How to Find an Excellent Dog Sitter

Choosing a person to leave your dog with while you’re traveling can be difficult. Securing a great dog sitter is essential for your dog's safety and well-being during your absence.

Ensure you trust your dog sitter to care for both your dog and your home. Although dog sitting might seem simple, some sitters may not be fully prepared or diligent in their role.

How to Find a Great Dog Sitter

Today, finding a dog sitter is deceptively easy. You can quickly match with a sitter using a phone app. However, these apps might not always provide trustworthy sitters, and their background checks can be minimal.

It’s generally better to find a dog sitter through your personal network. You might consider hiring a friend�s dog sitter, a coworker's teenage child, or a dog-loving friend of a cousin. Be sure to choose someone with strong recommendations. Local universities, particularly those with pre-veterinary tracks, are also excellent resources for finding sitters.

If your dog has special medical or physical needs, be sure to communicate this upfront. For instance, if your dog has high energy, choose a dog sitter who enjoys hiking or trail running, ensuring both are happy.

Questions to Ask a Potential Dog Sitter

Once you have a list of potential dog sitters, conduct interviews. Don�t hesitate to ask questions. If the sitter seems annoyed by this, it's a red flag. After all, you're entrusting them with your best friend.

• What experience do you have with dogs?
• Have you ever watched a dog similar to my dog? (in size, breed, temperament, etc.; It’s okay if it’s not an exact match.)
• What’s your plan if my dog gets sick or injured while I’m gone?
• How many times will you walk my dog per day? How long will the walks be?
• How long will you leave my dog alone every day?
• Can I see some testimonials or talk to past clients?
• Will my dog stay at your place or mine? If your dog is staying at their place, ask to see the space. If the sitter will stay at your place, decide on your house rules for them.
• If my dog does something that annoys you, how will you respond?
• Will my dog be walked and cared for alone, or with other clients? You might like that your dog gets the social time, or you might prefer to avoid this risk. It's a personal choice.
• Do you plan on letting my dog off-leash? Most times, the answer to this should be no. It’s just not very smart to expect your dog to listen to someone who he doesn’t know.
• Do you have insurance? Most part-time sitters, like college students, won’t have this. Decide if that’s OK with you.
• Will you be driving my dog around? You might prefer not to have your sitter drive, or maybe the extra adventures are a bonus!
• Do you have reliable transportation if the weather is bad?

How to Set Your Dog Sitter Up for Success

After selecting your dog sitter, make sure you set them up for success. Invite your dog sitter over to show them where you'll keep keys, instructions, food, and other essentials. Observe their interaction with your dog and give them a tour of your house.

Don't hesitate to leave your dog sitter a detailed binder of instructions! Most dog sitters appreciate comprehensive information. Consider including:

• Your dog’s name, age, breed, and medical history
• Your vet’s information
• What tricks and behaviors your dog knows (It’s helpful if your sitter knows both the verbal cue and the hand signal for your dog.)
• Any behavioral or medical information on your dog, such as your dog's recent surgery or the fact that your dog is shy with strange men. Your dog’s daily schedule in excruciating detail
• How much do they eat? When? Where?
• How much do they poop? When? Where?
• What’s their favorite walking route? How far do they go? Do they like running, hiking, or fetch?
• How many treats do they get? For what?
• What equipment are they walked with?
• Whether or not you’d like your dog interacting with people or other dogs while under the sitter’s care. Even if your dog is friendly, it’s often a good idea to have your sitter be a bit more cautious
• Where all of your dog’s supplies and food are stored
• Where your sitter will sleep
• Whether or not your sitter can/should eat perishable food left in your fridge
• Whether or not your sitter can have friends or significant others visit
• TV and WiFi information
• Basic neighborhood amenities, like a nearby pet store or snack shop
• Where to park
• Anything to watch out for or know about in the neighborhood
• Who your sitter can call if they get locked out or has any other emergencies with your dog

Naturally, you will discuss most of this verbally when meeting your sitter. However, even if the instructions seem simple to you, it's likely a lot for them. Ensure all the necessary information is ready, and remember that communication is key.