DISCOVER THE TESTIMONIAL OF BRICE, PET SITTER AND DOG TRAINER IN TOULOUSE
My name is Brice, I'm 21 years old and I live in a 130 m² house with a 100 m² garden in the Toulouse suburbs. I live alone... well, with my two dogs! I've been a pet sitter for 2 years, in addition to my main job. (Instagram account: @border_spitz_family)
How did you start in this profession? Originally, I worked with children with disabilities. I needed an additional income, and since I love dogs, I passed the ACACED. I started by using Facebook and Instagram... and little by little, I built a real community. Today, I'm lucky enough to have regular clients!
What are the essential qualities of a good pet sitter? You need to be patient with dogs, with people... and with house training!
What does a typical day look like for you? In the morning, we start quietly with a short trip to the garden, then we eat. Then, a walk, rest, games at home... and another walk at the end of the day. Not forgetting to send updates to the dog parents and post on social media!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to get started? Get trained! It's essential to understand dog behavior at least a little before getting started. And then: fully develop your social media, that's what allowed me to build everything.
A tip for managing several dogs at once? I always do a preliminary meeting with my dogs to see if they get along with the new one. This helps to avoid bad surprises during the stay.
An anecdote to share? Yes! A dog parent didn't contact me for 3 days after the end of the sitting... His dog stayed with me as if nothing had happened.
How to train to become a Pet Sitter? No diploma is mandatory to become a Pet Sitter, but training is strongly recommended.
ACACED: The certificate of knowledge (ACACED) is mandatory to practice legally. It takes 2 to 3 days with a final multiple-choice questionnaire.
Animal behavior: Online training or with dog trainers can help to better understand dogs and cats.
Field experience: Volunteering in shelters, internships, or initial pet sitting for relatives are great beginnings.
Micro-enterprise: If you want to make a living from it, also learn to manage your activity (status, social media, customer relations...).
