How much does it cost to have someone watch your dog in Australia?

Drop-in visits (30–60 minutes): $28–$52 depending on city. Full-day sitting: $42–$75. Overnight in-home sitting: $68–$125. The national TruePath average for overnight sitting is $88 (April 2026). Peak period (Christmas, Easter) rates typically run 25–50% above base. When comparing platforms, add Mad Paws' service fee of up to 18% to their listed rates.

Is it cheaper to board a dog or use a dog sitter?

Traditional boarding kennels in Australian cities typically charge $45–$85 per night. Home-based dog sitters on TruePath average $88 per night for in-home sitting and slightly less for sitter's-home boarding. In-home sitting (sitter at your house) tends to cost more than either kennels or sitter's-home arrangements, but provides the lowest disruption for the dog. See our guide to in-home sitting vs kennels for a full comparison.

What is the difference between a dog sitter and a dog walker?

A dog walker provides structured exercise — a defined walk, typically 30–60 minutes. A dog sitter provides broader care: staying with the dog for extended periods (a full day, overnight, or multiple nights), managing feeding and medication, and providing companionship when the owner is away. Most TruePath sitters also do walks as part of their sitting bookings — a day of sitting typically includes at least one walk.

How far in advance do I need to book a dog sitter for Christmas?

At least 6–8 weeks before Christmas — which means booking by late October or early November for December 24–January 1. In high-demand inner suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne, popular sitters are fully booked for Christmas by early November. If you've missed the window, check TruePath's availability for your specific dates — we sometimes have late additions, but don't count on it.

Dog sitting

How Much Does a Dog Sitter Cost in Australia? (2026)

Dog sitters in Australia charge $30–$55 for daytime care and $75–$120 per night for overnight stays. Here's a city-by-city breakdown with TruePath platform data, plus how sitting differs from boarding.

By atticus · 5 min read · Last updated 17 May 2026

Dog sitters in Australia charge $30–$55 for daytime sitting visits and $75–$120 per night for overnight stays in 2026. The national TruePath average for an overnight dog sitting booking in April 2026 was $88 — with Sydney at the higher end ($95–$115) and Adelaide and Hobart at the lower end ($72–$85).

What dog sitting includes — and the different types

"Dog sitting" covers several distinct service types, each with different pricing:

Drop-in visit (30–60 min). A sitter comes to your home, spends time with your dog, takes them outside, feeds them, and leaves. Used when you're away for a day but not overnight. This is the most affordable per-visit option.

Full-day sitting (daytime only). The sitter stays at your home or takes your dog to their home for the full working day. Covers 6–10 hours without overnight.

Overnight sitting at your home. The sitter sleeps at your home. Your dog stays in their own environment. More expensive due to the sitter's full evening and morning commitment.

Overnight sitting at the sitter's home. Your dog goes to the sitter's home. Usually slightly cheaper than in-home sitting — the sitter doesn't need to travel to and stay at your property.

National pricing by service type

Area	30 min	60 min	Overnight
Sydney	$38–$52 (drop-in)	$55–$75 (full day)	$90–$125 (in-home)
Melbourne	$34–$48 (drop-in)	$50–$68 (full day)	$82–$115 (in-home)
Brisbane	$30–$44 (drop-in)	$46–$62 (full day)	$75–$108 (in-home)
Perth	$30–$44 (drop-in)	$45–$60 (full day)	$74–$104 (in-home)
Adelaide	$28–$40 (drop-in)	$42–$56 (full day)	$70–$96 (in-home)
Canberra	$32–$46 (drop-in)	$48–$64 (full day)	$78–$108 (in-home)
Hobart	$27–$38 (drop-in)	$40–$54 (full day)	$68–$92 (in-home)
National average	$34 (drop-in)	$52 (full day)	$88 (in-home)

TruePath platform data, April–May 2026. All prices are all-in — no service fee added at booking. Ranges reflect 10th–90th percentile across all sitters in each city.

Sitter's-home overnight rates are typically 10–15% less than the in-home rates shown above.

Why sitting costs more than walking

Dog sitting costs more than dog walking because:

Time commitment is longer. A 30-minute walk is 30 minutes. An overnight sit is 14–16 hours of the sitter's time (evening through morning) in or at your home.

Responsibility is broader. A walker is responsible for the dog during a defined window. A sitter is responsible for the dog's full routine — feeding, medication, toileting, overnight disturbance — without the owner present.

In-home sitting displaces the sitter. An in-home sitter is spending their evening and night at your property rather than their own home. That displacement cost is built into the rate.

Holiday and peak pricing

Christmas (mid-December through early January) is the most consistent demand spike in the dog sitting market. Every working owner who travels over Christmas needs dog care simultaneously. The practical result: sitter availability in all major cities drops sharply by late November, and rates reflect the imbalance.

What to expect at peak periods:

25–50% rate surcharge for Christmas Eve through New Year's Day
Additional surcharges on ANZAC Day, Easter (especially Easter Saturday–Monday), and state-specific public holidays
Booking windows extending 6–10 weeks ahead for popular sitters in inner suburbs

If you need sitting for Christmas 2026: book in October.

Comparing TruePath to Mad Paws for sitting

Mad Paws is the largest sitting platform in Australia by sitter count. Their pricing follows the same pattern as their walking product: the displayed rate is the sitter's asking rate, and a 6–18% service fee is added at checkout.

For a $90 overnight booking on Mad Paws at 16% service fee: you pay $104.40. TruePath's $88 national average for overnight sitting is already all-in — cheaper, and includes GPS tracking for any daytime walk component and a platform-verified sitter.

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