Feel good about leaving the pooch at home with Rover.com and DogVacay

Source: Seattle Times Author: Connor Radnovich A year ago, the main competition kennels faced were friends and neighbors who looked after each other's dogs. Today, at least two websites are taking this network of neighbors and turning it into national businesses.

Targeting owners who treat their dogs like family, Rover.com and DogVacay are growing by leaps and bounds.

Since its launch in December, Seattle-based Rover.com has approximately 10,000 hosts and sitters registered in more than 40 states ranging from certified dog trainers to perspective dog owners. The Seattle area is its largest market with more than 700 hosts and sitters.

A couple of years ago, Greg Gottesman found that his yellow Labrador Ruby Tuesday had a cough and scratches after staying in a traditional kennel.

Gottesman thought the poor treatment and $50 per night price tag created an opportunity. As managing director of Madrona Venture Group, he pitched Rover.com when Startup Weekend, a 54-hour proving ground for entrepreneurial ideas, came to Seattle in June 2011.

The idea received top prize; six months later he launched Rover.com in Seattle.

Madrona's entrepreneur in residence Aaron Easterly, a former general manager