9 Tips for hiring a Pet Sitter

Do you have your pet sitter lined up? Perhaps you’re looking for the first time. How does a caring pet parent find that perfect match for their pet?

When researching you want to ask yourself one main question: What do I need from a pet sitter? Yes YOU! Remember – your future sitter or walker will be come YOUR back-up. Do you need a sitter who is available seven days a week, 365 days a year? Do you need someone who can give insulin shots if needed? Will a professional service give you more peace of mind, or are you happy with a friendly neighbor?

Finding a great sitter can be as easy as asking friends, co-workers & family. They can be a fantastic resource and first hand testimonials from someone you trust can be invaluable. Also – check out online reviews from trusted websites. Then set up an initial meeting with your top pick. Cost should not factor into finding a great sitter or walker. In reality, you’re looking at a difference of a few dollars per day anyway. Although not always true, you may find that the more elite services provide extra services to you & employ a more qualified team.

Make sure you’re comfortable not only with how the sitter conducts themselves at the meeting, but also it the professionalism at which they approach you as a new client. (Are your calls or emails returned promptly? Did the sitter ask lots of questions, etc.)

To help you make an informed decision, here are a list of 9 topics & questions you should cover with ANY sitter or walker who you are considering hiring. Remember – anyone can “love” pets, but that doesn’t mean they have the responsibility, dedication, and schedule-flexibility to be your go-to pet back-up.

1. The Staff’s Experience: Ask, “Are you a pet owner?” There is nothing like pet-parenting experience when it comes to being a dog walker or pet sitter. After all, you wouldn’t hand someone the keys to a bus if they’ve never had a license. If you’re going with a professional service ask specifically if your sitter is a pet parent. If not, make sure that you’re comfortable with their pet experience.
2. History & Background: Always make sure your sitter is background checked. Remember – not only are you trusting this person with your pet, you’re also offering this person the keys to your home, privacy, and valuables.
3. Schedule Needs: Are sitters available for visits 7 days a week, 365 days a year? If you need schedule flexibility – make sure your sitter can meet your needs.  Perhaps they have blackout dates?  How will this affect you?
4. Customer Service: Along the same lines, are you able speak with a manager, even on the weekends? (Let’s face it – life doesn’t stop on Saturday and Sunday.) If you’re going with a single sitter – are they easy to get a hold of when needed?
5. Protecting your Turf: Are you bonded and insured? Even if sitters are well-trained, you should still be protected from the unexpected with insurance. Bonding offers reimbursement in the case of theft.
6. Pet Emergencies: In the case of a pet medical emergency, are you trained to handle the unexpected? (Pet First Aid & CPR training is widely available to sitters.)
7. Sitter Emergencies: What happens if the sitter needs to leave town for a family emergency or suffers an injury/illness? Is there a protocol in place to deal with such events so a pet isn’t left behind?
8. Booking Capabilities: How easy is it book visits in the future? If you are computer savvy, select pet care services offer online booking and account management. This is a huge asset for many on-the-go pet parents who require more advanced schedule management tools.
8. Special Needs Pets: If you have a geriatric pet or special needs critter, does your sitter have experience with pets who may have health issues? Perhaps you have a puppy. Does your sitter know how to train and care for younger pets too?
9. Dog Walking Policies & Knowledge: When hiring a dog walker – how many dogs will be walked at one time? If you live in an urban environment, are you comfortable with “pack” walks, or would you prefer one-on-one attention? Does your walker seem comfortable and knowledgeable with various training techniques? Does the walker seem competent to handle stressful situations on-leash? How about off-leash dog parks?

Pet sitting and dog walking has come a long way in the last few decades. It has changed largely from a service offered by neighbors to an industry filled with dedicated professionals, willing to go the extra mile to please both the client and the pet. A great pet care service should not only your pet safe and content & your home secure, it should also allow you to be away from home with total confidence.

For More Information about professional pet sitters see:

National Association of Professional Pet Sitters

Pet Sitters International