Critical Things To Be Aware Of When Choosing A Pet Sitter

With so many pets lost at the hands of sitters, we put together a critical checklist of what every pet owner absolutely needs to have covered prior to choosing a pet sitter. 

*** Should be applied to board and train and fosterers as well.***

CHOOSING A PET SITTER

• Insured and Licensed 

• Vetted: background, experience, multiple references

• Meet and greet with sitter and their pets

• Check their yard: minimum 6-6.5 foot fence, no openings, locked gates, double check all entry points

• Bring your pet’s crate to sitter’s

• Educate sitter on pet behaviors, needs, quirks

• Dog should always be on slip lead or leash unless in home with exit points locked securely

• Never leave a dog unsupervised-new environments can change behaviors quickly

• Invest in properly fitted 1” wide flat collar (two fingers between collar and neck)

• If pet has a training e-collar make sure sitter properly trained to use

• Have ID tags with owner contact info

• Invest in air tags, GPS collar (keep charged daily)

• Register chip and keep contact info up to date 

• Have sitter come to your home to pet sit

• Speak to sitter about who is coming and going from the home including pets. Even if your pet has never been a flight risk that can change in a heartbeat.

• Consider pet cams, outdoor security system

• Make sure sitter has all owner contact info and emergency contacts if you are not available

• Sitter must contact owners ASAP if pet goes missing. Note time, direction heading at main cross streets. Time is crucial!

• Discontinue use of e-collar (this will stress the dog-push into danger/traffic or the pet will run for miles to escape the punishment)

• Dogs can run up to 30 miles/day when in fight/flight survival mode!