The answer depends on the service type and the time of year.
General guidance
| Service | Recommended lead time | |---|---| | Dog walking (regular) | 48–72 hours | | Drop-in visit | 24–48 hours | | Weekend boarding | 1–2 weeks | | Holiday boarding | 4–6 weeks | | Extended stay (7+ days) | 6–8 weeks |
Why bookings fill early
Verified sitters on ForRico manage limited capacity deliberately. Popular sitters — particularly those with high review counts or who specialise in medication-aware care — often fill their availability weeks in advance.
Peak periods in Berlin
- School holidays (Ferien): Berlin's school holiday calendar drives a significant spike in demand. Book 4–6 weeks ahead for any care that overlaps with a holiday period.
- Christmas and New Year: The highest-demand period of the year. Book as early as possible — ideally in October.
- Summer (July–August): High demand from families travelling. Book 4+ weeks ahead.
What to do if you need care urgently
Search with a short date range and message multiple sitters simultaneously. The platform supports parallel enquiries. If no sitter is available, contact support and they can help identify options.