What's Most Important to Ask When Hiring a Dog Sitter?
What type of training or experience have they received? It's not required for pet sitters to be certified or trained necessarily but it sure does make a HUGE difference! Be sure to ask if they have any certifications, specialized training, or what kind of experience they have. This makes all the difference in the long run!
Be sure to check their availability. Whether it's for a short trip or a long vacation, it's important to make sure their open dates match your needs!
What does their service look like daily? Make sure they're able to stop by as much as you need! At Happy Paws, we can stop by up to three times per day, even more if needed. Some senior dogs have a difficult time going long periods without frequent potty breaks.
Do they offer visit updates? Most owners LOVE to be stay the loop with text and photo updates that let them know, when you're coming, when you're there, what happened during their visit, and of course a cute photo of your fur baby to top it off!
Are they able to give medications? This is crucial for any pet owners who will need their dog sitter to give important medications. Some dogs need their medications at specific time intervals, some dogs may even need insulin injections. It's a good idea to make sure this is something your dog sitter is comfortable with and accustom to.
Make sure they know all about your dogs needs! Things like what your dog needs in terms of meal sizes, water intake, exercise needs. Also think about things your dog likes or dislikes, and any fears or phobias they may have. Sometimes the little things, like letting them know your dog is afraid of big trucks, can make a big difference. For example, if your sitter takes your pup on a walk to the park and the dog is refusing to go back home because of a huge truck stopped outside, this could become game-changing information for them to have. This small detail could help your sitter to quickly re-evaluate the situation and take a different route back home. Being thorough ensures your dog will be given the BEST care possible!
How Can I Make Sure my Dog Receives the Best Care?
Be sure to communicate with your dog sitter before the visits begin, during, and after. Communicate is key! Make sure your on the same page about your expectations and everything that you need to make this a positive experience for you and your pup.
Reserve your service at your earliest chance. Planning ahead as much as you can will give you more wiggle room to be extra picky when it comes to choosing your dog sitter. Make sure you're getting the best bang for your buck by asking lots of questions before making your reservation.
Give clear instructions on what exactly you're looking for from your dog sitting experience and how your sitter can help to make you and your dog not only comfortable, but happy! Being away from your fur baby can be completely unnerving from some people, but having someone you can trust and count on can turn that uneasy feeling into feelings of calm and relief!