Understand local laws, codes of practice, & the standard of care that Animal Welfare Advisors promote
Confidently handle Pet Emergencies, decrease the Risk of Dog Fights, Illness, Accident, or Escape.
Understand your value, set boundaries, & become an expert Client Communicator & grow a repeat client base.
Become a Pet Professional
Through PetCloud’s Pet Professional Academy
Like our human family members, pets don't come with an instruction book! Completing this course will give you a sound introduction to caring for domestic companion animals in Australia.
Who is this course for?
- Pet Sitters
- House Sitters
- Doggy Day Carers
- Dog Walkers
- Pet Taxi Drivers
Developed in collaboration with Senior Veterinarian Dr Mandy Paterson, this course is designed to be self-paced and completed in about 2 - 3 hours online.
It is designed to equip you with all you need to know while taking care of pets as a Pet Professional.
Price and Delivery Method
Depending on your circumstances, you may also be able to claim this training as a self-education tax deduction.
| Course Code | PCPM100 |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Statement of Attainment |
| Payment Options | Upfront |
| Delivery | Online |
| Price |
$99 |
Course Modules
- Preparing your Home (including a Backyard Checklist)
- Basic Dog Care (Including a Guide to introducing animals)
- Preparing your property & family to care for a dog
- Diet & feeding
- Walking Dogs Responsibly
- Selecting Suitable Dog Breeds to Mind
- Transporting Dogs
- Medical Matters
- Meets & Greets and Customer Service
- Pet Behaviour Challenges
- Communicating Challenges with Owners
- Separation Anxiety
- Making a Calming Home
- Toilet Training
- Basic Cat Care
- Preparing your property & family to care for a cat
- Basic Care for cats
- Introducing a Cat to its holiday home
- Diet & feeding
- Daily care
- Transporting Cats
- Medical matters
- Pet Emergencies
- Signs that an animal is not well
- Steps to help an animal
- Moving an unwell or injured animal
- First Aid for specific problems
- Finding Emergency Contacts on PetCloud
- What to do if a Pet Escapes
- Insurance Claims
- Human Safety
- Sitter Safety & when to turn down Clients
- How to be Assertive
- Dangerous Breeds of Dogs
- Occupational Diseases
- Preventing Muscle Strain
- Suitable Clothing
- Local & State Laws
- Creating a Strong Listing & Marketing it
- Assessment.
Bonus Business Templates
- Weekly Meet & Greet Tracker
- 30 Day Promotion Challenge
- Top Spots to Promote
- Monthly Business Report Template
- Pet Profile Template
After You Finish Study
When you complete this course you will have a much better foundation for understanding how to care for different pets and this is the starting point for a business working with companion animals.
The course is exclusive to PetCloud users only and after completion you get a Certification badge too your profile so that it stands out!
"Doing the Pet Professional Course has given me more confidence as a Pet Minder and I have found that I have gotten more inquiries since doing it and having the badge displayed on my profile. I would definitely recommend it!" - Jolie, Nundah
"Selecting someone in my area who was Doing the Pet Professional Course gave me the peace of mind that I needed, knowing my dog, Lady, was going to be in safe hands" - Kerrie, Greensborough
Pet Professional Course: Frequently Asked Questions
Create a sitter profile on PetCloud, verify your identity, email and mobile number, and complete a national police check if you'll have access to inside clients' homes. Then list your services and prices, add clear photos, and take a short course like PetCloud's Pet Professional course so you understand pet behaviour, safety and emergencies. Read our guide to becoming a pet sitter.
No formal qualification is required to work as a pet sitter or dog walker in Australia. Pet owners do look for training, police checks and reviews when they choose a sitter, so a course helps you stand out and care for pets safely. Check your local council's rules for the number of dogs you can walk or keep at once.
The course covers preparing your home and backyard, basic dog and cat care, diet and feeding, walking dogs responsibly, transporting pets, pet behaviour challenges, separation anxiety, meet and greets and customer service, pet emergencies and first aid for specific problems, what to do if a pet escapes, sitter safety, and local and state laws.
The course costs $99, paid upfront. It's online and self-paced, and takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete.
PetCloud's Pet Professional Training Course was developed with veterinarian Dr Mandy Paterson (BVSc, PhD), who recommends it for pet sitters and dog walkers.
No, it's faster to complete, and gets you earning sooner. It's a high quality, short practical course, co-created with a Veterinarian, not the longer vocational qualification.
It doesn't replace a hands-on pet first aid course, which is worth adding if you care for pets regularly. It covers pet emergencies, the signs an animal is unwell, moving an injured animal, and first aid for specific problems.
You'll be assigned a digital badge on your PetCloud profile, which shows pet owners you've completed the course and demonstrates your commitment to quality pet care standards. You can also download bonus business templates, including a meet and greet tracker and a pet profile template.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim the course as a self-education expense. Check with a registered tax agent.
One of the top ways house sitters, pet sitters and dog walkers get jobs in Australia is PetCloud's Pet Jobs board, where pet owners post the care they need. Sitters can also create a listing on PetCloud with clear photos, their services and the suburbs they cover, and respond quickly to enquiries. Completing the course adds a badge to your profile that helps you stand out.
Sitters on PetCloud set their own prices. PetCloud deducts 20% from the payout to cover hosting, support, advertising, platform maintenance and improvements, and administrative costs. See typical rates on our services and prices page.
Most pet sitters start as sole traders with an ABN. Consider public liability insurance, check your council's rules on dog numbers, create a strong listing, and build repeat clients with great care and regular updates. The course includes business templates to help you get started.
Please Wait
"As a Veterinarian and pet owner, I encourage all Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers to take PetCloud's Pet Professional course.
It has been designed to help you understand pet behaviour, decrease the risk of escape, harm, and dog fights, and understand when to seek emergency help.
Overall, it will boost your pet sitting confidence in understanding the standards of care."
Dr Mandy Paterson,
Current Board Registered
Veterinarian. BVSc, UQ PHD.