Home-style care
In-home dog sitting in Singapore, matched to a home your dog fits
Some dogs settle best in a home, not a facility — their own space and routine, or a small home setting with individual attention. We explain how in-home sitting works, where the licensing lines sit, and match you honestly.
- Sitter at your home
- Or your dog in theirs
- Individual attention
- Licensing explained
- A sitter in your home, or your dog in a sitter’s home
- Straight talk on AVS licensing and HDB rules — no grey-area hype
- We route only to operators we can check on the AVS register
Two ways in-home sitting works
“In-home” covers two different arrangements. They feel similar but differ on where your dog sleeps — and on the licensing questions below.
A sitter comes to your home
Your dog stays in its own familiar space, keeps its routine, and a sitter provides feeding, walks and company. Least disruptive for anxious dogs or those with fixed routines — but the sitter is caring for one household at a time.
Your dog stays in the sitter’s home
This is home-based boarding — a small, home-style setting rather than a facility. Often more social and homely, but away from home, and it carries the licensing and HDB considerations we cover below. See our dedicated page.
Considering the second option? Read our full home-based dog boarding page.
The licensing reality — read this first
In-home care is popular and marketplaces like Pawshake and PetBacker are built almost entirely on individual sitters. But Singapore has clear rules worth understanding before you book.
Commercial boarding needs an AVS licence
Anyone running dog boarding as a paid business must hold an AVS pet boarding licence. A sitter regularly boarding dogs for payment out of an HDB flat sits in a licensing and HDB grey zone. HDB also permits only one approved-breed dog per flat under the Housing & Development (Animals) Rules 2024.
We present in-home and home-based options factually so you can make an informed choice, and we route enquiries to licensed operators. We do not encourage unlicensed operation. The exact HDB stance on home-boarding businesses is a moving area, so we err toward licensed, transparent operators. If you would rather compare facility options, see overnight dog boarding.
What in-home sitting costs
In-home sitting is priced per night and varies widely with the sitter’s experience and your dog’s needs. The figures below are indicative marketplace ranges as of July 2026 — always confirm the current rate directly.
See the full price guide| Option | Indicative rate |
|---|---|
| In-home sitter (marketplace) | S$25–100 / night |
| Home-based boarding | within the range above |
| Facility boarding (for comparison) | ~S$52 / day |
| Budget marketplace boarding | from ~S$12 / night |
Indicative ranges from live SG marketplace listings, July 2026. Not a quote.
Is a sitter right for your dog?
In-home sitting shines for some dogs and not others. A quick gut-check before you enquire.
Great fit
Dogs who do best in a calm home with individual attention — anxious dogs, those with fixed routines, or one-dog households who dislike busy group settings.
Consider a facility
Sociable dogs who thrive on company and structure, or dogs needing round-the-clock professional supervision and defined welfare standards.
Always check
The sitter’s experience, whether they are licensed for paid boarding, insurance, and how many other dogs share the home at the same time.
Common questions
How much does a dog sitter cost in Singapore?
Is in-home dog boarding legal in Singapore?
What is the difference between a sitter coming to my home and my dog staying at theirs?
Is a sitter better than a boarding facility?
Does dogboarding.sg provide dog sitters?
Want home-style care for your dog?
Tell us your dog and your dates. We match you with licensed, transparent operators — free.
Still deciding?
See how we check every boarder against the official AVS licensed register before we match you.
How we vet boarders
Boarding a dog from an HDB flat