Are you thinking about taking a vacation but you’re worried about your pet? Do you wish your dog had more exercise during the day? Or maybe you think your cat would benefit from more social interaction? It can be really hard to choose a pet sitter. Your pets are your babies, after all! So what do you look for? What should you ask? Here’s our advice on how to choose a pet sitter and what questions to ask:
Does your pet sitter have experience and a proven track record?
How long as the pet sitter been in business? Have they looked after other pets similar to yours? Can you contact their previous sits to find out how things went? Do they have testimonials and a proven track record of taking care of pets? It’s good to give newer sitters a chance, too, but just make sure that they know what they are doing and have a track record of being reliable.
Are they flexible and able to meet your pet’s specific needs?
You might find a great pet sitter, but if they aren’t available when you need them, then it doesn’t help! Make sure your pet sitter can actually be there when you need them to and can handle your pet’s specific needs. If your pet is still a baby or is in their golden years, they might have additional needs that other pets don’t have. Make sure to ask about everything your pet needs and check that your pet sitter can be there and get the job done.
Can your pet sitter handle and connect with your pet?
Not all pets get along with all humans, as we all know! A person might be great with certain breeds or specific kinds of pets, but that spark just might not be there between your pet and the sitter. Make sure to pick someone who gets along well with your pets.
Are they trustworthy & reliable?
Your pet sitter will have the keys to your home and be responsible for your fur baby. These are huge responsibilities and can’t be left to just anyone. Make sure your pet sitter is trustworth and reliable. Maybe they’ve cared for other pets or children long term, or they have responsibilities at work or school over the long term. And don’t forget to go with your gut on this one, and if it feels off, choose a different sitter.
Can your pet sitter handle an emergency?
No one wants to think about something potentially happenign to their pet while they’re away or at work, but accidents and emergencies do happen. Make sure your pet sitter knows what to do and can handle an emergency so that a bad situation doesn’t become much, much worse.
Are you looking more specifically for a dog walker? Check out our advice on how to choose a dog walker here.