Holiday Pet Sitting in Raleigh: When to Book and How to Prepare
The holidays sneak up on all of us. One minute it's Halloween, and the next you're booking flights for Thanksgiving and figuring out who will feed the dog.
Holiday weeks are some of the busiest times of year for pet sitters. Planning early makes things smoother for you and your pets. This guide covers when to book, how in-home sitting compares with boarding, and a checklist to get your dog ready.
The 2026–27 holiday dates to plan around:
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Christmas: Friday, December 25, 2026
- New Year's Day: Friday, January 1, 2027
How early should you book holiday pet sitting?
Rover, the national pet care marketplace, publishes a guide on when to book holiday pet care. It recommends booking 4 to 6 weeks ahead in general. It suggests 8 weeks or more if your pet has higher needs, you have more than one pet, you want the widest choice of sitters, or you'd like to be your sitter's only client. Rover lists Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day among its high-demand holidays.
Here's what those windows look like on this year's calendar:
| Holiday | 8 weeks before | 6 weeks before | 4 weeks before |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving (Nov 26) | Oct 1 | Oct 15 | Oct 29 |
| Christmas (Dec 25) | Oct 30 | Nov 13 | Nov 27 |
| New Year's Day (Jan 1) | Nov 6 | Nov 20 | Dec 4 |
If you're traveling for Thanksgiving, the 4-week mark has just passed, so reach out as soon as your dates are set and we'll tell you what we can cover. For Christmas and New Year's, booking in early November gives you the most flexibility.
Missed those windows? Still reach out. We'll tell you honestly what we can cover. Rover's guide also suggests that if you're booking late, a different type of care may be easier to find.
Why in-home pet sitting works well over the holidays
Lots of pets are happiest at home. They know the smells, the sounds and their favorite nap spots. With in-home pet sitting, they keep their normal routine while you travel.
Here's how our pet sitting works:
- Three 30-minute visits a day, scheduled between 7 AM and 9 PM.
- Feeding, fresh water, potty breaks or litter, medications and playtime, based on your pet's routine.
- Photos and a report card after every visit in the app, so you can check in from Grandma's couch.
- No overnight stays. Our sitters visit during the day and evening but don't stay overnight.
We care for dogs and cats, plus many small and exotic pets. See our cat sitting and exotic and small pet care pages. For current rates, see our pricing page.
Pet sitter vs. boarding: which is right for your pet?
Both can be good choices, and the right one depends on your pet. Here's a fair look at the trade-offs.
| In-home pet sitting | Boarding | |
|---|---|---|
| Where your pet stays | At home, with their own bed and smells | At a facility, with new sights, sounds and other animals |
| Routine | Meals and walks stay close to normal times | Follows the facility's schedule |
| Overnight supervision | Not with visit-based sitting like ours | Usually available |
| Best for | Pets who are anxious in new places, seniors, cats and multi-pet homes | Social dogs who need company around the clock or someone there overnight |
A sitter may be the better fit if your pet gets stressed in new places or in the car, is older, or takes medications on a home schedule. It also helps if you have several pets who are used to being together.
Boarding may be the better fit if your dog needs overnight supervision, struggles with long stretches alone, or enjoys being around other dogs. The AVMA's holiday pet safety tips suggest asking your vet which vaccines a boarding facility may require.
Not sure? Your free meet and greet is a good time to talk it through. If three visits a day isn't the right fit for your pet, we'll tell you.
Your holiday pet sitting timeline
As soon as your travel dates are set
- Request your dates. Use the windows above as a guide.
- New to Hooman on Demand? Sign up online. It's free, and we'll email you an activation link for the app.
- Book your free meet and greet so you, your pets and your sitter can get to know each other. You can book it online or call (984) 212-2524.
3 to 4 weeks before you leave
- Do the meet and greet. Walk your sitter through feeding, meds, hiding spots, house quirks and personality notes.
- Sort out home access. Keys, lockbox codes, garage codes, alarm instructions and Wi-Fi.
- Check your pet's health basics. Make sure vaccines and preventives are up to date, and refill medications.
1 week before you leave
- Stock up. Buy enough food, treats, litter and medication for the trip plus a few extra days in case of travel delays.
- Update your pet's profile in the app. Add feeding amounts, medication times, vet info and emergency contacts.
- Leave clear instructions. Our guide to preparing for a pet sitter walks through what to leave out.
Checklist: how to prepare your dog for a sitter
Use this the week before you leave:
- Food and treats, measured out or with clear amounts written down, plus a few extra days' worth.
- Medications labeled with doses and times, in one spot.
- Leash, harness and poop bags by the door.
- ID tags and microchip info up to date. The AVMA recommends microchipping with current registration.
- Vet name and phone number, plus an emergency contact who lives nearby.
- House rules written down: furniture, crate times, off-limits rooms, doors that don't latch.
- Quirks and fears: doorbells, other dogs, loud trucks, hiding spots.
- Holiday hazards put away. Secure the tree and keep decorations unplugged when you're out. The AVMA notes pets may chew cords.
- A short practice visit, if your dog is shy, so the sitter is a familiar face before you go.
- Your travel details shared so we know how to reach you.
How visits fit your pet's routine
We schedule your three daily visits around your pet's normal times for meals, walks and potty breaks. Keeping their routine steady helps ease the stress pets can feel when you're away. Sitters can also bring in the mail and adjust lights and blinds on request.
Home access and emergencies
We work with whatever is easiest for you: a lockbox, a keyless entry code or apartment access through your leasing office. We follow your alarm instructions. Your vet's information stays on file. If something happens, we contact you and take your pet to their vet.
Thinking about bringing your pet along?
Some families travel with their pets, and that can work well. The AVMA notes a few things to plan for:
- A health certificate from your vet may be needed for interstate travel, even by car.
- Pets should be safely restrained in the car.
If your pet doesn't love car rides or crowded houses, staying home with a sitter can be the calmer choice.
What to look for in a holiday sitter
Whoever you choose, ask about background checks, how they communicate during visits and what happens in an emergency. Our guide on what to look for in a pet sitter has a full list of questions.
At Hooman on Demand, every walker and sitter is interviewed and background-checked before their first visit. Visits are GPS-tracked through the app.
Ready to plan? Book your free meet and greet or call us at (984) 212-2524.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I book a pet sitter for the holidays?
Rover's holiday guide recommends 4 to 6 weeks ahead, or 8 weeks or more for multiple pets, higher-needs pets or the widest choice. For Thanksgiving on November 26, 2026, the 4-week mark was October 29, so reach out as soon as you can. For Christmas, aim for late October to late November.
What does a holiday pet sitting visit include?
Each visit includes feeding, fresh water, potty breaks or litter, medications and playtime, plus photos and a report card in the app. We offer three 30-minute visits a day.
Do you offer overnight pet sitting?
No. We offer daytime and evening visits between 7 AM and 9 PM but don't stay overnight. If your pet needs someone there overnight, boarding or an overnight sitter may be a better fit.
How much does holiday pet sitting cost?
See our pricing page for current rates.
I'm a new client. How do I get started?
Sign up online, activate your app account and book your free meet and greet. Then schedule your holiday visits. Questions? Call (984) 212-2524, or browse our FAQ page.
Sources
- Rover: When to Book Holiday Pet Care (booking windows and high-demand holidays)
- AVMA: Holiday Pet Safety (microchips, decorations, travel and boarding)
Sources were checked in October 2026. Local rules, hours and events can change, so please check the linked sources for updates.