I understand you’d like a comparison between hiring a professional pet sitter and using a traditional pet boarding kennel. The key differences are:
1. **Environment**: A pet sitter cares for your pet in your home (familiar, low-stress), while boarding places your pet in a shared facility (new, potentially stressful).
2. **Attention**: A sitter provides one-on-one, personalized care following your instructions. Boarding involves group management with diluted individual attention.
3. **Health & Safety**: Home care minimizes exposure to other animals’ illnesses. Boarding carries a higher inherent risk of disease transmission in a shared space.
4. **Routine**: A sitter maintains your pet’s normal schedule. Boarding requires your pet to adapt to the facility’s schedule.
5. **Additional Benefits**: A live-in or visiting sitter provides home security benefits (collecting mail, alternating lights). Boarding offers no such home care.
6. **Cost**: Boarding may seem cheaper initially, but personalized sitter services often provide better value, especially for multiple pets or those needing special care.
The best choice depends on your pet’s personality: anxious, elderly, or medically needy pets typically thrive better with in-home care, while extremely social, energetic dogs might enjoy a high-quality boarding facility with ample supervised play.