Professional Pet-Sitting Industry Celebrates 11th Annual Pet-Sitter Education Month™
Pet Sitters International highlights the connection between high industry standards and continuing education for professional pet sitters and dog walkers
KING, N.C. (August 31, 2026) — September 2026 marks Pet Sitters International’s 11th annual Pet-Sitter Education Month™. As the observance enters its second decade, PSI is highlighting the increasingly important connection between higher standards and continuing education in the professional pet-care industry.
Founded in 1994, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world’s leading educational association for professional pet-sitting and dog-walking business owners. The organization created Pet-Sitter Education Month in 2016 to spotlight professional pet sitters’ commitment to continuing education and the growing number of educational resources available to today’s pet-care professionals.
“Pet parents have more options than ever before when they need pet care, and they want to make the best decision for their pets,” said PSI CEO & Owner Adam Foster. “Choosing professional pet sitters and dog walkers who invest in continuing education and commit to high industry standards provides added peace of mind that pets will receive knowledgeable, reliable care.”
PSI has long promoted pet-sitting excellence and in 2025 took another significant step with the release of its Global Standards for Professional Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Businesses. The standards are the first publicly available framework to establish baseline best practices for pet-care businesses worldwide.
The standards address key areas of professional practice—from business operations to safety protocols— and provide pet-care business owners with clear benchmarks they can use to evaluate and strengthen their businesses.
“PSI’s Global Standards define what professional excellence looks like, and continuing education helps pet sitters and dog walkers achieve and maintain it,” said PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston. “The standards provide a roadmap that business owners can use to identify opportunities for growth, determine where additional training may be needed, and intentionally plan professional development for themselves and their teams.”
To aid pet sitters in strengthening their businesses this September, PSI has published a Pet-Sitter Education Month section on petsit.com. There pet sitters can find a free Standards Scorecard Self-Assessment, along with links to additional pet-sitter resources and special September discounts on educational products.
PSI members also have access to additional professional-development resources, including PSI’s Global Standards Toolkit for PSI Members, Online Learning Library and Monthly Member Toolkit.
PSI says pet parents should also consider the important connection between education and professional standards when choosing a pet-care provider.
“Pet parents don’t have to settle for untrained or inexperienced pet lovers to care for their pets,” Stultz-Hairston said. “Trained, professional pet sitters and dog walkers who invest in their education and follow established industry best practices are available to meet their needs.”
PSI encourages pet parents to ask prospective pet sitters about their training, credentials, business practices and continuing-education efforts before booking services. PSI provides a free Pet-Sitter Interview Checklist to help pet owners know what questions to ask, and pet parents can search for local PSI member pet sitters at petsit.com/locate.
To learn more about Pet-Sitter Education Month and access PSI’s free educational resources, visit petsit.com/education.
To learn more about PSI’s Global Standards for Professional Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Businesses, visit petsit.com/standards.
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About Pet Sitters International
Founded in 1994, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world’s leading educational association for professional pet sitters and dog walkers. For more than three decades, PSI has set the benchmark for excellence in the pet-sitting profession and is the creator of the first publicly available Global Standards for Professional Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Businesses. With members across the United States, Canada, and more than 15 other countries, PSI continues to elevate the industry and provide members with access to the educational resources and business tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving field.
