Our 5 Tips for Choosing the Best Pet Sitter
Whether you’ve worked with a pet sitter before and are looking for a new one, or are hiring one for the very first time, finding the perfect sitter to care for your four-legged family members can be daunting! There’s a number of options on the market to sort through, and it might not be straightforward to tell which ones are trustworthy, professional, and reliable, let alone which one your dog or cat will like.
We want to help you take the guesswork out of it, because we want your pet to get the best care possible! Here are our 5 tips for choosing the best pet sitter.
1. Do your research and look for sitters that are insured (to cover accidents and negligence) and bonded (to protect against theft) and are certified in pet first aid. Not only does this mean that they are business professionals and not just side gig workers, but are also fully prepared in the unfortunate and hopefully unlikely event of an emergency or accident. In addition, you’ll want to hire someone that maintains relationships with local veterinary clinics and has them on speed dial for such events. You might also want to get a criminal background check.
3. Schedule a call and/or meet and greet to interview the sitter so you have an opportunity to ask questions about their services. Here are a few great ones to start with:
• Will you provide a written service contract spelling out fees and services?
• Will you provide written proof of commercial liability insurance? Are you bonded?
• What training have you (and your team) received?
• Do you take notes about my pet’s particular issues and needs (his/her preferences, medical conditions, medications, and routines)?
• What if an emergency prevents you from fulfilling your duties? Do you have a backup?
• Will you provide phone numbers of other clients who have agreed to serve as references?
And don’t forget, interviews are a two-way street! If a pet sitter isn’t asking you lots of questions to get a thorough understanding of your pet’s needs, routine, likes/dislikes, etc., that should be a red flag.
4. Meet and greets are also important because they’re an opportunity for you to get a feel for whether your pet will be happy in the sitter’s care. Observe how the pet sitter interacts with your dog or cat in your home. You could also ask the sitter to take your dog for a short walk while you go along and watch how they handle your dog. This is also the perfect time to point out specific routes you might take or to ask questions about their training techniques. Sometimes a pet sitter can do all the right things, but their energy doesn’t match your pet’s energy – and that’s OK. You can ask if there’s someone else on their team that you’d be able to work with. Your pet’s comfort and care are your number one priority.
5. Clarify your expectations with the pet sitter. For example: spending quality time with your dog or cat and not just cleaning up or letting them outside, how much and what kind of exercise you want them to have, whether they need to be fed and what/how much exactly, etc. If arranged in advance, a sitter may also handle minor household duties, such as watering plants and collecting mail, but don’t spring this on them, have this conversation during the hiring process so that everyone is on the same page.
Your pet sitter is a person to whom you are entrusting your beloved companion. Not to mention the person who will have the key to your house and access to everything within. This is why we highly encourage you to follow these tips in choosing the best pet sitter for your dog or cat. Our Texas Ruff House pet sitters have over 100 years of combined professional experience in animal care and serve Pflugerville, TX and the surrounding areas of Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto, and North Austin. We provide love, attention, and personalized care to all our clients and welcome you to book your next pet sitter with us!
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