My experience with Rover, the dog sitting app (review + discount)

I ventured to California a week ago to meet my partner’s family for the first time. I originally had a boarding reservation at a local pet hospital, but I began to get nervous as we got closer to the drop off date. Since my dog has severe separation anxiety and can be aggressive with other dogs, it became clear that group boarding wasn’t the answer for him.

I first heard of Rover, the dog sitting app, a couple years ago and quickly brushed it off. A stranger watching my dog? No, thank you.

However, just before this trip, I realized that leaving him at a local pet hospital was basically the same thing.

The difference?

Rover.com provides a much more personalized experience. In my case, I found a sitter who takes one dog at a time which meant all of her attention would be on my pup. She was nearby and had nothing but glowing 5 star reviews nearby. We’ll call her Cassandra (not her real name).

After confirming her availability over Christmas, we set up a “Meet and Greet” appointment for the next day. It was important to meet her beforehand and make sure my dog would get along with her.

My dog was happy to meet Casandra (which rarely is the case when he meets new people!) so I decided to cancel the boarding appointment and confirm the Rover.com booking.

I decided to drop my dog off a day before we left for the airport to make sure everything would be good while we were still in town. Everything went well, and Casandra confirmed my dog was fine by sending me a couple of photos, which were the first of many I would receive during his stay (she sent a total of 33 photos and 5 videos).

We got back to the East Coast late in the evening so we decided to pick our dog up the day after. While he was happy to see us again, he was in no rush to leave. It was obvious he had a great time during his stay with Cassandra and was taken care of.

Rover app FAQ

What is Rover?

Rover.com is an online marketplace that connects pet owners with pet sitters, dog walkers, and other pet care services. Founded in 2011 by Greg Gottesman, Aaron Easterly, and Philip Kimmey, Rover provides a platform for pet owners to find trusted caregivers for their animals while they are away. Users can browse profiles of potential sitters, read reviews, and book services such as pet boarding, house sitting, and drop-in visits. Rover’s platform offers convenience and peace of mind to pet owners, while also providing opportunities for animal lovers to earn income by offering their services.