A Real, Established Professional Field

Pet Sitters International, founded in 1994, has been the leading educational association for this profession for decades, built around a genuine mission of pet-sitting excellence through education, not informal, unstructured pet care.

The Three Core Skill Areas

PSI’s CPPS exam tests three core areas: Pet Care, Health/Sanitation/Safety, and Business Operations — reflecting that this profession genuinely requires competency across animal care, safety protocol, and real business skill, not just fondness for animals.

What Professional Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Actually Involves

This work involves entering clients’ homes, caring for pets across species and needs, managing home security and routines, walking dogs safely, and handling the real responsibility of a client’s trust and their pet’s wellbeing while unsupervised.

What This Course Covers

This course covers species-specific pet care, health and safety protocols, home security and sanitation, dog walking technique, emergency response, and the business operations a professional practice depends on.