I like most about this is how thorough the updates are! You can get photos, visit notes, GPS check-in and check-out times, as well as a live GPS map of their exact location with every visit—not giving you much room for paranoia, in my opinion.
But if your pet needs someone around almost all the time, I find value in the VIP (Very Important Pet) Pet Nanny Package. The nanny will just take two well-timed 2-hour breaks or one 4-hour break, so your pet will have at least 20 hours of care for 1 day.
It offers dog walking services too, but only on weekdays. If you’re already an established client, however, the staff can consider you for the holidays.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that the fees here aren’t fixed. They can change based on your exact location and other more (or less) challenging situations.
Very Happy
“My husband dog and I moved to the Columbus area in 2001. I am a bit of a crazy dog lady, so I was very concerned about finding a trustworthy and reliable dog sitter. I have been very happy with Jeanette and her team! My dog can be a bit of a handful, and she does have a history with other dogs. I am able to enjoy my vacations, knowing that she is in safe and capable hands. I like that communication and scheduling is done through an app. After each visit, I receive a lengthy and detailed message, letting me know how my dog is doing. They also include a ton of pictures! I highly recommend Jeanette and her team!”
-Ms. Lauren Coffin, Google Review
Amazing Job
“Jeanette is absolutely wonderful! She watched our beloved dog & cat at our house so my wife & I could have a getaway to the Hocking Hills. She did an amazing job! Jeanette has a great energy & personality. Our pets both got along so well with her! Jeanette made me feel relaxed, listened so well, & has excellent attention to detail! I highly recommend her & her business!”
-Ms. Melissa P, Google Review
5. Scales Tails & Paws Pet Care
Phone: +1 614 348 9859, [email protected]
Business hours:
- Open 24 hours
Scales Tails & Paws Pet Care has been in business since 2007, so I think it already has adequate experience pet sitting and walking various dog breeds in numerous situations.
Another thing I appreciate is that it’s a full-time professional company. No side hustles here—only trained and focused pet carers.
I also dig how the sitters go above and beyond to give personalized services. For one, they can create a personalized walking schedule for your dog or discuss special care for more exotic pets. Not everything with them follows a cookie-cutter format.
That said, this company serves mostly 6 areas, including Westerville, Sunbury, New Albany, Galena, Lewis Center, and Gahanna.
If you’re in a different location, it’s wise to get in touch with the staff to see what they can do. Otherwise, I like that they can give you a referral instead.
Love Them
“Ingrid and her team have been taking great care of our dog for probably almost 3 years now. She loves her mid-day visits!”
-Ms. Kayli Dennis, Google Review
Phenomenal Job
“Ingred and team did A phenomenal job of taking care of my dog Riley for the two weeks I was out of country. I received a written summary and photos after each visit. I’ll surely be using Scales, Tails & Paws the next time I travel.”
-Mr. Matt Riddle, Google Review
