Finding a pet sitter that matches your needs can be difficult! Read this guide for some helpful tips on how to find a dog sitter.
Okay, call us crazy, but our pets are our children. We take just as much precaution when finding them a sitter as we do when finding our human children a sitter. And when we have dogs that require a bit more help, attention, or patience than others, finding the right sitter can become difficult.
Even if it’s not our pup that has special requirements, we have special requirements. So, we need to find a dog sitter that’s professional, caring, patient, and so much more. But how do we do this?
We follow 5 steps that lead us to our peace of mind in knowing that we picked the right sitter for our pup. Are you ready to learn these 5 steps so that you can ensure a right sitter fit for you too? Continue reading below for more information!
1. Ask Around for Referrals
Just like you would do when looking for a new place to eat or new pediatrician for your human children, it’s important that you ask around for referrals for a dog sitter as well. This is one of the first things that you should do because it gives you a great starting place. Take the time to talk to all of your dog-mom or dog-dad friends.
There’s a good chance that one of your dog-parents friends has hired a sitter before. They’ll be able to tell you who to hire or who not to hire based on their own experiences. They might also have some referrals for local boarding facilities too!
You never know what you’re going to learn when you stop to ask your friends, family, or co-workers for their advice. If you’re the only dog-parent you know that has ever needed a sitter, then don’t panic. You can still get some good referrals by doing an online search.
Reviews online are another great way to find a reputable dog sitter.
2. Know What Questions to Ask
Once you’ve got a few candidates written down, don’t simply rely on word-of-mouth before hiring the right dog sitter for you. It’s vital that you conduct an interview and ask the right questions before making a final decision that feels right to you. Not sure what questions you should be asking?
That’s no problem because we have a list of just a few questions that you should consider asking in your interviews. Add these to any other questions that you might come up with. Our questions are as follows:
- What training have you completed? Your dog sitter should have basic training courses, pet first aid, and behavior classes under their belt.
- Do you have an association with an emergency vet? Your sitter should know what to do in case of an emergency.
- What services do you provide? All dog sitters have different services that they provide, so be sure you’re hiring someone who does the services that you need.
- What type of pets do you dog sit? You’ll want your dog sitter to have experience working with dogs and maybe even the same breed as yours.
- What references do you have? A reputable dog sitter should be able to provide you with several references.
Remember that these questions are just a few that you should be asking. Don’t hesitate to ask your potential dog sitters any questions that you believe may be important for the care of your dog.
3. Consider Boarding Facilities
Although a dog sitter in your home may feel more personable, don’t eliminate the option of bringing your dog to a boarding facility. There are some pretty high-end boarding facilities that’ll make your pup feel like he or she is vacationing at a luxury resort! For example, this doggy resort provides luxury-style bedding, the best toys, water play, and exceptional room service just to name a few amenities.
At this rate, your pup might end up having a better vacation stay than you do! You’ll also find comfort in knowing that webcams are available at these high-end doggy resorts made for you to check in with your pup children at your own convenience. These boarding facilities are a great option to consider especially since you can now get the idea out of your head that your pup will be locked up in a kennel every day at these facilities.
4. Set Up a Meet and Greet
Whether you’ve decided to hire a dog sitter to come into your home or take your pup to theirs, or a dog sitter at a boarding facility, you now need to set up a meet and greet. A meet and greet is the best way to decide if it’s a good match or not. This is when you’ll have the opportunity to see how your pup reacts to the sitter or boarding facility.
Introduce your pup to the sitter or facility slowly and see how the two interact with one another. If it’s love at first sight, then you know you’ve found the right option. Other times, it might take a little bit before your pup warms up to the new person or environment. Give it time and go from there.
If your dog never seems to relax or warm-up, then you might want to try bringing someone else in.
5. Ensure There’s Insurance
The last step that you never want to skip is to ensure that there’s insurance. You want your dog sitter to have insurance for a good reason. For instance, commercial liability will cover any negligence or accidents that happen while in your home.
Any damages that might occur while in your home, should be covered under the sitter’s insurance. Although this is the last thing that we want to think about, it’s important that it’s addressed and that the insurance is there.
Find a Dog Sitter Today With These Helpful Steps!
Need to find a dog sitter soon? Finding a sitter is not something to take lightly, and we understand that. Following these 5 steps is the best way to find a professional dog sitter who is right for you and your pup!
Interested in more pet topics? Be sure to check out our pet section regularly for more!
