Marjorie MillerFur parents are extra cautious when it comes to their furbabies. They look for what’s best for their “kid” in terms of care, facilities, and handling.
My mom’s fur baby, in particular, is very picky when it comes to strangers, so they need to have the right “chemistry.” That’s why whenever I invite my mom out, finding someone to trust with her dog always proves to be a challenge.
I compiled a list of pet sitters in Jacksonville to help fur parents facing similar issues, ensuring you find reliable experts who can take care of your pets while you’re away.
How much does a pet sitter cost in Jacksonville?
Pet sitters in Jacksonville start at $30. The overall costs depend on the type of service you need for your pet. For instance, the rate for a quick walk would vary greatly from the rate for live-in care.
1. Dog Days & Cat Naps
Phone: +19042417387
Business hours:
- Daily: 7:00am – 9:00pm
Many of Dog Days & Cat Naps’ sitters are American Red Cross certified for pet first aid, which greatly adds to their reliability. After all, you want to entrust your pets to people who know what to do in times of emergencies.
They focus on in-home pet sitting, which is convenient during bad weather to avoid having the dog get rained on.
They may entail additional fees, however, for add-on services like Holiday Pet Sitting and Excessive Pet Mess Cleanup — though the convenience makes up for it.
They also have strict criteria when accepting pets, such as being non-aggressive and non-destructive.
That said, it’s a reasonable rule, considering it’s the owner’s responsibility to keep their pup gentle, but it might be helpful for some if the business offers a separate area for pets with this issue.
Goes the extra mile every time
“Excellent service and walkers! Consistent walker for almost a year now and she takes such good care of my dog. The walker always leaves nice little details in the daily report and goes the extra mile every time for my girl! Could not recommend enough”
- Nelson, Google Review
Excellent communication, and provides updates
“Dog days and cat naps are always been there for me , my dog and family needs. Every sitter we had worked with was excellent to our dog and communication was always on point with bunch of updates and pictures. thank you for your business and we look forward booking again.”
- Dichev, Google Review
2. Pet Paradise
Address: 5140 University Blvd W
Phone: +19043967529
Business hours:
- Mon–Fri: 6:30am – 7:00pm
- Sat–Sun: 9:00am – 5:00pm
We’ve been checking for an all-around pet sitting service, and Pet Paradise seemed to fit the bill. They offer grooming and vet services apart from the usual daycare.
It felt so reassuring while we were away since they have a live webcam feature where you can monitor your pet in real time.
It’s also good how they have a Furever Loyal Rewards program, where you can earn points and get rewarded with special offers like priority boarding reservations, and up to $400 in savings from quarterly rewards and coupons.
Their extra services, like grooming, can easily add up, though. Since they’re an all-around service, it’s easy to get carried away. Regardless, their services are worth the price, so you should consider this as your option for a convenient transaction.
Accommodating and responsive staff
“My high-energy large pup loves Pet Paradise almost as much as I do! I enjoy watching him on the webcam make new friends in the play yard. The staff is always so accommodating and responsive and it gives me a great peace of mind whenever I travel. I honestly couldn’t imagine boarding him anywhere else. The Pawgress Reports they always send you home with are a thoughtful and informative addition!”
- Matthews, Google Review
Truly cares about the animals
“Pet paradise is awesome! Their customer service is excellent and I had an awesome experience booking with them this past week. My two American Eskimo’s really enjoyed their stay and according to their report card they loved all the staff there. The staff was extremely nice and helpful with the booking process and checkin /out. My one Eskimo is very shy and the staff treated her great and was patient with her when greeting them. I live this place and will be using it again in the future. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to board their fur baby. They truly care about the animals they care for during the stay.”
- Eaker, Google Review
3. 9 to 5 Pets
Phone: +19046554700
When mom’s dog has low energy, we prefer in-house pet sitters instead of day care in facilities. 9 to 5 Pets focuses on this service, which makes them a reliable choice because of their expertise.
On top of that, their sitters are certified in Pet CPR and first aid, which is reassuring, especially whenever vet clinics aren’t accessible.
Adding to their convenience and reliability is the availability of their mobile app for tracking your dog, giving clients great assurance that their pet is in good hands.
If you’re more comfortable with facility care, however, you may want to check other options. They have extra services like toy washing and litter box cleaning; however, these entail additional costs.
Assuring and personalized care
“Excellent TLC provided for our little “Cali” while we were gone for two weeks. We received daily reports and photos which assured us she was getting the best of care. Such personalized care specific to our pet’s needs was exemplary, not to mention the bonus of plant care and mail collection. We had total peace of mind knowing our house as well as our beloved pet was being well cared for. I would not hesitate to recommend them to all my pet owning friends.”
- Eberling, Google Review
Professional and reliable
“We had a fantastic experience with 9 to 5 Pets. I can’t say enough great things about them—reliable, in touch with pictures and feedback after every visit, and professional!!! I had peace of mind the entire time I was away. I’m really happy I found 9 to 5 Pets, and we will never use anyone else bc they’re simply the best!! We had Christina and she was a sweetheart and was great with our super stubborn shiba inu. Five stars for the whole team!”
- Barkoff, Google Review
4. Bad to the Bone Pet Care
Phone: +19048532183
Business hours:
- Open 24 hours
Bad to the Bone Pet Care is an award-winning pet care provider, recognized in the Bold City Best Competition as Northeast Florida’s Best Pet Sitters.
They also gained recognition from ThreeBestRated as one of the Top Three Jacksonville Dog Walking Companies from 2018 – 2021.
The best part, though, comes with their Live-in Care service, where sitters live in your home to ensure that your pets aren’t left alone for more than four hours.
This is suitable if your pets need to be monitored for medical reasons or if they just need someone to keep them from getting too rowdy at home.
The sitters also provide a GPS tracking system to allow you to receive timely updates on the whereabouts of your fur ball, so you’re sure to get reliable service.
Though they’re a more expensive option, you get trusted quality for your pet, which is the priority, anyway. In terms of specific services like live-in care, though, they might have limited manpower since they really focus on only a handful of pets at a given time.
Reliable, friendly, and effective
“We’ve had wonderful experiences with Brennan Swift at Bad to the Bone Pet Care! Our Golden Retriever Rudy absolutely loves her! Brennan is reliable, on time, friendly and effective. She takes excellent care of Rudy, keeps us posted on how things are going so we never worry, and the house always looks great when we return home. Need a pet sitter? Better call Brennan Swift at Bad to the Bone Pet Care!”
- Penava, Google Review
Put my mind at ease
“My husband and I used Doug while we were away in Aruba for almost 2 weeks this year. Doug stayed in my house and took care of my 9 month old puppy and my 12 year old grumpy dachshund. He sent us pictures and updates daily, which I always looked forward to. I was so worried about leaving my puppy who can have attachment anxiety but but Doug totally put my mind at ease. I have no doubt he spoiled my babies rotten, I was worried they would want to go home with him 😀. I will use no one else.”
- Purdy, Google Review
5. Happy Hound Dog Resorts
Address: 11000 Beach Blvd
Phone: +19048008800
Business hours:
- Mon–Fri: 7:00am – 6:00pm
- Sat–Sun: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Mom’s dog is incredibly hyper, especially in the afternoon, so I particularly liked Happy Hound Dog Resorts because of their spacious facilities, where pets can roam around freely.
It seems like a fun trip for the pup to interact and socialize with fellow pets, making it a smart choice if you don’t want your pet to be locked in a cage.
You can also track the pet’s activity through their accessible webcam updates online — a great feature for any anxious owner.
If your pet’s sensitive with other dogs, though, they might be overstimulated with other pets’ varying energy levels, as pets can be rowdy since they don’t have cages. This setup may also be unpredictable health-wise when closely interacting with other pets.
Ensures safety and happiness
“Happy Hounds is truly a special place for our family. My dog Roman loves playing with the other dogs and while he is quite the hyper boy, the staff goes out of their way to not only keep him entertained but also with training. Brian and his staff are EXCELLENT. Great communication and even take the time to celebrate the little moments. It’s great being able to check the cameras when I am missing my boy. I appreciate their love and dedication to ensuring his safety and happiness when in their care! Highly recommend Happy Hounds to anyone looking for care for their dogs!”
- Hinkle, Google Review
Pups had a great time
“We boarded my 3 dogs and my daughter’s 2 dogs while we were away for her wedding. The staff was great and asked questions about each dog to get to know more about them before we left. The pups had a great time and we were able to check in on them playing/resting via video. It have me peace of mind to known they were in good hands while we were away. Thank you Happy Hound for taking great care of our fur babies!”
- Barbara, Google Review
