Wag Review

Wednesday, December 4th

2024 Pet Sitter Service Reviews

Wag

• Free to join
• Cat and dog specialization
• Dog walking app
• Options for in-home sits or check ins
• GPS tracking for dog walks
• "A” rating from the BBB

Wag has been open since 2014 and offers a variety of pet care services for dogs and cats specifically. When it comes to dog walking, Wag is a particularly popular choice. It offers a convenient solution for busy pet owners who cannot always provide the necessary attention and exercise for their dogs. If you have a kitty baby instead, Wag allows users to choose from a variety of professional check-ins or in-home pet sitters in their area. The service includes features like training for sitters and personalized report cards after each interaction, which makes Wag stand out as a free-to-browse option.

5 types of sitting services

To get started with Wag, you can choose from the 5 sitting options: walking, drop-ins, sitting, boarding, and training. Or, you can scroll down on the landing page to enter your local zip code to begin browsing. This will take you to a variety of listings that tell you when a sitter last provided services through Wag, whether or not the individual has completed a background check, and how highly-rated the sitter is in terms of their pet sitting experience. Further, you can read a short blurb about the sitter and their specialties while you browse. The first page of listings is available whether or not you have an account, but if you want to keep browsing, you will be asked to create one with Wag.

Top service for dog walking

One of the highlighted services on this website is the Wag dog walking and pet sitting app. It's designed to provide convenience for busy dog owners who may not always be available to give their dogs the exercise they need. Wag allows users to choose from a pool of professional dog walkers and pet sitters in their area. The service also offers insurance coverage, live GPS tracking during walks, and background checks on walkers. The app also provides personalized report cards after each interaction with a caregiver, including details as the distance walked, time spent, and whether the dog relieved itself.

Security checks in place

To ensure safety, Wag requires every new hire to undergo a criminal background check and a pet care knowledge test. However, site users may not always have the option to choose who takes care of their pets when looking for short-notice pet sitters. Also, the availability of the service may also be limited in rural areas where fewer local pet sitters are available to begin with.

Middle-ground ratings from users

In terms of user experience and customer satisfaction, Wag is a great middle-ground option. The site has an average star rating of 3 out of 5 stars and a great "A” rating from the Better Business Bureau. The reviews in general were mixed with some complaints about customers regarding the boarding services for pets or that they struggled with extra charges for services they didn't want. On the other hand, many reviewers loved their pet sitters from Wag. Though, these are primarily reviews for the dog-walking service, and not many mentioned the services for cats.

A competitive option, but not best in class

Overall, Wag is a decent middle-ground service. Although users may not have complete control over their service provider, and the app may not be suitable for those in small towns, the reviews note that someone looking for a trustworthy dog walker can definitely trust Wag for this service. While we'd love to see more options for exotic pets or even a bird or bunny, Wag is worth looking into for your dog or cat family members.