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By Beth Stultz-Hairston | Updated November 2025

As a professional pet sitter or dog walker, you often see your clients’ pets more than any other pet professional. Because of that, your clients naturally look to you for trusted, reliable pet-care guidance.

Becoming your community’s go-to pet-care expert isn’t just great for clients. It can be a game-changer for your business. People seek out professionals who educate, lead, and elevate the level of care in their community.

Below are practical ways to build and showcase your expertise—without adding a lot of extra work to your already busy schedule.

1. Commit to Continuing Education

Reputation starts with knowledge. Staying current with pet-care trends, health insights, and best practices is an industry standard, and not an option for serious pet-care professionals.

Ways to stay informed:

• Read pet-care and pet-business magazines, blogs, and book.
• Attend industry conferences, workshops, and summits.
• Participate in online trainings and join online groups for pet sitters and dog walkers.
• Learn from fellow pet-care pros who share their favorite courses, consultants, masterminds and/or other industry events and resources.

For PSI Members:

• Access PSI’s free Learning Library with articles and trainings organized by category.
• Read each issue of Pet Sitter’s World magazine (available in print + digital).
• Take advantage of each month’s Monthly Member Toolkit and free training.
• Explore PSI’s online courses (and use your 25% member discount).
• Register for PSI’s Pet Sitter World Educational Conference or FOCUS Online Summit.
• Consider pursuing the Certified Professional Pet Sitter-CPPS® credential to further differentiate yourself.

2. Proactively Share Your Knowledge with Clients

Clients want and need helpful, timely pet information, but they may not think to ask. Make education a natural, integrated part of your client experience.

Simple ways to educate clients:

• Leave-behinds: Print and share seasonal safety tip sheets, enrichment game instructions, upcoming pet event fliers, or a daily visit report card at the end of your visits.
• Digital delivery: For more eco-friendly (paperless) sharing, add these tips to your emailed visit updates; include pet-care articles or reminders in your company e-newsletter; and share pet-care information via text (with client permission).

This type of communication reinforces your expertise and value, and keeps clients connected with your business between visits.

3. Get Local Media Coverage

Local news outlets (print, digital, radio, and TV) are always looking for knowledgeable voices on timely topics. Positioning yourself as that resource for pet-related topics builds instant credibility.

How to get started:

• Send short, timely press releases (e.g., holiday dangers, seasonal safety reminders).
• Pitch yourself as the local contact for stories tied to national events like Professional Pet Sitters Week™.
• Share backgrounders with reporters to educate them on what pet sitting really entails and your areas of expertise.

Even if you don’t land an immediate story, you’ve introduced yourself as the expert to call next time. If you are ready to begin reaching out to local media, check out these tips on how to get your pet-sitting business featured on local news outlets.

4. Participate in Community Events

Local fairs, tradeshows, and festivals are prime opportunities to affirm your investment in your local community and meet pet parents and other pet professionals face-to-face.

If you have a booth space at a local event, pre-planning is vital to make sure you make the most of your participation.

Here are some tips to make your booth memorable:

• Offer something interactive, such as a photo booth, treat station (if pet-friendly), or a prize wheel.
• Provide handouts with your branding, such as pet-care tips or seasonal safety reminders.
• Create a simple raffle or giveaway to collect emails from booth visitors (and be sure to follow up after the event!).

By educating—not just selling—you show visitors the expertise behind your services.

5. Host Pet-Parent Workshops or Mini-Classes

If you feel comfortable speaking publicly—or partnering with those who are—local workshops can quickly build your reputation as a community leader.

Possible workshop topics:

• Basic pet-care and grooming tips
• Training tips (in partnership with a local trainer)
• Pet first aid demonstrations
• New pet-owner guidance in (in collaboration with your local shelter)

Workshops position you as a teacher and trusted resource. Consider working in conjunction with local partners including pet stores, shelters and rescues, trainers, veterinarians, and other pet professionals to make an event that’s informative and educational to the public, while supporting your goal of achieving higher recognition for your pet-sitting service.

6. Harness the Power of Social Media

Your company’s social-media accounts give you a built-in stage to educate, connect, and expand your reach beyond your current client list. Your social strategy can also strengthen your relationship with your current clients and encourage word-of-mouth referrals!

What to share:

• Links to reputable pet-care articles
• Seasonal safety infographics
• Short “how-to” and pet tips video clips and series
• Behind-the-scenes Stories or Lives
• Celebrations of your continuing education, professional development, and certifications
• Images and tips pulled from PSI’s Monthly Member Toolkit (free for members!)

Because social media content is highly shareable, your expertise can travel well beyond your immediate followers.

Have These Strategies Worked for You?

Have you tried any of these tactics to build your reputation as a local pet-care expert?
Have they helped you gain clients or deepen trust with current ones?

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your insights may help fellow pet sitters and dog walkers grow their reputations and businesses as well.