Leinentausch

Leinentausch operates as an online platform in Germany and Austria, connecting dog owners with private, vetted dog sitters. The company was established in August 2013 by Vanessa Lewerenz-Bourmer. A trained dog educator and owner herself, Lewerenz-Bourmer identified the challenge of finding suitable, non-kennel care for pets, which prompted the creation of the platform. Her professional background includes a period at Siemens and the dating startup eDarling before she ventured into entrepreneurship.

The business functions as a marketplace, providing an alternative to traditional dog boarding facilities and hotels. It caters to dog owners who require various services, from short-term dog walking and daytime care to longer-term holiday supervision. The platform’s business model is based on a commission fee, retaining 15% of the transaction value for each successfully arranged booking. Significant milestones for the company include participation in the You Is Now and Axel Springer's Plug & Play accelerator programs, followed by securing a mid-six-figure funding round from the Forum Media Group in early 2015. On its platform, the company notes that it has evolved and is now part of Gudog.

Leinentausch's service is designed to give owners peace of mind by ensuring their dogs are in a home environment. Dog sitters on the platform range from dog lovers to semi-professional handlers and trainers. To build trust and ensure quality, all potential sitters are required to pass a basic knowledge test, and they can choose to have their identity verified. The platform facilitates the entire process, from searching for a sitter via postal code to contact, booking, and secure payment processing. Sitters create detailed profiles, and owners create profiles for their dogs, allowing for a good match based on the dog's needs, temperament, and the sitter's environment. An included benefit is the coverage of emergency veterinary costs during a stay, and sitters have access to advice from professional dog trainers. Keywords: dog sitting, pet care marketplace, dog boarding alternative, private dog sitters, Gassi-Service, Hundebetreuung, Urlaubsbetreuung Hund, Tagesbetreuung Hund, dog care platform, pet sitting Germany, Vanessa Lewerenz-Bourmer, Gudog, pet services, dog walking, in-home dog care, pet-tech, peer-to-peer pet care, animal care, Hundesitter-Plattform, Dogvacay model