Start your Own Pet Sitting Business

Now Only

$389

AUD

35% off

$599 AUD

Quick Facts

Delivery Method Online
Professional Certificate
24hrs Suggested Study Time
3 Months Access
Tutor Support
Study On Any Device
1177 Students

Discover how to translate your love of animals into a fun and profitable career.

If you're an animal lover, find out how you can start your own pet sitting business to translate your passion into a profitable career!

In this course, you'll master the essentials of running a cat and dog sitting business. You'll begin with pet care, including nutrition, exercise, first aid, and identification of common diseases. You'll learn the basics of first aid and find out how to administer pills, liquid medications, and injections to an uncooperative cat or dog.

Next, you'll discover how to handle home visits and impress your potential clients. You'll also explore sticky situations that can arise, such as lost pets, pets that die unexpectedly, and pets that need immediate veterinary care.

In addition, you'll delve into finances and explore start-up costs, accounting, fee-setting, business plans, and low-cost marketing. You'll find out how to obtain required insurance, hire employees as your business expands, and entice financial institutions to loan you money.

To complete the picture, you'll identify many opportunities for expanding your pet sitting services. Is a dog-walking service right for you? Can you train puppies? Do you want to look after other animals, including horses?

By the end of this course, you'll have all the knowledge you need to become a professional pet sitter. In addition, you'll see how your pet sitting business can grow to continually challenge and satisfy you.

Courses are delivered to you through expertly executed lessons, online instruction and interaction with like-minded students. Our courses are designed to deliver all of the benefits of studying in a classroom whilst giving you the flexibility to study at a time and place to suit your needs. You can access your classroom 24/7 from any device with an internet connection.

This course has a 3 month duration. You'll complete comprehensive lessons, quizzes and assignments before submitting your final exam at the end of the course to achieve your certificate. Courses must be completed within the 3 month access period.

Are you a bona fide animal fan? Do you love nothing more than a long walk with a furry friend? If so, then a career in pet sitting may be just right for you. In this first lesson, you’ll discover what pet sitters do, what the many benefits are, and how to determine if there’s a strong market for this business in your area. The good news is, you don’t need lots of money to get started—your love for animals, your strong sense of responsibility, and the knowledge and skills you’ll learn in this course will take you far!

In this lesson, you’ll find out how to care for dogs. You’ll see that feeding is more than just putting food in a bowl as you discover how to determine food and water quantities for the dogs you care for. You’ll also learn about some of the ways to help Spot get the exercise he needs without overdoing. We’ll examine the dog’s vital signs—the signposts to health—and review specific conditions dogs sometimes develop, so you’ll always be able to assess the overall health of your canine clients. Finally, we’ll consider two emergency situations that can mean the difference between life and death for a dog and outline what to do if they arise.

In this lesson, you’ll gain an understanding of all the ways that cats are not just little dogs. You’ll see that feline nutritional requirements are unique, and you’ll explore the latest guidelines for ensuring that cats get the nutrition they need. From hair balls and abscesses to more serious conditions, such as thromboembolism and urinary blockages, we’ll examine the particular health concerns you’ll need to be aware of as you care for cats. You’ll learn how to identify these diseases as well as others and evaluate a cat’s vital signs so that you can be alert to emergency situations.

Can you tell a timid dog that’s smiling from an aggressive one that’s baring his teeth? What would cause a cat to use your sofa for a litter box? In this lesson, you’ll gain insights into how dogs and cats think. You’ll gather quick tips on how to protect yourself when working with aggressive cats and dogs and also learn strategies for dealing with common feline and canine behavioral issues you’ll encounter as you care for them.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to recognize and deal with emergencies that can arise in your role as a pet sitter. You’ll delve into what to do with a bleeding pet or if one of your pets in care has an allergic reaction or experiences shock. You’ll find out what to do with conditions such as vomiting and diarrhea, foreign bodies, and eye problems, and what to do during the birthing process. Then we’ll cover poisoning and examine common toxins that pets may encounter. Finally, you’ll learn how to respond to emergencies with a review of how to do CPR in pets and what to include in a first aid kit.

Have you ever gone into an interview totally unprepared for what happened? Did you make a poor impression? This will never happen to you in pet sitting! In this lesson, you’ll find out how to make the best impression to a new client—what to say and how to act. You’ll also consider how to assess the impression prospective clients are making on you—and how to refuse a client. Next, you’ll gain an appreciation of how much you can earn and how many calls you can do in a day. Lastly, we’ll look at how to get organized so you can get the most out of your new business.

In this lesson, you get right into the thick of your new career by finding out what to do during the home visit. You’ll learn about what kind of information to get from your clients in advance and how to assess their needs based on the kind of services they request. Next, you’ll explore all the elements of a home visit, from managing keys and alarm systems to feeding, exercise, and everything you need to do to keep the pets healthy and happy day to day. Finally, we’ll get a first look at some of the little extra things you can do to offer the kind of service that keeps your clients coming back for more.

What happens when a pet you're caring for gets lost? What if the animal needs expensive veterinary care? Will you be stuck with the bill? In this lesson, you'll learn to cope with some of those sticky situations that pet sitters occasionally run into on the job. This includes losing a pet, the sudden death of a pet, as well as handling medical emergencies. You'll also learn how to handle some literally sticky situations—such as how to administer injections, eye and ear drops, and other kinds of medication.

There are countless ways to get clients to call you and book your services. In this lesson, you’ll discover the different tools and techniques you can use to build your clientele. You’ll start with basic marketing materials, and see how to exude a professional image through business cards and brochures. Then, we'll delve into advertising, and consider whether paid advertisements are worth the money. We'll also discuss how to use things like press releases and social media to get free publicity, and whether joining professional organizations can boost your business. Finally, we'll explore ways to establish and deepen your relationship with clients once you've caught their attention—from how to handle that first phone call to special things you can do to keep clients happy and loyal.

At this point, you've developed the skills and knowledge to be a successful pet sitter. But how do you set up shop? In this lesson, you’ll see how to establish your business, including both your actual office and the legal structures you have to have in place to keep your venture stable. You’ll learn about the licenses you'll need and get a good sense of why contracts with customers are so important. You’ll appreciate the different types of insurance, both for the business and you personally. Finally, you’ll learn the ins and outs of employees—when to hire them and what they cost.

Time to hit the books—the financial books, that is. In this lesson, you’ll delve into the world of accounting so you can see where your business is heading financially. You’ll find out how to determine start-up costs as well as the ongoing costs of running a pet sitting business. You’ll also come face to face with the necessity of getting your bills paid, and get some suggestions to ensure your clients pay in a timely fashion. Finally, we'll explore the importance of writing a business plan to set a road map for success and help you convince lenders that your new business is a solid investment.

You’ll discover that pet sitting doesn’t have to be just feeding and watering the cat or dog. As a pet sitter, you are perfectly positioned to add other services. This can include grooming for the animals you look after, cutting their nails, and brushing their teeth. Then there are services such as dog walking, puppy care and training, pet taxi, home sitting, and even poop scooping. You’ll also learn that there are other species to look after, each requiring their own expertise.

Jeff Grognet

Jeff Grognet has been a companion animal veterinarian for 25 years. He was a pioneer in the field of veterinary assistant teaching, developing his first course almost 20 years ago. The overwhelming success of his veterinary receptionist/assistant ... Read more

Read Jeff Grognet's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Online learning is a flexible way to study that fits around your schedule, giving you the freedom to learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. You'll have 3 months to complete the course and can take the multiple-choice questions and final exam whenever it suits you.

If you need help, you can contact us anytime. You can also join the discussion area where you can interact with other students. The discussion area for each lesson is open for the entire duration of the course.

Of course! We offer a 7-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 7 days of enrolling.

We do not offer extensions or transfers for this self-paced course. However, you will have 3 months to complete the course, and if you need to cancel within the first 10 days of enrolment, we offer a money back guarantee.

What people are saying about our courses

This was my first time taking a course online. I truly recommend anyone who is interested in doing this please go for it. This course was very helpful and gave me much motivation to move forward with my pet sitting business. The instructor, Jeff, was very helpful with any questions, comments and concerns that were presented.

Verified Student

I feel much more confident and prepared for my new career in pet sitting
after taking this course. Topics that never entered my mind were addressed
and will help me become successful. I already registered my new company
name, have my first potential new customer. I am working on joining
an association and obtaining insurance. Best of all, I will be following my
heart and working with animals. Thank you very much, Dr. Jeff!

Verified Student

I really enjoyed this course and plan to use this information to begin a pet sitting business. I liked the way the course was organized, starting with the care of pets and then dealing with the business end last. If the order was reversed, I might have felt overwhelmed! The reading supplement will provide more opportunities to focus on areas of interest. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of information and the eloquence of the presentation! Thank you for a great experience.

Verified Student

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The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Start your Own Pet Sitting Business you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.

Ready to get started?

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Our Values

Learn At Your Own Pace

We believe in personalised learning. That's why we provide all the tools and support you need to succeed at your own pace. With flexible learning, you'll stay motivated and retain more information. Plus, you can balance your studies with work and family commitments to make your dreams a reality.

We Won't Break The Bank

Education should be accessible to anyone who wants to learn. That's why we offer some of the most competitive prices in the industry with payments plans for just $25 per week. Investing in your future is a smart choice and doesn’t have to break the bank.

Industry-Led Courses

There's no better way to learn than from experts with years of experience in your field. That's why each of our 200+ industry-led courses are designed to give you a real-life perspective on your industry. With our expert mentors, you'll learn from people who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and who are passionate about sharing it with you.

Get The Personal Support You Deserve

At Vibe Learning, we're real people who are dedicated to providing you with personal support every step of the way. Our industry experts are not only professional and knowledgeable but also incredibly passionate about sharing their expertise with you. With their guidance, you'll gain invaluable insights and practical knowledge to help you succeed.

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Start your Own Pet Sitting Business

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Teaching Children to Read

Quick Facts

Delivery Method Online
Professional Certificate
24hrs Suggested Study Time
3 Months Access
Tutor Support
Study On Any Device
9236 Students

A learning specialist shows you how to raise a successful reader and writer.

Take this opportunity to find out how children really learn to read and write. Explore current research that cuts through the media messages about reading wars and the right way to teach children. Learn by reading stories about children, doing interactive assignments, and exploring the latest in parent and childcare information. You will see everyday children's play with a new eye as you understand how play can connect to literacy.

You'll learn how a child becomes literate from the moment of birth. First, you'll investigate the many things a child's growing mind must do to make sense of the written word and create writing. From there, you'll explore the development of reading and writing from infancy to the early school years. You'll know what problems to look for and how to assist a struggling reader. You will see how you can boost literacy growth during daily routines and child's play.

Gain confidence in your ability to guide a child's literacy development, and take pleasure in seeing how even the littlest events can lead to really big steps in reading and writing success.

In our first lesson, I'll introduce you to the course philosophy and our objectives. Then I'll provide examples and anecdotes to show you some of the many ways we all interact with reading in our daily lives. We'll explore the history of reading instruction so that you'll understand where research has taken us.

Just as a child communicates with us before using words, young children initiate many literacy-related activities before they actually read and write. In this lesson, I'll reveal the language skills that have the greatest impact on a child becoming a successful reader and writer. You'll end this lesson with a new understanding of the complexities of language development. You'll also see any child's language skills in a new light.

We all get excited when children learn their ABCs. But what role does this skill play in becoming a reader and writer? And what does it really mean to know your ABCs? Today we'll uncover the differences between rote memory, knowledge of sounds and symbols, phonemic awareness, and how all these things come together for the early reader.

While attention and literacy may seem like big words for little people, the way a child's brain is attending to print in his world has a huge impact on reading, writing, and learning. In today's lesson, you'll learn about different types of attention and the importance of having an organized thinking system in order to learn about print. These discoveries may shed some light on your thinking, too!

Today you'll discover what's happening when a child works to store information in memory. By the end of this lesson, you'll realize how important it is to store information in some sort of order, and also how to get things out of memory again once they're put away. You'll then be able to watch a young reader with a new awareness of how this skill impacts her success.

You'll understand what understanding is all about in today's lesson. How does a child make sense of what you read to him or what he reads to himself? In this lesson, we'll explore the many skills a child needs to understand text. Just because a child can say a word doesn't mean he knows the word when reading it. After this lesson, you'll know why!

While we'd never want or expect a child under two to read, much pre-literacy work goes on during the early years before a child is really even talking. In today's lesson, you'll learn how infants grow to become readers. We'll explore the many emerging literacy processes that occur during the first two years of life. Then I'll fill you in on numerous activities that you can do during this period to build literacy skills. Put away the flashcards—these activities are way more fun!

Today we'll explore the sequence of skills that brings toddlers and preschoolers to the threshold of becoming true readers and writers. You'll learn why you should read that favorite story one more time, with enthusiasm! In fact, once you understand how much this repetition is helping your child's literacy, you'll want to read it a dozen more times. I'll provide examples of pre-writing and reading in this lesson, too.

Research shows that we all learn literacy skills in pretty much the same order. In today's lesson, I'll show you that order, and then I'll explain why it's okay if your child doesn't meet these milestones by a specific age. This lesson will guide you through the evolution of reading and writing letters, words, sentences, and then complex ideas.

How do all of these pieces come together to produce an able reader? By the end of this lesson, you'll know what fluency looks like when a young child is successfully reading. We'll also look ahead to a child's future growth. Literacy skills continue to develop so a child can be successful with literacy activities throughout school and life. Today's lesson will help you experience fluent reading through the eyes and mind of a blossoming reader.

Now that you know all about the mental processes and learning sequences that lead to becoming a writer, I'll show you many activities that demonstrate how the complex skill of writing emerges. You'll learn what to watch for and how to assist a child who's becoming a successful scribe.

What's going on when a child isn't reading or writing when you expect him to? By the end of this lesson, you'll know how to assist a child who struggles with literacy learning and how to locate resources for assistance. We'll also discuss learning differences to help you enjoy the strengths of a child who may be a little slower to master reading and writing than her peers.

Kt Paxton

Kt (Katie) Paxton is a certified teacher with a Master's Degree in Education focusing on Learning and Technology. She has more than 15 years of classroom experience and has been an online instructor since 2003. She also owned and managed a home da... Read more

Read Kt Paxton's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Of course! We offer a 7-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 7 days of enrolling.

What people are saying about our courses

I had a wonderful time taking this course. I learned a lot about how children become fluent readers and writers. I have started to put my new knowledge to practice with my six year old. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

Verified Student

I have an almost 3 yr. old and almost 1 yr. old. We are planning to home school so I wanted to take a course to help me identify the steps of literacy development. What a great course. I LOVED KT and plan to take more of the courses that she offers. Thanks for this. My children will definitely benefit from it and the best part is I didn't have to leave home!!

Verified Student

I have to say that I was nervous about taking an online course, but this course was user-friendly, informative, and very enjoyable. The lessons were just the right length and presented in a way that really mimicked a classroom atmosphere...I was really impressed by the practical activities suggested and the useful supplementary materials. I have a wealth of new knowledge to help me with my future teaching and parenting.

Verified Student

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The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Teaching Children to Read you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.