When we travel, Barnaby, our 72-pound Goldendoodle, stays with Ally of Dogsitting by Ally, who has looked after him for about five years. When Ally is booked, which happens a lot around holidays, we use Rover.com as our backup. Here is how both work for us, what they cost, and when we would choose each.
Our First Call: Dogsitting by Ally
Barnaby stayed with Ally while we went to Las Vegas for Christmas. Here is how that stay went.
A Real Social Schedule
Instead of sitting in a crate watching the clock, Barnaby spent his days with other dogs. There were wrestling matches and playful paw-swats around 10:00 AM, and group naps around 2:00 PM. Then came what Ally calls a sunset “howl session,” which apparently gets the whole group going. Regular social time like that matters for a dog’s mental state as much as the physical exercise does. It’s also the kind of stimulation that’s hard to replicate in a traditional kennel. Most just keep dogs separated and let them out for scheduled bathroom breaks.
Sticking to His Diet
Barnaby’s on a grain-free diet, and Ally followed his meal plan exactly — not a paw out of place. She stuck to his usual feeding routine too, timing and all. That consistency was one of the things that stood out most about the stay. Boarding options that skip individualized meal planning can be a real gamble for a dog with a sensitive stomach. Having someone follow our exact plan was reassuring.
Coming Home Clean, Paw Prints and All
On his last day, before we picked him up, Ally took him to a professional groomer. Bath, blow-dry, paw trim, ear cleaning — the works. We walked in from a long drive back from Vegas. We were expecting the usual smell of a dog who’s been outside for a week, and instead got a clean, calm Goldendoodle. Coming home to a freshly groomed dog instead of a matted one made that drive-in a lot more pleasant.
What Ally Charges
For Barnaby, a 72-pound Goldendoodle, Ally charges about $90 a night. A few things change that number, so ask her for a quote before you book:
- Holidays: she charges a premium rate, so ask about it if your trip falls over a holiday like ours did.
- Pickup and drop-off: if she picks up or drops off your dog, there’s an extra fee.
- Dog size: pricing can be different for a large dog versus a small one.
Barnaby has been staying with Ally for about five years, and for us the price is worth having someone who already knows him.
Would We Use Ally Again? A Paw-sitive Verdict
Yes — paw-approved, no question. It costs more than a standard kennel. But between the social time, the diet consistency, and the grooming before pickup, it’s worth the difference. Especially if you’re leaving your dog for more than a night or two.
What We’d Tell Other Vegas-Bound Dog Owners
A couple of things made a real difference for us, if you’re thinking about something similar. We did a meet-and-greet before booking, so Barnaby had already met Ally and sniffed around the yard before we ever left him there — worth the extra step. We also sent his feeding schedule in writing instead of just explaining it at drop-off, since that’s one less thing for anyone to misremember three days in. And the grooming before pickup wasn’t something we specifically asked for, but it made the handoff back to us so much easier that we’d request it every time now.
Our Backup: Rover.com
How We Actually Use It
Rover connects pet owners with local sitters and walkers: you build a profile for your dog, browse sitters in your area, read their reviews, and book and pay through the app. We treat it strictly as our plan B. Ally knows Barnaby’s routine and our family; Rover is what we turn to when her calendar is full.
Before any booking, we do a meet-and-greet with the sitter. Non-negotiable for us. We watch how Barnaby responds, and we walk through his food, his quirks (he’s a jumper when he’s excited), and where we keep his leash. Photo updates through the day are a big deal in our house, since our daughters look forward to checking on Barnaby while we’re away.
What It Costs
In our part of LA, we’ve seen these ranges hold pretty steady:
- Drop-in visits: $20–$30
- Dog walking: $20–$25
- House sitting (they stay at your place): $60–$90/night
- Boarding (you drop Barnaby at their place): $50–$80/night
Overnight rates on Rover can come in around or a little under the roughly $90 a night Ally charges for Barnaby, and noticeably less than the boarding kennels near us, which run $70–$120 a night for a much less personal setup.
How Our Rover Stay Went
The last time we used Rover was for a family vacation when Ally was already booked. The sitter was great, and we had no problems at all. Barnaby was well taken care of, and that’s really all you want from a backup plan, and it’s why we’d book Rover again the next time Ally’s calendar is full.
Where It Falls Short of Ally
Sitter quality on Rover varies. You’re reading reviews and hoping, not relying on years of history the way we do with Ally. Booking a familiar sitter again helps, but if your favorite is unavailable, you’re vetting someone new each time. For a one-off backup that’s fine; it’s not a replacement for a sitter who already knows your dog by name.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Book
- Book at least a few weeks out around holidays: the sitters with good reviews fill up fast.
- Write out feeding times, meds, and any quirks in the notes rather than assuming the sitter will ask.
- Ask upfront how often they’ll send updates, so you’re not wondering on day one.
FAQs
Is Rover safe? Sitters go through a background check and the platform carries insurance, which was enough for us to feel comfortable after a solid meet-and-greet.
Can you book last-minute? Sometimes, but availability drops fast. We’ve had better luck booking at least a couple weeks ahead.
Would we use it as our primary sitter? No. Ally’s still our first call. Rover is the reliable backup, not the plan A.
For a trip where Ally isn’t available, Rover has been a fine plan B: not as personal, but reliable enough that we don’t hesitate to book it when we need to.
