Step one: pick the kind of care
Every sitter sets their own rate, so these are the bands you are choosing inside. The exact figure sits on every sitter's profile, ahead of booking.
| Service | Indianapolis rate | Unit | Race weekend fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boarding (dog stays at the sitter's home) | $35 - $65 | per night | You are away or hosting a full house |
| House sitting (sitter stays at yours) | $50 - $100 | per night, national band | Your dog hates new places or the noise of guests |
| Dog walking | $15 - $24 | per hour | You are at the track all day but home at night |
| Drop-in visit | $15 - $25 | per visit, national band | Short breaks on a long race day |
If you are only gone for race day itself, two drop-ins or a walk plus a drop-in cover a dog for $30 to $49. For anything overnight, it is boarding or a house sitter. The national dog sitting cost guide explains how to choose.
Step two: choose where to look
Sitters near the Monon Trail and Broad Ripple Park charge the most, and neighborhoods further from the core run cheaper. All of them stay inside the city's $35 to $65 boarding band.
| Area | Boarding per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Ripple | $45 - $65 | Walks to Broad Ripple Park and the Monon Trail |
| Meridian-Kessler | $45 - $62 | On the Monon corridor, high demand |
| Mass Ave | $42 - $60 | Closer to downtown, apartment sitters |
| Fountain Square and SoBro | $40 - $58 | Monon Trail access for daily walks |
| Irvington | $35 - $52 | Further from the core, lower rates |
| Garfield Park | $35 - $50 | The most affordable pocket |
On race weekend, think about traffic as well as price. The west side around the Speedway gets heavy from early morning, so a sitter on the opposite side of the city from the track, or near your route out of town, makes drop-off easier.
Step three: price the weekend
Three nights, Friday to Monday, at the bottom, median and top of the band. The middle row uses $50 a night, the Indianapolis median in Petme's own rate example for Broad Ripple.
| Nightly rate | Sitter total (3 nights) | Typical platform fee, 11% to 15% | Total on a typical platform | Total on Petme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35 | $105 | $11.55 - $15.75 | $116.55 - $120.75 | $105 |
| $50 | $150 | $16.50 - $22.50 | $166.50 - $172.50 | $150 |
| $65 | $195 | $21.45 - $29.25 | $216.45 - $224.25 | $195 |
A house sitter for the same three nights costs $150 to $300 on the national band, and a typical platform's fee would add $16.50 to $45. On Petme the owner booking fee is 0%, so the sitter's total is the whole bill, and Petme credits cashback after the booking is completed.
Step four: book early, and confirm the plan
Message sitters as soon as you know your plans, ideally in March or April. Race weekend is one of the tightest stretches of the Indianapolis year, along with Thanksgiving week, the stretch from Christmas to New Year and the summer travel season, and the sitters with the best reviews go first. The cost of booking late is rarely a higher rate. It is having nobody you would pick.
Confirm what happens if you come back a day late. Rain delays and Memorial Day traffic are real, so agree an extra night in advance rather than on the day.
Step five: know the weather rules
Late May in Indianapolis can be hot, and the city has rules for dogs kept outdoors. When the animal care ordinance took effect, WRTV reported that dogs had to be brought inside when it is above 90 degrees or a heat advisory is in force, that an outdoor shelter had to be shaded once it reached 80 degrees, and that dogs had to come in at 20 degrees and below in winter, in its 2016 explainer on the rules. Check the current code with the city before relying on the details. For a booking, the point is simple: a good sitter keeps your dog indoors and walks it early on a hot race day. The guide to dehydration and heat stroke in dogs lists the signs to watch.
Winter walks need the opposite care. Road salt is hard on paws, so ask whether the sitter rinses and dries feet after every walk.
Boarding or a sitter at home
Boarding at $35 to $65 is the better value for a social dog. A house sitter keeps a noise-sensitive dog at home, away from race traffic and a house full of guests, which for some dogs is worth the extra. Browse dog boarding in Indianapolis, and see the true cost of pet sitting in Indianapolis for the full city ledger.
Indianapolis dog sitting FAQ
What does dog boarding cost in Indianapolis?
Dog boarding in Indianapolis costs $35 to $65 a night on Petme, with a median of about $50. Broad Ripple and Meridian-Kessler sit at the top, and Irvington and Garfield Park start around $35. Each sitter sets their own rate and shows it on their profile.
How much should I pay a dog sitter per day in Indianapolis?
A day that includes an overnight costs $35 to $65 with a boarding sitter or $50 to $100 with a house sitter. For daytime care only, two drop-ins come to $30 to $50, and an hour-long walk to $15 to $24. Pick the service first, then compare rates inside that band.
How much does a dog sitter cost per hour in Indianapolis?
An hour-long dog walk in Indianapolis costs $15 to $24 on Petme, below most large cities. Shorter walks cost less. A drop-in visit is priced per visit at $15 to $25 rather than per hour.
What are dog sitting day rates in Indianapolis around the Indy 500?
Sitters set their own rates, so race weekend does not change the price automatically, but availability drops fast. A night of boarding still runs $35 to $65, and race day alone with two drop-ins costs $30 to $50. Book weeks ahead for Memorial Day weekend.
Where to go next
Booking happens in the Petme app, where you can message a sitter before you book and agree a backup night. Every sitter has ID verification and a background check, and the Petme Protection Plan can contribute up to $22,000 toward eligible vet costs. Start with find a pet sitter in Indianapolis, and the guide to preparing your dog for a sitter has a packing list.
