A senior dog sitter who goes at their pace

Slower walks, steady routines and someone who notices small changes, all in your older pet’s own home.

Close-up of a dog relaxing indoors during a pet sitting visit
  • Lives with a 15-year-old dog
  • Written care plan
  • Daily photo updates
  • Insured

Why an older pet needs more than a quick check-in

A young dog shrugs off a missed walk or a noisy kennel. A senior often can’t. Stiff joints, a touchy stomach and a set routine make every change harder.

Older pets also tend to show trouble in small ways: a meal left half eaten, a slower start in the morning, a reluctance to take the stairs. Someone has to be there long enough to see it.

Walks that fit the body

Shorter loops, easy footing and as many rest stops as your dog wants. Nobody gets dragged along.

Help with stairs and floors

Rugs and ramps stay where your pet knows them, and your sitter helps with steps if you show them how.

Medication schedules kept

Joint, heart or thyroid medicines at the times your vet set, written into the care plan with doses.

Comfort checks all day

Appetite, water, potty habits, sleep and mood are watched and noted, so a change gets caught early.

What families notice when they get home

It was clear our pets were happy, well cared for, and had a wonderful time with Hope.

Sacha and ChrisTwo cats and two dogs
How a senior sit works

Home, on the routine they already know

Kennels mean a car ride, new smells, hard floors and noise all night. For a senior, staying home is often the kinder choice. Here’s how Hope keeps it steady.

  1. Learn the routine

    At the free walkthrough, Hope or one of her sitters watches how your pet gets up, eats, walks and settles, and notes meds, sore spots and the places they like to rest.

  2. Write it down

    Everything goes into a written care plan, with your vet’s number. If your pet needs something Hope can’t safely do, she says so before you book.

  3. Keep the pace

    Meals, medications and walks at the usual times, at your pet’s speed. On an overnight, your sitter is there for the late potty break and the slow morning.

  4. Report what they see

    A text and photo every day. If your pet eats less, limps or just seems off, you hear about it right away.

Dog resting on a hiking trail overlooking the Front Range
A client’s dog, taking a rest stop on a walk.

What Hope keeps an eye on

The American Animal Hospital Association’s senior care guidelines call aging a natural process, not a disease. They also point to pain, mobility, nutrition, behavior and the home setup as the areas that matter most for older dogs and cats. Those are the things Hope’s team watches and writes down.

  • Appetite and water at every meal
  • How easily your pet stands, walks and lies down
  • Potty habits, sleep and any new confusion

Source: 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Your own vet is always the authority on your pet.

Hope with her own dogs, Misha the Alaskan Malamute and Oreo the Jack Russell and Chihuahua mix
Hope with Misha and Oreo.

Oreo is 15

Hope’s Jack Russell and Chihuahua mix has been with her since eight weeks old. She plans her own days around an older dog’s pace, and she brings that patience to yours, and teaches it to every sitter on her team.

  • Senior dogs
  • Senior cats
  • Medication schedules
  • Pets with cancer

Read Hope’s story

Senior pet sitting near you

Hope and her team look after older dogs and cats across the north metro and eastern Boulder County.

Senior pet sitting questions

Is an overnight better than boarding for an older dog?

Often, yes. Your dog keeps their own bed, their own floors and their own schedule, and someone is there for the late potty break and the morning. Hope will give you her honest suggestion at the walkthrough.

My senior dog can’t walk far anymore. What happens on walks?

Walks go at your dog’s pace, on the routes and distances you set in the care plan. Some seniors just want a slow lap of the block or time in the yard, and that’s fine.

Can Hope give my older pet medication?

Medication schedules are part of every care plan, with doses and times written down. Tell Hope exactly what your pet needs at the walkthrough and she’ll tell you honestly what she can do.

What if my pet seems unwell while I’m away?

Hope contacts you right away and follows the plan you agreed on, including your vet and emergency contacts from the walkthrough. Your vet stays in charge of your pet’s medical care.

Do you sit for senior cats too?

Yes. Older cats get the same care plan: meals, water, litter and medication schedules on time, plus a close eye on appetite and litter habits.

How much does senior pet sitting cost?

Overnights are $120 a night for one dog, and new clients get their first stay at $100 a night. Hope confirms your exact rate at the free walkthrough, before you book anything.

Free walkthrough

Show Hope how your older pet likes their day.

Hope or one of her sitters comes to your home, meets your senior pet and writes the care plan with you. No charge, no obligation.

Insured. Westminster local. Your pets stay home.

Request a free walkthrough

Step 1 of 3: your dates

Text Hope Free walkthrough