What makes a great pet sitter

Before you start looking, think about the characteristics and skills that are particularly important to you. Here are 9 traits a great pet sitter should have:. That way, if you have an important appointment or need to stay late at the office, you can trust your pet will be taken care of. Sensitive A great pet sitter recognises the needs of your pet and responds to them. To get an idea of whether a caregiver may be trustworthy, read reviews online, check references from previous employers.

Remember, if you get a bad feeling after meeting someone, always trust your gut. Refer to PetCloud if you would like a print out of this checklist. If you have a pug, your pet sitter should not be new to the pet care field. Instead, find someone who has handled pugs before, and can provide references or a certificate to show their experience level.

Does your pet have a medical condition or need special treatment? Look for a caregiver with a background in this area. Make sure your sitter knows them too.

In some cases, pet sitters will use it as a way to add extra charges to your bill if they end up doing something on their list of "no's". The pet sitter you hire should be willing to follow your instructions exactly, and offer the best care to your pet, especially in an emergency. With these five qualities in mind, you'll be able to find a fantastic pet sitter to take care of your pet while you're away.

Be sure to interview potential pet sitters, and arrange a meet and greet with your pet. This way, you'll be able to see how they interact with each other, and if they're a good match. Breadcrumb Home Articles. Honest And Passionate The best pet sitters will not only be honest, but passionate about what they do. Insured For the safety of you and your pet, you'll want to make sure that the pet sitter you hire is licensed, bonded, and insured.

Understands Pet Behavior The right pet sitter will be friendly, and understand the way your pet behaves. Ready For Emergencies Just in case something bad does happen, the pet sitter you hire should have some basic medical training. Flexible The final quality your pet sitter should have is flexibility. Frequently, pet sitters are great with pets but not with people. If this is you, step out of your comfort zone and get to know the client.

Ask questions. What are their major concerns? Find out their pain points and strategize ways to eliminate them. Interact with the pet. Be sensitive to the fact that leaving a pet at home can be stressful for BOTH the pet and the owner.

Record all pertinent information, including emergency contacts, veterinarian information, feeding instructions, medications, alarm codes, etc.

This might be the last time you see the human client, so be as thorough as possible. This is crucial and can be the difference between success and failure at the job. Discuss what each visit will entail and go over a typical day in the life of the pet.