5 Time To Pet Features You’re Probably Not Using (But Should Be)

You signed up for Time To Pet. You figured out the basics. Clients book, sitters get notified, invoices go out.

But here’s the thing: you’re probably using maybe 40% of what Time To Pet can actually do.

I get it. Learning new software features takes time you don’t have. The tutorials pile up unwatched. The help docs remain unread. You’ve got dogs to walk and clients to serve.

So let me save you the homework. Here are five Time To Pet features that most pet sitters overlook, but that can seriously change how you run your business.

1. Automated Text Message Reminders

Most people know Time To Pet can send email reminders. Fewer realize you can automate text messages too.

Think about how you communicate in real life. When’s the last time you actually read a promotional email within 24 hours? Now think about texts. You probably check those within minutes.

What it does:

You can set up automatic text messages to clients for things like upcoming service reminders, visit confirmations, and schedule changes. The messages go out without you touching anything.

Why it matters:

Text open rates hover around 98%. Email? About 20% if you’re lucky. If you want clients to actually see your reminders, texts win every time.

How to set it up:

Go to Settings → Company Settings → Notifications. You’ll find options for both email and SMS notifications. You can customize the timing (how far in advance reminders go out) and the message content.

Pro tip: Keep automated texts short and practical. Save the personality for emails where people expect longer messages.

2. Custom Client Flags

This one is hiding in plain sight, and almost nobody uses it well.

Client flags let you add visual tags to client profiles that your whole team can see at a glance. Instead of burying important notes in a text field nobody reads, you can create bright, color-coded flags that jump off the screen.

What it does:

You create custom flags for whatever categories matter to your business, then assign them to clients. When anyone on your team views that client, the flags appear prominently.

Why it matters:

Every business has clients who need special handling. Maybe someone always tips in cash. Maybe another client gets anxious if you don’t send extra photos. Maybe a certain household has a tricky alarm system or an aggressive neighbor dog.

Flags make sure that critical information doesn’t get lost in a sea of profile notes.

Ideas for flags:

• “VIP Client” (high spenders or referral sources)
• “Extra Photos Please” (clients who want more updates)
• “Difficult Access” (tricky lockboxes, gates, or alarm systems)
• “Cash Tips” (so sitters know to expect it)
• “New Client” (first few visits, extra attention needed)
• “Flight Risk” (clients who’ve hinted at leaving or complained)

How to set it up:

Go to Settings → Client Settings → Client Flags. Create your flags with names and colors. Then add them to individual client profiles.

3. Staff Scheduling Blocks

If you have a team, this feature is a game changer that most people completely ignore.

Scheduling blocks let you set recurring availability and unavailability for each staff member. Instead of manually checking who’s free every time you book a service, the system already knows.

What it does:

Each sitter can have defined work hours, days off, vacation time, and blocked periods built right into the system. When you try to assign a service, Time To Pet shows you who’s actually available.

Why it matters:

No more texting your team to ask who can take a Tuesday afternoon walk. No more accidentally booking someone who’s on vacation. No more scheduling conflicts that make you look disorganized.

It also helps with capacity planning. You can see at a glance whether you have enough coverage for a busy holiday weekend, or whether you need to bring in extra help.

How to set it up:

Go to each staff member’s profile and look for the Schedule or Availability section. You can set regular weekly availability (like “available Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm”) plus one-time blocks for vacation or personal days.

Pro tip: Ask your sitters to update their own availability weekly. Time To Pet allows staff members to manage their own schedules, which saves you from being the middleman.

4. Report Card Templates

You’re probably already sending visit report cards. But are you using templates?

Most people type out every report card from scratch, or copy-paste from old ones. Templates let you create standardized formats that your team fills in quickly and consistently.

What it does:

You create report card templates with pre-set fields, checkboxes, and text prompts. When a sitter completes a visit, they fill in the template rather than writing free-form notes.

Why it matters:

Consistency. When every report card follows the same format, clients know exactly what to expect. They can quickly scan for the information they care about (Did Fluffy eat? How was the walk? Any concerns?).

It also makes your team faster. Instead of staring at a blank screen wondering what to write, they just fill in the blanks.

Template ideas to include:

• Food consumed (full bowl, half, refused)
• Water refreshed (yes/no)
• Bathroom business (normal, soft stool, accident, etc.)
• Energy level (playful, calm, sleepy, anxious)
• Walk/exercise duration and notes
• Medication administered (if applicable)
• Overall mood
• Special notes or concerns
• Photo attachment prompt

How to set it up:

Go to Settings → Service Settings → Report Cards. You can create different templates for different service types (a dog walking template might differ from an overnight template).

5. The Client Portal (And Teaching Clients to Use It)

This one isn’t exactly hidden. But it’s wildly underutilized because most pet sitters don’t actively teach their clients to use it.

The client portal is where your clients can view their upcoming services, request new bookings, update their pet information, see invoices, and make payments. All without emailing or texting you.

What it does:

It gives clients a self-service hub for everything related to their account with you.

Why it matters:

Every time a client messages you to ask “When’s my next visit?” or “Can I book for next weekend?” or “What’s my current balance?”, that’s time out of your day. The client portal answers all of those questions without your involvement.

Clients who use the portal are also stickier. They’re invested in the system. Their information is all in one place. Switching to another pet sitter means starting over somewhere else.

The problem:

Most clients don’t know the portal exists, or they forget about it after onboarding.

The fix:

Actively promote the portal. Mention it in your welcome sequence. Include a link in your email signature. When clients ask questions that the portal could answer, gently redirect them: “Great question! You can see all your upcoming services anytime in your client portal. Here’s the link.”

How to set it up:

The portal is already built into Time To Pet. Go to Settings → Client Portal to customize what clients can see and do. Then focus on promoting it to your existing clients through email or during visits.

The “I Don’t Have Time” Objection

I know what you’re thinking. “This all sounds great, but I don’t have time to learn new features.”

Here’s the truth: you don’t have time NOT to learn them.

Every minute you spend manually texting reminders, checking sitter availability, or answering questions the portal could handle is a minute you could spend on revenue-generating activities.

Set aside one hour this week. Pick ONE feature from this list. Set it up. Let it run.

Then next week, do another one.

In a month, you’ll have systems working for you that you didn’t have before. That’s how businesses scale.

[Related: Pet Sitting Business Automation: The Complete Guide →]

Want Help Getting Time To Pet Dialed In?

Our team includes Time To Pet specialists who can audit your setup, configure features you’re not using, train your staff, and even migrate your data if you’re switching from another platform.

If you’d rather hand this off than DIY it, book a Discovery Call and let’s talk about what Time To Pet could really be doing for your business.