Factors to be Considered While Choosing a Pet Sitter for Your Pet

Choosing pet sitter whom you can trust gives pet owners piece of mind on those occasions when it is unavoidable to leave your dog at home. Pet sitters are contactors hired on contract basis (such as hired providing weekly walks or sitting for longer periods such as when you are on vacation). Pet sitters can visit your home at set times during the day to carry out daily walking, feeding and administration of medication. Other pet sitters may offer a more comprehensive service, such as watering household plants, bringing in mail and even house sitting.

Some pet sitters may also offer boarding services where your pet will stay with them whilst you are away. However, pet owners may prefer to have their dog stay at home in their familiar environments, where they have access to their own toys and preferred areas of the house. This may minimize anxiety associated with travelling to a kennel and being surrounding by unfamiliar people and places.

Friends or family members may be able to recommend pet sitters in your area. Alternatively, you may choose to research professional pet sitters associations such as NAPPS (National Association of Professional Pet Sitters). Professional pet sitters often have relevant credentials, can offer recommendations from previous clients, and have relevant first aid training. Interviewing the pet sitter enables pet owners to ask about cost, their availability, if they have liability insurance, what happens if they become ill, who will cover their role, what happens if you need to extend your stay, and what tasks they will carry out. They should be able to offer a written contract including cancellation terms and charges. Understanding if your pet sitter is allowed to bring other people to your home, how will you communicate with each other whilst you are away, or how keys will be returned, are all important considerations. If, after the interview, you feel comfortable with your pet sitter, arrange a meeting between them and your pet to help determine their match for your pet's personality. If your dog responds well to them and is likely to behave for them whilst you are away, this can give you added piece of mind.

After hiring, ensure you write down all relevant instructions, such as times of walks, feeding, medication regime, as well as where relevant accessories are kept (such as leashes and food). Provide names and numbers in case of an emergency (including your number, family and friends and your veterinarian). Inform your veterinarian that you will be out of town, and the pet sitter will the point of contact during this time. Your veterinarian will be an important point of contact for your pet sitter should they have any concerns about your dog's health. Informing your friends and family and leaving the sitter their details is also a good idea, as well as leaving spare sets of keys with family members.

Leaving your dog at home can be an anxious time for any pet owner, but this can be mitigated by thorough research to find not only an experienced and appropriately trained pet sitter, but also one to whom you feel you can trust the welfare of your dog. It can also help to reduce your dog's anxiety by choosing a pet sitter with whom they get on well with, and whose company they can enjoy.