Selecting A Professional Pet Sitter

You deserve a vacation, or perhaps you have to go away on business, but you can't take your dog along with you and you don't feel comfortable leaving him in a kennel. Your option is to hire a professional pet sitter. But how do you find a good one? This is, after all, a member of your family that you want cared for right. You want a sitter that is trustworthy. And you want a professional pet sitter who you can be sure will do what they say they will do and at the time you want.

So what's the process of hiring a dog sitter? Well step one is to have them come over to your house. You want to do the interview at your location with your dog or dogs around. And yes, the interview is crucial. Would you hire someone at your business without interviewing them first? Probably not. The same thing applies to hiring someone to care for your pets.

You'll accomplish two things with a thorough interview. First, you'll find out whether or not you and the sitter are comfortable with each other. This will make communication between the two of you more open.

But just as important is it gives you the opportunity to see how this person interacts with your dog. That's why we want the interview at your house. Can you tell if you pets like them? Can you tell if they really like your pets? If they ignore your dog during the interview this might be a red flag. And if your dog is reserved or aggressive around the sitter, this might be another red flag.

So what should the interview cover?

The first thing you will want to do is find out about their experience and background. Find out how long they've been a home pet sitter and if they've ever cared for a breed like yours. Get references, and be sure to call them.

Next you want to make sure the sitter is insured. Part time sitters (like your neighbors or family members) likely are not. This should always factor into your decision. You may choose to ignore it if you wish, certainly it's your decision. But consider it carefully. We recommend you hire a professional pet sitter with insurance.

Ask them how they would handle any emergency that comes up. Is their schedule so full that they couldn't make time to stay with your dog a little longer if necessary? Can they take the dog to your vet in an emergency? And what about if an emergency happens in their family. Do they have someone lined up to cover for them just in case?

Again, dog sitting is a job. If their day is so full, they could very easily get behind schedule. It's not uncommon for a dog sitter to have a packed schedule which can lead to two problems. The first is either running late or shortening visits to keep on schedule. The second is burnout.

Yes interviewing a professional pet sitter can seem like a bit of a hassle, but it's one that will be well worth it while you are gone. Find the right person, one who will care for your dog and who your dog will like, and it will keep your mind at ease during your time away. It will also make it easy for you to select the same pet sitter service the next time you plan a trip.