# Social Media Dog Sitters Stayhound Uses Facebook to Connect Dog Owners With Potential Sitters By Michael Hines | Published 2011-11-21 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stayhound References: [springwise](http://www.springwise.com/lifestyle_leisure/social-media-platform-dog-sitting-service/) & [stayhound](http://www.stayhound.com/) Stayhound is a new startup created to connect dog owners taking lengthy trips with [dog sitters in their area](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/decentralized-pet-care). The service is designed to help dog owners cut the costs incurred of boarding their pet in an animal hotel. Letting your pet stay with a stranger for a weekend can be a tough pill to swallow, which is why Stayhound tries to make things as familiar as possible. The site makes all users log in via [Facebook](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/puppy-platoon) so that owners can check out the online activities of their potential sitter. Owners can check out sitters in their area, read user reviews and check the availability of sitters. All payments are processed between the two parties as Stayhound is still currently in beta. The service is currently only available in Portland, but the team is looking to expand to other cities soon. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.5/10 - Popularity: 6% | Activity: 30% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Pets](https://www.trendhunter.com/pets) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Social Media Pet Services:** New startups are using social media to connect pet owners with various services, such as sitters, walkers, and groomers. - **Trust and Safety for Pet Services:** As more pet owners seek services online, there is an opportunity for companies to develop trust and safety measures to ensure the well-being of furry family members. - **Localized Pet Services:** Startups that offer localized services, such as Stayhound's city-specific dog sitting service, can disrupt the traditional pet care industry and offer affordable alternatives for pet owners. ### Who This Affects Most - **Pet Care Services:** The pet care industry can incorporate social media and technology to offer a more streamlined and personalized service, as well as develop trust and safety measures for their customers. - **Travel Industry:** Travel companies can benefit from partnering with social media pet service startups to offer travel packages that also include pet sitting or pet-friendly accommodations. - **Technology Industry:** As more pet care services incorporate technology, there is an opportunity for tech companies to develop solutions that improve the connectivity and safety of online pet services. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Canine-Centric Meetup Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canine-centric-meetup-app.md) - [Connective Canine Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dog-park-app.md) - [On-Demand Dog Daycare](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dogdrop.md) - [Senior Dog Adoption Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trusted-housesitters.md) - [Local Care Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kidsit.md) - [Parental Pet Networks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/petters.md) - [Dog Matchmaker Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pegada.md) - [Pet Community Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/petdiary.md) - [Traveler-Focused Pet Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mars-3.md)