Holiday Pet Sitting in Dallas: How Early Should You Book?

The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us.

One minute you’re thinking about fall plans, and the next you’re booking flights, figuring out who’s hosting Thanksgiving, or deciding where you’ll spend Christmas.

If you have pets at home, there’s one more thing that belongs near the top of that list: arranging their care.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s are some of the busiest travel periods of the year, which also makes them some of the busiest times for professional pet sitters.

So, how early should you book holiday pet sitting in Dallas?

The simple answer: as soon as you know your travel plans.

Holiday Pet Care Fills Up Earlier Than You Might Expect

During an ordinary week, there may be more flexibility to accommodate a new request or adjust a schedule.

Holiday weeks are different.

Many clients travel at the same time, which means mornings, midday visits and evenings can fill quickly. We also want to make sure our sitters have realistic schedules that allow them to spend the appropriate amount of time with each pet rather than simply trying to squeeze another stop into an already-full day.

That’s why we encourage our existing clients to submit holiday requests through the client portal as soon as their plans are reasonably certain.

If you’re new to The Pawfessionals, getting started earlier is even more important.

Before your first service, we want to learn about you and your pets, review their routines and care instructions, discuss access to your home, and complete a complimentary Meet & Greet.

You can learn more about our Pet Sitting service and how to get started.

Don’t Wait for Every Travel Detail to Be Perfect

We understand that holiday travel plans can change.

You may know you’re going out of town for Thanksgiving before you’ve purchased the airline tickets. Or you may know the general dates of a Christmas trip without knowing exactly when you’ll leave Dallas.

That doesn’t mean pet care should be an afterthought.

Once your plans are firm enough to request service, it’s better to get your pet-care request in early rather than waiting until the last minute.

For existing Pawfessionals clients, the client portal is the best place to submit your service request and keep your pet’s information current.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Require Extra Planning

Not every busy travel weekend is considered an official holiday for scheduling and fee purposes.

The Pawfessionals’ holiday schedule includes specific dates throughout the year, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

Holiday visits carry an additional holiday surcharge, and holiday services also have a different cancellation policy than standard pet-sitting visits.

You can always check our current Rates & Fees page for the latest holiday dates, fees and cancellation information.

That page is the best source for current pricing because holiday dates and applicable fees can change over time.

Make Sure Your Pet’s Information Is Current

Booking early solves one part of holiday planning. Making sure we’re working with accurate information solves another.

Before leaving town, take a few minutes to review the information in your client portal.

Has your pet’s food changed?

Are there new medications?

Has the veterinarian changed?

Is the door or gate code still correct?

Is there anything different about your pet’s behavior or routine that your sitter should know?

If something has changed, update it before your trip.

We covered this topic in more detail in our guide, Going Out of Town? Make Sure Your Pet’s Information Is Ready Before You Leave.

A few minutes spent reviewing those details before you leave can make a big difference once your pet’s care begins.

Don’t Forget About Home Access

Holiday pet sitting doesn’t work very well if your sitter can’t get through the door.

Before traveling, make sure any keys, lockboxes, building fobs, gate codes and alarm instructions are current and working.

This becomes particularly important during the holidays because resolving an access problem can be more difficult when you’re traveling, visiting family or sitting on an airplane.

If you live in a building with concierge or controlled access, make sure your pet sitter will be able to enter throughout the dates of service, including holidays.

Pet Sitting or Boarding for the Holidays?

For many pets, staying at home with professional pet-sitting visits is the most comfortable option. They get to remain in familiar surroundings while following as much of their normal routine as possible.

For some dogs, boarding may be another option.

The Pawfessionals offers Home Boarding on a limited basis to approved existing clients whose dogs we already know. Because we intentionally keep our boarding group small, holiday boarding availability can be particularly limited.

If you’re deciding between the two, we’ve also written a guide to help: Pet Sitting or Boarding: Which Is Right for Your Dog?

The best choice depends on your individual dog, their routine, personality and comfort level.

What About Cats During the Holidays?

Cats may not need a suitcase, but they still need reliable care while you’re traveling.

Regular visits allow us to provide fresh food and water, clean litter boxes, administer medications when needed, and most importantly, notice changes in your cat’s behavior or routine.

Our Cat Sitting service is designed to let cats remain in the comfort of their own home while their family is away.

We’ve also put together a guide explaining How Often Should a Cat Sitter Visit While You’re Away?

It’s worth reading before deciding on your cat’s holiday schedule.

What If My Holiday Plans Change?

It happens.

Flights change. Family plans move. Trips get shortened or extended.

If your travel plans change, let us know through the client portal as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that holiday services have special cancellation requirements. The Pawfessionals currently requires at least seven days’ notice for holiday cancellations to avoid the full scheduled charge.

Current policies are always available on our Rates & Fees page.

The Best Time to Book? Before Everyone Else Does

There’s no magic date when holiday pet sitting suddenly becomes “too late.”

Availability depends on where you live, what times your pets need care, how many visits you need and how many other clients are traveling at the same time.

But there’s a simple rule that works pretty well:

If you know you’re traveling, request your pet care.

Booking early gives us more opportunity to build a thoughtful schedule around your pet’s normal routine. It also gives you one less thing to worry about as the holidays get closer.

And isn’t having fewer things to worry about one of the best holiday gifts you can give yourself?

Planning Holiday Travel?

The Pawfessionals has provided professional pet care to Dallas families for more than 25 years.

If you’re already a client, submit your holiday pet-care request through your client portal as soon as your travel plans are reasonably certain.

New to The Pawfessionals? Learn more about our Pet Sitting and Cat Sitting services and schedule your complimentary Meet & Greet.

Safe travels, and happy holidays from The Pawfessionals.