What To Look For In A Professional Pet Sitter

Pet care is such a big industry, and unfortunately, the range and quality of service can vary pretty dramatically. There are tons of options, tons of different price ranges, and various levels of quality. For the sake of this blog, I am only speaking about local pet care providers, not boarding facilities or veterinary clinics. 

No matter what type of pet care you choose, there are some things I think you should look for to make sure you're getting quality care. Keep in mind, sometimes you get what you pay for! 

1. What Type of Services Do They Provide?

Do they offer doggy daycare, boarding in their own home, or do they come to your house?

All of these services are very different, so it's important to first figure out what type of pet care you're looking for and what you're comfortable with.

If they come to your house, you want to make sure it's someone you can trust because they're not only caring for your pets, but also your home. You may want to ask questions like:

• What are your service areas?
• What type of visits or services do you offer?
• How long are your visits?
• How many times a day do you typically come by?

Ultimately, you want to find a schedule that fits relatively close to your pets' normal routine to keep them feeling comfortable and less stressed while you're away.

There's also more to consider with boarding and doggy daycare because you're potentially introducing your pet to other animals. You may want to ask questions like:

• How many pets do you board or care for at a time?
• Are the dogs allowed to interact with each other?
• If there are dogs that aren't friendly with others, are they separated?
• Are the pets kenneled, or are they free-roaming?
• How much individual attention and playtime do they receive?

Ultimately, this is also a deciding factor for you. Are you comfortable with your dog being around other pets, or would you prefer them to stay in an environment where they don't have to interact with unfamiliar animals?

2. Are They a Solo Individual or Do They Have a Team?

A lot of pet sitters start out as individuals and may eventually build a team as their client base grows.

If they're a solo sitter, what's the backup plan if they have to cancel last minute? No sitter wants to have to do that to their clients, but emergencies happen. If they suddenly can't care for your pets, what happens?

With a team, you may have the benefit of having someone else available if needed.

One thing to consider with a team, and something I stress with my own business, is that everyone who may be caring for your pets should have met you and your pets beforehand. Of course, in a true emergency, you may need to do what you need to do. But in general, I would always want to make sure the owners have met the people going into their home and that everyone feels comfortable.

3. Do They Have Experience and References?

If a pet sitter doesn't have years of experience, that doesn't necessarily mean they won't do a great job. They may have the best intentions and be wonderful with animals. However, they may lack some of the knowledge and experience that comes with years of caring for different breeds, personalities, and species.

Things like knowing how to handle an emergency, recognizing when something is concerning, understanding animal behavior, and noticing small details are skills that often come with experience.

An experienced pet sitter will typically have reviews, references, or previous clients you can speak with. Take the time to look through those and see if their experience and style seem like a good fit for you and your pets.

4. How Do They Communicate and Interact With You and Your Pets?

This can be a big tell from the beginning.

If someone takes a long time to get back to you, frequently forgets things, seems all over the place, or just feels unorganized, do you really want them caring for your fur babies?

Personally, I want someone who is organized, gets back to me in a prompt manner, and communicates effectively.

A professional pet sitter should also offer some sort of Meet and Greet, usually free of charge, to get to know you and your pets and make sure it's a good fit.

Pay attention to what they ask you during that meeting. Are they asking questions and making sure they have all the information they need? Or are they simply listening to everything you tell them?

There's nothing wrong with listening, of course, but I personally look for someone who is knowledgeable and proactive about what they need to know. You want someone who is easy to communicate with, efficient, and proactive about things.

Because when push comes to shove and an emergency happens, you want that person to have the resources and knowledge to recognize what's going on and be ready to take action.

You also want to make sure you will receive consistent communication throughout your trip. I would hate to be on vacation and not hear from my pet sitter for multiple days, wondering if my pets are okay.

In my business, we make sure to send an update at every single visit so you know exactly when your pets are being cared for. For many of our clients, that extra communication gives them peace of mind so they can actually relax while they're on vacation.

I've also heard horror stories from clients who have tried using neighbors or family members and found that they weren't coming as often throughout the day as they had hoped. One client even had a friend who thought they were getting home sooner than they actually were, and their pet was left unattended for multiple days!

This is why effective communication and frequent updates are so important. If you notice that you haven't received an update in a while, you can check in and make sure everything is okay.

5. Are They Insured and Pet CPR Certified?

Being insured and pet CPR certified are two more things I would look for when hiring a professional pet sitter.

Insurance doesn't necessarily guarantee that someone is going to provide great care, but it does show that they have taken steps to operate their business professionally and prepare for the unexpected.

As much as we don't want an accident or emergency to happen, the reality is that it can happen anytime, anywhere. Having an insured pet sitter gives you some peace of mind knowing there is coverage in place if something goes wrong.

Pet CPR certification is another great thing to look for. While it certainly doesn't replace veterinary care, having someone who knows what to look for and how to respond in an emergency can make a huge difference.

You want someone who is prepared to recognize when something isn't right and take action instead of simply hoping everything will be okay.

At the End of the Day...

The quality of care, types of services offered, and price ranges can vary greatly. No matter what, to a degree, you are always taking a leap of faith and trusting that someone is going to care for your pets as well as you do.

Ultimately, you have to choose what services are best for you and your pets' needs and find an option that fits your budget.

But I would also encourage you not to automatically look for the cheapest option.

Hiring a beginner pet sitter, neighborhood kid, or asking friends and family can absolutely save you money, and sometimes those options work out great! But when you're trusting someone with your pets, it's worth considering what you're actually getting for the price you're paying.

Because when you're on vacation, the last thing you want to be worrying about is whether your pets are actually being taken care of.

Do your research, ask questions, trust your gut, and find someone you feel comfortable leaving your fur babies with.