Montreal’s pet care scene has grown fast in recent years, but not always in ways that prioritize calm, consistency, or genuine care. Amid a landscape shaped by volume-driven platforms and standardized services, some local operators are choosing a more intentional path, one rooted in trust, fairness, and real relationships. Montreal Dog Club sits firmly in that space, offering a quieter, more considered approach to pet care that puts both animals and the people who care for them first. We spoke with owner Rohit Kulkarni to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Montreal Dog Club is a premium, local pet care company redefining pet sitting and dog care standards in Montreal.
We provide private, home-based pet sitting services, including dog boarding, doggie daycare, and dog walking, with a strong focus on one-on-one, personalized care. Unlike traditional boarding facilities or large pet-sitting apps, Montreal Dog Club works exclusively with certified, vetted local caregivers who operate from calm, real home environments rather than kennels or group settings.
Our model is built around two core principles: exceptional care for pets and fair, ethical treatment of caregivers.
All caregivers in the Montreal Dog Club network are trained, trusted, and selected for their experience with dogs of varying breeds, sizes, ages, temperaments, and special needs. Every pet receives individualized attention, a personalized routine, and consistent communication, including regular text, photo, and video updates for pet parents.
What truly differentiates Montreal Dog Club within the pet industry is our commitment to fairness and transparency. 100% of every payment goes directly to the caregiver, with no commissions, hidden fees, or algorithmic systems. This approach allows us to attract experienced, dedicated professionals, reduce caregiver burnout and turnover, and ensure consistently high-quality care. As a result, pets benefit from calmer, more attentive, and more reliable caregiving experiences.
Montreal Dog Club was created to address common issues in the modern pet care landscape, including overcrowded facilities, underpaid caregivers, and impersonal, high-volume care models. By intentionally staying local, human-scale, and quality-focused, we offer an ethical alternative that prioritizes animal well-being, trust, and long-term relationships.
Today, Montreal Dog Club is proud to be rated 5 stars by pet parents, trusted by families across Montreal, and recognized for setting higher standards in private, home-based pet care. Our work supports local caregivers, raises expectations for pet sitting services, and contributes to a more responsible, compassionate pet industry.
What made you want to do this work?
What inspired us to start Montreal Dog Club was a desire to raise the standard of pet care in Montreal. Too often, we saw dogs being placed in high-volume boarding facilities or handled by app-based services where caregivers were undervalued, overstretched, and underpaid. The result? Pets receiving inconsistent attention, routines being disrupted, and caregivers burned out.
We wanted to create something different. Ethical, personal, and community-focused pet care. A model where every dog gets one-on-one, home-based care from a certified, trusted caregiver, and where caregivers are fairly compensated and supported.
At the heart of it, this work is about building trust, safety, and happiness for pets, for caregivers, and for pet parents.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
The problem we set out to solve was the lack of ethical, high-quality, home-based pet care in Montreal. Traditional pet-sitting apps and boarding facilities often prioritize scale and profit over the well-being of pets and caregivers. Caregivers are frequently underpaid, routines are inconsistent, and dogs can end up stressed or overlooked in group settings.
Montreal Dog Club addresses this by offering private, one-on-one, home-based care with certified, trusted local caregivers, where 100% of every payment goes directly to the caregiver. Our goal is to ensure pets receive consistent, personalized attention, caregivers are treated fairly, and pet parents have complete peace of mind.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Montreal-based pet parents
How does your business make money? How does it work?
***100% of every payment goes directly to our certified pet sitters***
Our focus is on providing ethical, premium, one-on-one pet care and supporting the caregivers who make that possible.
Montreal Dog Club is about community, trust, and quality, rather than extracting revenue from pet parents or caregivers.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
Montreal Dog Club provides home-based, private pet care throughout Montreal. Our certified caregivers are located in multiple neighbourhoods across the city, including Griffintown, Old Montreal and Downtown.
Rather than operating from a single facility, our model is distributed and local, allowing dogs to stay in calm, real homes close to where they live. This approach ensures pets receive personalized, one-on-one care in familiar, low-stress environments while remaining fully connected to their local communities.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
Q: “Will my dog get personalized one-on-one attention, or will they be in a group setting?”
A: At Montreal Dog Club, every dog receives private care in a calm, home-based environment. We never do group boarding, ensuring your dog’s needs and routines are fully prioritized.
Q: “Is my caregiver certified and experienced with dogs like mine?”
A: All our caregivers are certified, vetted, and experienced with different breeds, ages, sizes, and special needs. Your dog’s safety, comfort, and happiness are their top priority.
Q: “Will my dog’s routine be followed exactly?”
A: Yes. Every caregiver follows your dog’s personalized routine. Feeding, walks, exercise, rest, and medication. So your pet feels comfortable, secure, and stress-free.
Q: “How much of my payment goes to the caregiver?”
A: 100% of your payment goes directly to the certified caregiver. No hidden fees, no commissions. Just fair, ethical pay for quality care.
Q: “Can I get updates while my dog is in care?”
A: Absolutely. Caregivers provide regular photos, videos, and messages without needing to be asked, keeping you connected and reassured throughout.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
Best Part: The best part of what we do is seeing dogs thrive in a calm, home-based environment, knowing that each pet is receiving one-on-one, personalized attention from a certified caregiver. It’s incredibly rewarding to see a dog feel safe, happy, and well-cared-for, while knowing the caregiver is respected and fairly compensated. We also love the relationships we build with pet parents, creating trust and peace of mind that their furry family members are in excellent hands.
Worst Part: The hardest part is that demand often exceeds our capacity. Because we focus on one-on-one care and maintain small, trusted networks of caregivers, we can’t serve every pet parent immediately, which sometimes means turning down families who want our services. While it’s a good problem, it shows people value our approach. It can be difficult knowing we can’t help every dog right away.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
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